I accidentally washed my 2008 key fob. Dried it out and went out to the car and now the door will not open with the key in my hand as the red light won't flash as it reaches the vicinity to be sensed. However, when I push unlock, the red light flashes and it unlocks and the car still starts with the key in my hand, not in the slot. Locking works just fine, as well. So, the key works... but the sensor range is messed up? Any ideas how to fix this or am I going to need to invest in a whole new key? Thanks.
Car battery is fine, it's actually less than two months old... this is right after they key got washed accidentally.
I shall change the battery But. I can't get the spare key to come out of the case.. its jammed in there, so I am going to have to get help on that part, for sure. Might buy a new case though at least.
Usually washing the fob ruins it those two of you who've made it through were very lucky It's not normal for this fob to survive at all. Your transponder chip is a sealed unit You won't hurt that that's the little trapezoidal shape thing in the bottom but your green board and all that in the remote usually gets messed up It may unlock the car but it's not transmitting the transponder info or something like that so it doesn't sense that you're near the car with the fob things like that but it seems like it works good enough that when you get in the car you don't have to slot the try changing the round battery and hope for the best.
Given that your conclusion is that "the sensor range is messed up", I'm going to hypothesize that the little CR2032 battery in the fob was shorted enough to severely discharge it. I'd try replacing the fob battery. There is a locking mechanism on the top of the fob (see diagram below). Additionally, if the key and the cover have not been removed in a while they both might be a bit bound in there. Note also, that the lock slider needs to be used to release both the key and the cover.
