Key Fob Programming in Charleston, SC

When a fob gets wet

Tidal floods reach Charleston streets, and a fob that has soaked in floodwater, or sat in a car that took on water, may stop working. Before treating it as dead:

1. Open the case and let the board and battery dry fully, away from direct heat.
2. Fit a new battery of the type printed on the old one.
3. Test every button standing next to the car.

If it still fails, corrosion may have reached the board and the fob may need replacing. The new one has to be programmed to the car before it will lock, unlock or, on push-button cars, start it.

Garages and storm warnings

Fob programming needs the car itself, so where the car sits matters. If it is in a city garage such as Marion Square at 399 King Street, give the level and the nearest stairwell. When flooding or high winds are probable, the city may open some of its garages to residents for set periods. A working fob with a fresh battery makes it easier to move a car into one and lock it there, so test your fobs at the start of storm season rather than on the day of a warning.

What to have ready

• every fob and key you have for the car, working or not. On some cars, programming a new fob erases any fob that is not present, so one left at home can stop working.
• the VIN, from the registration or the plate at the base of the windshield
• a photo ID and the registration or title
• the car's make, model and year, and whether it has push-button start

If every key is lost, the job is car key replacement. See key fob programming for the service and the Charleston page for local parking notes.