10 Meetups On Remote Key Repair You Should Attend

How to Fix a Key Fob That isn't Working
If your key fob won't work and you're not sure why, you can fix it by following just a few steps. First, make sure that it's not your backup remote.
If the backup is able to lock and unlock your car door, then there is likely an issue with the primary remote. The most frequent causes of car remote key failure are circuitry or battery issues.
Battery
It is not unusual for the battery inside a car key fob to degrade. It is fairly easy to change out batteries, but it is crucial to ensure you select the correct one; you can look in your owner's manual, or contact the dealer of the manufacturer to determine the type of battery you need. It is recommended to examine the battery compartment with care, as dead batteries sometimes leak harmful chemicals that can cause damage to the remote. If replacing the batteries doesn't solve the issue, it may be that there are other issues that require attention by a professional. For instance, if buttons seem to be stuck or broken it could be necessary to disassemble the remote and rework its components. You can also try reprogramming your vehicle to recognize the new key fob.
Buttons
Through repeated use, key fobs could get dirty and worn. This is not atypical, but it can cause buttons to cease working or require a very hard press for them to function. This can be very frustrating, especially when you are away from your home and need to switch on your car. Fortunately, even worn out or damaged buttons can be fixed with a little time and some of the materials you may already have around the house.
First, make sure the batteries are charged correctly and that the indentation on the back of the button is filled. Take the remote apart and look over the circuit board. Look for signs of corrosion or other signs that buttons are worn out or damaged, such as missing the conductive paint. Use a Q-tip dipped into alcohol to gently clean any membrane contact that is damaged or where conductive painting is missing. Do not rub too vigorously in order to damage the conductive paint and prevent the button from firing when you press it.
Check the battery connector's terminals for loose solder connections. Soldering them back in place will restore the button's functionality if this is the situation. You can follow the same procedure to restore functionality to any other loose connection in the fob.
In the end, if any of the buttons made of rubber that are on the front of the key fob aren't functioning or require a long press to function it is likely the graphite disks at the back of the button are wearing out and require replacement. This can usually be done by rubbing a pencil on the disks. This should bring the button back to working.
If none of these solutions work or you cannot get the button to respond when pressed hard, it is possible that the circuitry is failing. It is possible to fix this by cleaning and re-soldering the fob but you should also have another spare in case it does not work.
Circuitry
The circuit board of your remote control may be dirty, regardless of whether the buttons on the key fob are working or not. A thorough inspection is usually enough to fix this problem. Water and broken cases are the most frequent causes of boards that are dirty. A broken case allows water and other debris to pass through and short out the electronics. Water can also damage pins and small connectors on the board, referred to as via's.
If you're handy enough to open your key fob and aren't afraid of some mess, we can remove the solder from the buttons and solder new ones in their place. It's also worth looking at the battery terminal connections. They can become very filthy and if they're not tight enough, the buttons may not work or even stay in their down position. Soldering the terminals back to their proper positions is usually enough to restore a non-working fob to working.
Non-Remote transponder chips
Sealed non-remote transponder chips are much more durable than remote fobs they are contained in, however they are still susceptible to being broken by a hole being made in them or pushed over by a lawnmower or car door handle. car key repair near me of non-remote transponder chip malfunctions can be blamed on a blown fuse.
If you're handy enough to open a sealed non-remote key fob and are willing to put up with the mess, you can take off the circuit board and check the fuse using an instrument to verify diode function. If you don't feel comfortable with this, you can visit your local Oreilly or hardware store and test their RF frequency tester. This will let you know whether the key fob is sending an RF signal.
Programming
Key fobs endure a lot of abuse and aren't indestructible. They can break their connection with the receiver in your vehicle due to shocks or a low battery, requiring changing the program. A professional auto locksmith, or the main dealer can reprogram the key fob and get it back up and running again. If, in the unlikely event that resetting and repairing your key fob doesn't work it could be the time to replace it completely.