What to Do When Your Car Key Gets Wet and Stops Working
2 Answers
Here are the solutions for a wet and malfunctioning car key: 1. Wipe the surface dry, disassemble the key, open its casing, remove the battery, and use absorbent paper towels to clean the internal components. 2. Use the cold air setting of a hairdryer to dry it—avoid hot air as the internal circuit board should not overheat. Alternatively, place the key in a thin, breathable bag and then into a dry rice container (rice is dry and can absorb moisture well). 3. Gently wipe the internal button contacts and other parts with high-concentration alcohol, let it dry, and then reinstall the battery. 4. If the above methods don't work, the car owner should visit a 4S store for a replacement configuration.
That day I dropped my car key into the pool and panicked. After quickly fishing it out, I first shook off the surface water, then disassembled the casing and used a hairdryer on low heat to slowly dry the circuit board, which took about an hour. Afterwards, I left it in a rice jar overnight because rice is excellent at absorbing moisture. When reassembling the key casing the next day, I paid special attention to the snap-fit positions, and surprisingly, it unlocked normally. However, the mechanic suggested I should have the chip checked at a key duplication shop afterwards to prevent internal component corrosion. Now, I've put a waterproof case on the key and also keep a spare key in the car just in case. This incident taught me that when electronic devices get wet, they should be powered off immediately and dried thoroughly—never test the buttons directly to check functionality.
