Q: Broken keyless entry

asked by on March 22, 2016

My keyless entry remote isn't working.

Hello! The first thing that I suggest checking is the battery level of the remote. Weak batteries are the leading cause for faulty key fob operation. However, on your specific vehicle, the leading cause of the malfunction is broken solder contacts on the key fob motherboard. The connection commonly breaks overtime due to the design of the fob. There is a little too much space inside of the fob which allows too much movement of the motherboard when the fob is pressed. The movement of the motherboard will flex the connections on the motherboard and eventually cause them to break. Some technicians will be able to fix the motherboard with a soldering iron but not all technicians have yet developed such a skill,so you may have to take it to a computer repair shop and they should have the knowledge to fix it. Another option is to replace the key fob all together. The dealership charges about $300 for an exact fit replacement but a less expensive fix is to get a universal key fob, which will usually run about $40.

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