When a key fob stops working, most people assume the worst: the fob is dead, it needs programming, and a new one will cost a few hundred dollars. Sometimes that’s true. But a lot of the calls we get about a key fob that stopped working end with a much smaller fix, and a few end with no charge at all.
Here’s what to check first, from real calls we’ve taken around Columbus.
The $300 quote that turned out to be a battery
A driver called us after another locksmith had quoted her around $300 for a new fob. She had already put a fresh battery in, and the fob still wasn’t working. We asked her to send a photo of the fob opened up.
The new battery was in upside down. We walked her through turning it over, the fob worked, and she didn’t need a new one.
It’s an easy mistake. We even work with a car dealer whose team keeps putting fob batteries in upside down. If it can happen at a dealership, it can happen at your kitchen table.
Check the battery first
- Is the battery new? Fob batteries wear out, often slowly. Range gets shorter, buttons need a second press, then it stops.
- Is it the right battery? The battery number is printed on the old one. Match it exactly.
- Is it facing the right way? Coin batteries have a + side. Before you take the old one out, note which side faces up, or snap a photo of it.
- Is the case closed all the way? A fob that isn’t snapped shut can lose contact with the battery.
Push-to-start? Try the backup start
Many push-to-start cars have a backup way to start with a weak fob. Depending on the car, you hold the fob against the START button, or place it in a marked pocket, slot or spot in the console. Your owner’s manual shows where.
If the car starts that way, that’s good news. It usually means the car still knows your fob, and the problem is the battery or the remote buttons, not the car forgetting the key.
When the fob itself needs help
Sometimes it’s not the battery. A 2018 Nissan Altima fob we saw recently was in rough shape inside. We opened it and cleaned it with 99.99% isopropyl alcohol, and it worked again. Dirt, moisture and corrosion build up inside fobs that get carried every day for years.
Cleaning doesn’t save every fob, though. These usually mean a replacement:
- The case is cracked or the buttons are falling apart
- The fob went through the washing machine or got soaked
- It was dropped and stopped working right after
- It stopped working with a new battery, facing the right way
- It’s lost
When a fob has to be replaced, we replace the whole fob rather than moving old electronics into a new shell, because the condition of an old circuit board can’t be guaranteed. We program the new one at your car, and cut its key blade there too if it has one.
What a new fob costs
For reference, here’s where common jobs start around Columbus:
| Job | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Push-to-start fob, made from a working one | From $175 |
| Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep FOBIK | From $145 |
| Remote-head key | From $120 |
| Programming a push-to-start fob you bought | From $100 |
The final price depends on the vehicle and the fob, and you get it before we start. Full details are on our key fob replacement and programming page.
Still stuck?
Send us a photo of your fob, opened up if you can, and tell us the year, make and model. If it’s something you can fix yourself, we’ll tell you. If it needs a new fob, you’ll get the price on the phone.
From a battery that went in upside down to a brand-new push-to-start fob made at your car, we’ve got your key fob covered! Call 844-644-6539 and tell us what’s going on.
