A malfunctioning key fob can put a damper on your transport plans making it more complicated to get from one point to another. Especially if it stops working midway and you have to leave your car behind and use other means of transport. To ensure that you are not caught off-guard by a broken key fob, you need to know all the Bad key fob symptoms so you can handle them as they appear before it is too late.
Can a bad key fob cause a car not to start?
Yes. If the key fob is broken or has a damaged chip, it will not work, causing the car not to start up. But to learn why the key fob is not working, you need to identify whether the bad transponder key symptoms are chip related or fob functionality based.
How to tell if the chip in your key fob is bad
One of the leading causes of a malfunctioning key fob is a spoilt key chip. But the death of the chip does not always happen abruptly out of the blue. Unless you drop it or crush it, there will be some telltale signs that the key fob chip needs repair. Here are the Bad key chip symptoms to look out for;
Locking issues
Difficulty locking or unlocking your car using your key fob is an indication that the chip has an issue, and it is not responding to the transponder’s click action as it should. If this happens more than once, you should consider getting the key fob looked at by a key fob specialist or your car repair shop.
Emergency signal issues
If your car’s alarm goes off on its own without warning, then the chip may be damaged or broken. Additionally, if the key fob does not turn off the alarm once it goes off without notice, then the chip may be unable to register the transponder’s request.
Engine startup issues
When you click on your key fob to start your car to no avail, then your key fob chip is not working as it is supposed to, and you should get it professionally fixed. While the issue could be engine based or caused by any other problem, the most likely cause is a malfunctioning key fob.
When your engine is malfunctioning, it will turn on but sound weird or fail to start up fully. On the other hand, when the key fob is not working, the car will not startup.
What would cause a key fob to stop working?
Aside from a spoilt key fob chip, the other reasons your key fob can stop working, these include;
Low battery
A low battery can cause the key fob to stop working. The trick is figuring out when the battery is running low, so you can change it before the battery dies. Here are the low key fob battery signs to look for;
Reduced signal distance
The key fob distance for most keys is up to 50 feet. However, as your key battery runs low, it will make it difficult for your key fob to unlock your car from a distance—the narrower the operating range, the lower the battery. Replace your key fob battery when the signal range starts reducing.
Check this too: Can You Drive With an OBD Scanner Plugged in?
Wonky response
When your fob stops working consistently, then your battery may be running low. For instance, if you have to press it several times to unlock the doors or turn on the engine, you should replace it as the low battery may impact the transponder response. You can replace it yourself or have a professional do it. Make sure you use the right type of battery required for your key fob.
What happens when my key fob battery is low?
Depending on how low the battery is, you may be unable to unlock or car or even start it up. As the signs of a low battery state above, a low battery limits your key fob’s functionality.
Can my key fob be hacked?
Yes. But this is not as likely to happen as you would think. One needs to be tech-savvy to be able to hack the key fob. A special receiver is required to intercept your key fob’s signal and relay it to another key fob. The copycat key fob can then be used to unlock and start up your car.
As long as you are using the original manufacturer issued key fob, the chance of it getting hacked is low as compared to when using a replacement generic key fob made using a low-end key fob chip which no chip security.
