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How Do I Know if My Car Key Battery Is Dying?
A dying car key battery becomes less inconvenient if you catch it early. A key sign that you need a new car key battery is a weakening transmitter.
Another sign of a dying car key battery is when it takes multiple button presses to lock or unlock your car or activate your car alarm. A dying car key fob will become increasingly inconsistent.
If you find that you need to press your key fob’s buttons multiple times to get them to work, you need to get a new car key battery.
How Much Does a Car Key Battery Cost?
What You Need To Look For Before Buying a Key Battery
So, where can you get your car’s key battery replaced? First, you need to know what kind of key fob battery you need. You can learn this by looking at your fob’s old battery. On the front, you should see a three-digit or four-digit identification number. This ID number denotes the button cell your key fob needs.
The most common button cell used in key fobs is the CR2032. However, many key fobs use CR2450, CR2025, CR1616, and CR2016. If you can’t find the ID number on your fob’s battery, your car’s owner’s manual should tell you what battery your fob needs.
Where Can I Get My Car Key Battery Replaced?
The following are various places where you can get your car key battery replaced when needed.
As a specialized battery store, BatteriesPlus has a vast selection of key fob batteries. With batteries in all standard formats and several less common ones, you’re sure to find what you need.
While you can have batteries shipped to your door, BatteriesPlus only offers quality service at their stores. They’ll help you identify the replacement you need and install it so you can be in and out within minutes.
The Keyless Shop at Sears has only two battery types, CR2032 and CR2016. However, if either of those numbers is the battery you need, you’re in luck. The Keyless Shop sells them in packs of 10, $5 for CR2032s and $6 for 10 CR2016s.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal anywhere else. As for in-store service, The Keyless Shop offers to replace your key fob battery in-store for $9.75.
Autozone carries car key batteries in a wide range of types from Energizer and Duracell. Most of Autozone’s batteries are in single-unit packs, with only Energizer-brand 2032, 2025, and 2016 coin cells available in 2-packs.
There’s also an Energizer 357BP-3N 3-pack and 4-packs of 2025 and 2032 cells. Autozone offers free next-day delivery on many of its batteries when ordered online.
Mister Minit has offered mobile locksmithing services for many years. So when you’re stuck at home due to a dead car key battery, help is just one phone call away.
The highly trained and professional Mister Minit team can replace your car key battery while you wait. They exclusively use Energizer-brand battery cells with a 1-year warranty.
America’s largest retail store has perhaps the largest selection of car key batteries so far on this list. You can choose from a dizzying array of cell types made by a vast collection of brands, and Walmart even sells rechargeable coin cells for around $10.
If you live in the United States, the odds are good that there’s a Walmart store near you, but if you’d rather not drive, Walmart offers 3-day shipping on most of their batteries.
O’Reilly also offers free next-day shipping on most of its batteries. Whether you’d prefer O’Reilly or Autozone depends on which store is closer or which store has free next-day shipping on the specific battery you need.
How do I Change the Battery in my Key Fob?
You will need a small screwdriver or other similarly small, flat-bladed device. In a pinch, your fingernail will suffice. A seam should separate the two halves of your key fob. In some fobs, the seam may even include a notch. To open the fob, wedge your screwdriver into the seam and pry until it pops open.
Once the fob is open, look for the metallic coin-shaped disk that’s the battery. Remember how it’s oriented. You must place the replacement battery in the same orientation. Look for a number printed on one side of the battery that denotes the battery type; your replacement battery should be the same.
Once you’ve received your replacement battery and disposed of the old one, place the new battery in the same location and orientation as the old one. Finally, snap the two halves of your fob back together, and you’ve successfully replaced the battery in your key fob!
FAQ
Here are a few commonly asked questions regarding replacement batteries for your key fob.
How long should a battery last in a car key fob?
The batter can last up to 3 to 4 years, depending on the frequency of use.
What kind of battery does my car key need?
The most common batteries for car keys are CR2032 and CR2025 3-Volt batteries, which are circular batteries about the size of a quarter.
What happens if my car key battery dies?
If the fob also has a key, you can simply unlock the car with the key. However, if it is a keyless entry car, you must replace the battery to unlock and start the vehicle.
Are all car key batteries the same?
While CR2032 and CR2025 3-Volt batteries are the most common, some fobs may call for different batteries. Check the owner’s manual for more information about the required batteries.
Conclusion
Although you don’t often think about the battery in your car key fob, you feel its absence when it finally dies. As a result, many essential functions, such as locking and unlocking your car, opening the trunk, and finding your vehicle at a distance, become much harder.
So if you find yourself asking, “So, where can I get my car key battery replaced?” We hope this article has given you the tools you need to get your key fob working again, so it can go back to work for you!
James is an engineer and a professional blogger. He has gained extensive experience over the years, handling all types of power projects. He loves to share his experiences with all things related to batteries, generators, and other power-related topics.
