
Specific reasons for the car not responding when pressing the car key are as follows: 1. Nearby interference. Car remote keys transmit signals via radio waves, which are then received by the car's receiver to execute corresponding actions. Facilities such as high-voltage power towers, radio base stations, or even thunderstorms and heavy fog can interfere with radio waves, causing the car key to be unresponsive despite having power. 2. Building obstruction. Radio waves have a certain penetration capability, allowing remote operation even through a wall or building. However, as the battery power decreases, the strength of the radio waves is affected. While normal face-to-face operation may work, the waves may fail to penetrate buildings. 3. Low battery power. As mentioned above, as the battery power decreases, the range and strength of the radio waves diminish. For example, at full charge, remote operation might work from 100 meters away, but with half the battery left, the operational distance might reduce to only 50 meters. If you operate the key from 50 meters away, you might only see the indicator light on the key but no response from the car. 4. Loss of remote key password. Exposing the key to strong magnetic fields or high temperatures can cause the remote key password to be lost, resulting in the car key being unresponsive despite having power. In this case, you need to visit a 4S shop or a professional car key store to re-match the remote key. 5. Faulty remote key circuit board. A faulty remote key circuit board exhibits symptoms similar to a lost password, but the difference is that the remote key can no longer be re-matched and must be replaced. At a 4S shop, replacing the key involves using a blank remote key sent by the manufacturer and matching it with your car.

Last time my friend's XC60 had the same issue - pressing the key fob did absolutely nothing, which is actually quite a common problem. The most typical cause is a dead battery in the key fob - check if the red light on the key illuminates. I taught him to replace it with a CR2025 battery and that fixed it (note battery models may vary for different vehicles). Also, keeping car keys near smartphones can cause signal interference - Tesla owners should pay special attention to this. Another possibility is a blocked mechanical keyhole - remember to clean the keyhole. If all else fails, try using the spare key to determine whether it's a vehicle issue or key fob problem.

I've helped neighbors check this situation several times, and 80% of the time it's caused by a dead remote key battery. Especially for cars older than five years, the battery needs replacement—remember to buy genuine Panasonic or Sony. Last week, I encountered a young guy whose car had signal interference after installing an additional anti-theft device, requiring the extra equipment to be disconnected. The probability of signal receiver module failure is actually low, but it occasionally happens with German cars. In emergencies, try placing the key close to the area below the steering wheel—some keyless start vehicles have an emergency induction zone. If the anti-theft lock is activated, you'll need to visit a 4S shop for decoding.

As a seasoned mechanic with over a decade of experience running an auto repair shop, I've seen this issue countless times. Let me teach you a three-step self-check: First, check if there's a key indicator light on the dashboard. Second, test whether the remote locking function works normally. Third, for keyless start models, use the mechanical key to open the door and then place the key against the start button. There are typically four common causes: key fob battery depletion (accounting for 70% of cases), signal interference (such as from parking lot jammers), body control module freeze (just disconnect and reconnect the negative battery terminal to reset), or poor contact with the start button. Toyota models are particularly prone to start button oxidation.


