What to Do When the Spare Key Stops Working After Long-Term Disuse?
2 Answers
There are various reasons why a spare key might stop working. Avoid placing car keys near electronic devices to prevent magnetic interference from causing key malfunctions. If your spare key stops working, you can try the following solutions: 1. Check the battery installation. It's possible that the button battery inside the spare key was installed with reversed polarity, which would render the key unusable; 2. Verify if the battery has sufficient charge. Prolonged disuse can drain the battery, in which case you can purchase a new battery and install it in the key; 3. Inspect the key's copper contacts for oxidation. The copper pieces that connect with the battery may oxidize. If you notice black oxide on the contacts, clean them with alcohol and then reinstall the battery.
I've also encountered situations where the spare key stopped working after being stored for too long. That time, the car remote didn't respond at all. I figured out a few solutions myself: First, open the key casing to check if the coin cell battery is dead. You can usually find CR2032 batteries at supermarkets. If replacing the battery doesn't help, it's likely that the internal circuitry is damp or the components have aged. In that case, I use the mechanical part of the key to manually open the car door, then place the spare key next to the push-to-start button to try starting the vehicle. If all else fails, you'll have to visit the 4S shop to have the key reprogrammed—they can fix it by connecting their computer to the car's system. I recommend taking out the spare key every three to four months and pressing its buttons a few times to keep the battery active, so you won't be left scrambling in an emergency.
