Key Fob Programming in Green Bay, WI

Salt, cold and your fob

Road salt is part of winter driving in Wisconsin: the state Department of Transportation uses an average of 452,000 tons of it per season. Slush dries in the seams of a fob that rides in a coat pocket or sits in a cup holder, and the buttons can start to stick or lose contact. Wipe a splashed fob and let it dry at room temperature.

Cold is the other half. Coin-cell batteries give less power when they are cold, so a fob that works in the kitchen may lose range across a parking lot in January. Before deciding a fob has failed:

1. Replace the battery with the type printed on the old one.
2. Try the fob close to the car, then from farther away.
3. Try a second fob if you have one; if both fail, the problem may be in the car rather than the fob.

Garage, driveway or street

Programming has to happen at the car, so a garage or driveway, with shelter and room to work, beats a curb. A car on the street is subject to the overnight ban in Section 40-29(I), which covers 3 to 5 a.m., so give the block and the time to keep the work clear of that window. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to have ready

• Every fob and key you have for the car, working or not. Some cars erase any fob not present when a new one is added, so one left in a drawer may stop working.
• The vehicle identification number (VIN), from the windshield corner or the registration
• Make, model and year, and whether the car has push-button start
• Photo ID and the registration or title
• Whether the problem is a dead remote, a fob the car no longer recognizes, or a lost fob

If every fob and key is gone, the job is car key replacement. More on key fob programming and the Green Bay page.