When a car remote stops working, the most typical option is to replace the battery. But what if your key fob stops operating after a battery replacement? The first step is to determine what is causing the problem.
There’s no way to suggest a solution until you know why a key fob isn’t working after a battery swap. But after you figure out what’s wrong, you’ll be able to figure out how to fix it.
Worn buttons
The wear and tear on a remote’s buttons could be the cause of a key fob not working after a battery change. When a button on a key fob is touched, contacts on the button transfer signals to a circuit board. The contacts may wear out, or the buttons may wear down to the point where they no longer touch the contacts.
When the plastic has broken down and the contact is exposed, this is the most evident indicator of a worn button. You must rely on context hints if you don’t have a visual indicator. If a key fob does not unlock doors but the lock button operates, it is possible that the unlock button has become worn.
Broken locks
It’s possible that the cause of a key fob not working after a battery change is unrelated to the key fob. It’s possible that a car door is stuck in the lock position, or that you need to replace car door latches. In any event, it’s possible that a component of the lock has cracked.
Check to see if the remote works to open or lock one or more doors to see whether a damaged lock is the source of your problems. Multiple door locks can fail at the same time, but if they start failing one by one, it’s a clue that your key isn’t to blame.
Deprogramming
If a car remote stops operating after a battery change, it may have been deprogrammed. Deprogramming refers to the process of instructing the vehicle’s onboard computer to remove all existing keys from its access list.
Deprogramming can occur as a result of the remote’s buttons being pressed. Certain button combinations can send a message to the onboard computer, causing all existing keys to be invalidated. You may be suffering deprogramming if more than one key fob stops operating following a battery change.
Damaged keys
For the purposes of this paper, “damage” will refer to any injury to the key fob that is not caused by normal wear and tear. Water, physical force, circuit board scratches, and other factors can cause this type of damage.
If your key fob suddenly stopped operating after a battery change because it was opened, walked on, or got wet, you should think a damaged key is the cause. Damage may be obvious in some cases, but not in all.
Electrical issues
In more serious circumstances, damage to the vehicle’s electrical system may be the cause of a key fob not working after a battery swap. This could happen after the automobile has been serviced and the dashboard or side panels have been removed and reinstalled.
Wires are exposed as panels are removed. During service or when the panels are being reinstalled, they can be damaged or disconnected unintentionally.
Patriot Locksmiths are one of the best automotive locksmiths in Venice. We deal with all kinds of lockout services including car lockout services in Venice. Call us today!