By ROB HULL
Updated: 18:55 AEDT, 27 November 2024
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Keyless fobs might offer convenience to car owners by locking and unlocking and doors and starting the engine at the push of a button, but when the battery inside them dies it can leave drivers feeling stranded with little option but to call for help.
And problems with keyless fobs appear to be increasingly common for motorists, as technology has shifted the market away from the traditional metal key and lock.
In fact, online searches for 'why is my key fob not working?' have increased by 100 per cent over the last 12 months, while TikTok has some 30 million videos relating to 'how to start my car if my fob is dead'.
With temperatures plummeting in recent days, Auto Trader warns that keyless fob issues are likely to be more common at as winter draws in.
This is because cold weather can take a toll on the battery inside them and shorten their lifespan.
We explain how you can gain entry to your car using a hidden feature in a dead key fob - and the measures you can take to avoid being locked out of your car because of a dud remote key.
Online searches for 'why is my key fob not working?' have increased by 100% over the last 12 months, according to Auto Trader. Here's our guide to resolving the issue
Because most new car models have a battery-operated fobs and no metal key to unlock the doors and start the engine, issues trigerred by dead batteries are becoming a growing inconvenience.
However, there is a very easy way around the problem that many vehicle owners simply aren't aware of.
That's because car makers have provided a built-in solution to this problem that - unless you've read the vehicle's owner's manual - you might not know about.
Inside the fob is a hidden physical key, commonly referred to as the 'emergency key'.
In some instances, the key flips out of the plastic module and remains connected, while in others the metal key removes entirely. The trick is to look for any area on the key that can be pulled out, like the ring hooks or a small button.
Inside the fob is a hidden physical key, commonly referred to as the 'emergency key'. The trick is to look for any area on the key that can be pulled out, like the ring hooks or a small button
Once you have located the hidden key, the next task is to find the concealed door lock.
This will be on in the driver's side either under the door handle when you pull it out - or behind a small panel to the left of the door handle that you need to remove.
You will need to pop this off either using a screwdriver or - in cases where the metal key releases from the fob - the opposite end of the physical key. Once you have removed the plastic cover it will expose the conventional lock behind.
4. Keep spare keys safe, regularly check it works and use the disable function
All cars should come with a spare set of keys.
It is not advised to travel around with both at the same time in case you lose them, or they are stolen.
If you do lose one set, you should always get a replacement to avoid being stuck if the battery in your lone fob runs out - or you lose the second key.
This can be very expensive, though. A report earlier in the year by This is Money found that the average cost of a new car key is £340 - up 40 per cent in just five years.
This is why it is imperative to always keep your spare someone safe, secure and - most importantly - memorable.
It should also not be somewhere too obvious - like a kitchen drawer - where burglars would often look if they were to break into your house.
Before putting the secondary fob in a suitable keep safe, you should check the vehicle's manual to see if it has a 'disabled access mode'.
Manufacturers often build these in for when drivers are not going to use the key for a long time - especially the case for spares - and so disables the keyless access function, which in turn can save batter life.
5. Keep your key fobs away from children
It's a well-known tactic to keep small children occupied - and more importantly quiet - by handing them a set of keys. But your car keys is a definite no-no.
Kids are more likely to drop them causing damage and often place them in their mouth, which again can be terminal for the battery inside.
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