Ford Key Fob Not Working After Battery Change: Causes and Solutions

The key fob is an amazing battery-operated device through which you can unlock your Ford’s doors. You no longer need that mechanical key to open the car’s door. First, however, you need to know how to solve the Ford key fob not working after the battery change issue.

Since the key fob runs on battery, it sometimes runs into various problems like:

• Electronic Circuit Issue
• Broken Locks
• Battery Dead

Even after the battery change, these tiny issues make you frustrated. Therefore, this blog will show you the reasons and the relevant solutions to fix your Ford’s key fob after a battery change.

What’s a Key Fob & How Does it Work?

The rapid advancement in the automobile industry presented us with the electronic systems in vehicles. You already know that hybrid cars are getting more common these days. A hybrid card uses mechanical as well as electronic systems to run. Moreover, it runs on fuel and the battery as well.

This electronic enhancement also gave rise to the development of handheld devices that run on batteries. One of the important devices is the key fob.

Key Fob

A key fob is a device that has replaced the need for mechanical keys and locks. That’s right.

It’s a small remote control having 3/4/5 buttons through which you can control your Ford’s doors. Not only that, a key fob has other important functions as well, including:

• Unlock Car’s Doors (Primary Function)
• Keyless Ignition
• Fold Side Mirrors
• Open/Close Sunroof, Windows, Bonnet, and Trunk

Working of Key Fob

A key fob has an electronic circuit integrated with microsensors and controllers. On the other hand, your Ford also has sensors installed that respond to the key fob’s activity.

Once you are in the range of your vehicle, the key fob’s sensor will detect that and gets activated. Therefore, now you can press any button and get to your car without using any mechanical key to unlock the doors.

Now, a key fob needs a power source to work. The least expensive solution to make the key fob operable is using a battery.

Typically, CR2025 and CR2032 3-Volt batteries are used for a Ford key fob.

You already know the devices that run on batteries are fragile. Similarly, a key fob is also sensitive. So you have to keep taking care of that humble little remote.

Now, the average life expectancy of the key fob is 3-4 years that you are using for your Ford. If you are wondering how to know when your key fob’s battery is dying, there are some signs.

Here are the 3V Button Cell Batteries for your key fob.

How to Know My Key Fob Battery is Dying?

Weaker Signals

First of all, the signal range will become weaker. According to Ford, you can give specific commands to your car from 300 feet away using the key fob. Sounds amazing, isn’t it?

However, you will experience a gradual reduction in that distance with time. That’s the first symptom that tells the key fob’s battery is dying.

Unresponsive Buttons

Since the key fob is a small remote controller, it has also got a few buttons. Above, you have seen the functionalities of a key fob. You can acquire all of them using the respective buttons embedded on the key fob.

Usually, your car will respond once you press a button when in range. A single press is enough to fulfill the command.

However, if pressing a button twice or thrice makes the thing work, it’s the second symptom that the key fob’s battery is dying.

So, what are you going to do to solve that? The solution is easy.

Simply replace the coin battery with the new one.

Now, when you change the battery of your Ford key fob, that remote is supposed to work properly after the battery change. But you start getting more problems that never existed before.

Common Problems After Key Fob Battery Change

Following are the common issues that arise after the Ford key fob battery change:

• Automatic Pressing of Buttons
• Car’s Chirping Without any Reason
• Doors Lock/Unlock Issue

These issues weren’t there before the battery change. However, you are facing new problems after the key fob battery change.

Therefore, let’s discuss how to solve these problems with your Ford key fob.

Reset Your Key Fob

Change the Battery

First of all, try replacing the battery. You can easily do that by removing the back lid of the key fob. Unfortunately, it’s made of plastic. So make sure you handle that with care.

Besides, avoid touching the circuit inside the key fob. The key fob’s electronic control unit (ECU) is quite fragile.

Sit in Your Car

After replacing the battery, get inside your car. Make sure that all doors are closed once you are inside. If any one of the doors is left open, the key fob reset process might fail.

Power On Vehicle Ignition System

Once you are inside your car, turn on the car’s electrical ignition system without powering up the car’s engine.

Press & Hold Lock Button

Press and hold the key fob’s lock button and then turn off the vehicle key. Repeat the same process three to four times.

Check out the Key Fob Case for your Ford key fob.

Listen to the Lock Sound

You will hear the lock sound caused by the above process. The sound indicates that you are in programming mode. Therefore, you have to press the lock button within five seconds after the lock sound.

When you press the lock button, the ECU will save the settings and reset the key fob.

Turn Off Ignition System

Once you are done with the above step, turn off the vehicle’s ignition system. That will end the programming mode.

Now, test the performance of your key fob by getting out of your car. After that, the key fob will function properly.

Conclusion

Like other battery-operated devices, the Ford key fob also misbehaves when you change its battery. As a result, you will see abnormal activities like unnecessary key fob chirps and failure to lock/unlock your car’s doors.

Therefore, all you have to do is simply reset the Ford key fob. Once you do that, you will get back the key fob in its normal condition.