A lot of Nissan car users keep complaining that their Nissan key fob not working after battery change. This happens quite often, especially after replacing your car key fob’s batteries. While the modern-day car key fob technology is a boon to us, situations, where the key fob won’t work, can be quite troublesome. You’ve recently had the key fob batteries replaced, so it can’t be a battery issue.
One of the main reasons your car key doesn’t work after changing its battery is that the key fob automatically resets after a battery change. Some of the other causes behind this issue could be a damaged car door circuit, faulty ignition cylinder, or a damaged key fob.
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Top 3 Reasons Why Your Nissan Key Fob Not Working After Battery Change
There are two major scenarios to consider with Nissan car key fobs not working after battery change: 1. Your car key fob wasn’t working beforehand and replacing the battery hasn’t solved the problem, 2. The key fob needed a battery replacement and has suddenly stopped working after the battery change.
If your situation falls in the latter category, then perhaps, the key fob has been reset due to the battery change. Most of the Nissan car key fobs automatically reset after a battery replacement. On the other hand, if your issue falls in the first category, there might be other deeper problems with your key fob or the car itself.
There could be several reasons why your Nissan key fob isn’t working after changing its battery. Given below are the 3 most common causes behind this key fob issue. Let’s check them out:
#1 Key Fob Reprogramming/Reset
Sometimes when you change the batteries of your keyfob, it might need to be reprogrammed to communicate with your car door. In general, your key needs to be programmed to work with your car door. This extra security feature won’t allow your car door to be unlocked by any random key.
However, it is seen that at times, changing the battery of the keyfob might delete its programming. Almost all Nissan car keys need to be reset after their keyfob batteries have been replaced.
Solution: In this case, you need to reprogram your keyfob to work with your car. It’s a simple and easy process. Given below are the steps to reset the programming of your Nissan key fob:
Step 1. Get inside your car, sit in the driver’s seat, and shut all the car doors.
Step 2. Insert the key in the ignition slot and turn it to the ON position. Now, press and hold your keyfob’s lock button for a couple of seconds.
Step 3. Turn off the ignition key and turn it on again after 5 seconds.
Note: Make sure you don’t take off the key after turning the ignition to the OFF position.
Step 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 four times. By the fourth attempt, the lock will be making the regular sound they usually make when turned ON.
This implies that the key has been programmed. You should also try using the reprogrammed key to open the car door. If it doesn’t work, repeat the second and third steps.
If you are unable to reprogram or reset your Nissan key fob, call an automotive locksmith or your car dealership to reprogram the key fob.
#2 Internal Damage
You can’t blame everything on a bad battery. A car key fob works when its transmitter communicates with the receiver of the car. If either of these two is faulty or damaged, then the communication won’t happen. Car key fobs get damaged over time with regular wear and tear. Accidental dropping and mishandling might be contributing factors as well.
Solution: Some of the signs to look out for to determine if your car key fob has been internally damaged or not are:
- Some buttons work, others don’t.
- The key fob has been struck or submerged in the water recently.
- Buttons are loose.
You need to seek the help of your car dealership or any automotive locksmith to get the internal workings of your key fob repaired. If repair is not possible, they will advise you to replace the car key fob. You can also try repairing the key fob yourself. Here’s a video tutorial for your reference:
#3 Faulty Ignition Cylinder
If you can open your car door with your key fob but can’t start the car, then the issue probably lies with the ignition cylinder. Your key fob doesn’t work alone, it communicates with certain parts of your car to perform a specific function. If either the keyfob or the car part gets damaged, the keyfob won’t work.
So, if your car door is responding to the key fob but the ignition isn’t, then, you should check if the ignition is faulty or not.
Solution: To be completely sure that the problem is with the ignition cylinder and not with the keyfob, check for the following symptoms:
- Key opens the car door but not doesn’t start the car.
- The immobilizer indicator light is on.
- Ignition wasn’t working even before you replaced the key fob batteries.
If your car shows the above signs, then, the ignition cylinder is probably damaged. You need to repair the ignition cylinder and if that’s not possible, it needs to be replaced. Here are some video tutorials to help you with the same:
If you are unable to do it on your own, then you should consult a technician.
Final Words
Nissan key fob not working after battery change could make you blame several factors. The battery itself surely isn’t the only reason why your car key fob won’t work. In this article, we have listed down the top causes why your key fob won’t work even after replacing its battery. We hope you have gone through them and have successfully solved your key fob issue.
