What To Do When Your Keyless Car Remote Fails

If you are locked out of your car with a broken keyless car fob, there are a few things that you can try to get your vehicle bacon the road. Here are some of the most common things to try. 

Try Your Replacement Remote

If you can gain access to your replacement remote, then this may be the first step to try. You'll avoid having to call in a repair person this way. Sometimes, all your remote needs is a simple reprogramming that you can complete once you have access to your ignition. 

Replace the Battery

Another thing to try is to replace the batteries on your broken remote. If the replacement remote works fine, then you probably have an issue with the batteries in your broken remote. But if this doesn't fix the problem, it may warrant a trip to your dealer to get the system checked out. 

Call a Locksmith

If you still can't get into your car, then it's time to call a locksmith. Most traditional locksmiths are able to work with keyless cars in addition to traditional keyed cars. They can use the same tools to break the pressure seal in your door, so that you can get into the car in order to access backup remotes and reprogram the ignition. 

Reprogram the Remote

If you were able to make it into your car, either by using a spare remote or by using a locksmith, you can try to reprogram the broken remote. Follow your user's manual to do a reset of your keyless car fob. This will often include a sequence of starting the ignition and pressing buttons on your remote. 

Take it to the Dealer

If you've made it thus far and haven't found a solution, then your remote may be completely broken. You'll have to weigh the costs and decide whether it's worth it to have your system replaced, or whether you want to test the waters with just one remote. However, once one remote goes out, it may be only a matter of time until you have to replace the system, and in the meantime, you'll risk a serious lockout if you're down to only one remote. A dealer will help you go through the process of ordering new keys and getting them programmed to your car. Since the keys will have to be programmed directly to your machine, you will likely have to bring the car back in multiple times to get the job done. 

For more information and tips, contact your car dealership or a local locksmith company, such as Key One Inc.