Remote key fob not working as well as it used to? Must you stand in front of your car pressing the button several times for it to work? A key fob restoration may be in order!

Tools You Will Need Gather the necessary materials; a very small flathead screwdriver, some alcohol wipes or a bottle of rubbing alcohol, new batteries if you can’t remember when they were last replaced, and of course, your keys. My screwdriver has a broken handle, but feel free to use an intact one if you prefer. Batteries can be had at your local parts store but I typically find the best price at the pharmacy. My remote uses a CR2032, but double check yours before you buy batteries.

Let's Get Started

Start by prying apart the remote at the seam. Simply insert the blade of the screwdriver and give it a quick twist, that should pop it open for you. (Note: some key fobs have a very small Phillips screw holding the thing together, so check yours to make sure there isn’t a screw on there before you go prying it apart!)


And you will get something that looks like this.

The circuit board should have a rubber piece around it, and they will pull out together. Simply grab a corner of the rubber and pull gently, it will pop out of the plastic casing. Be careful not to let the buttons fall out of the casing, or at the very least remember which button goes where.

Then, remove the circuit board from the rubber by simply pulling it out.


This is where the cleaning takes place. Using either an alcohol wipe or some rubbing alcohol on a very small cloth, hit the contact points on the circuit board. Also clean the rubber piece off, inside and out. As you’ll probably notice, dirt and grime accumulate on that thing. On the backside of the circuit board, hit the battery contacts too.


Put the circuit board back in the rubber, pop it back into the casing. Now is the time to replace the batteries, then put it all back together and you’re set to go! Mine now works from about fifty yards away, which isn’t too shabby for an eleven year old remote!



While you’ve got the alcohol wipes or rubbing alcohol out, take a minute to clean the rubber wiping edge of your windshield wipers off too. I do this every couple of weeks and my wiper blades are going on their third year of use, as quiet and clean as the day they were new.