How to Repair or Replace Your Car s Key Fob
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Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. The device can be expensive to replace , so some drivers are tempted to find a cheap option online instead of turning to a dealer or a reputable automotive locksmith. But experts recommend against going that route. For one thing, it might not work, but it can also leave drivers open to scammers. “When customers buy their own fobs after doing searches for makes and model years, they often don’t work,” says Max Wilson, owner of the the Locksmith Agency in Richmond, Virginia. “All the Honda, Toyota [and other manufacturers’ fobs] look exactly alike, but their radio frequencies are different.” A key fob is an electr onic lock that controls entry and perhaps ignition without having to use an actual key. The fob communicates with the vehicle using radio waves that align with the car’s locking mechanism. Most new cars come with two fobs, and they often have enhanced functions , like the ability to start a car remotely or lower all the windows at once. To do its job, an automobile fob radiates a unique, low-frequency signal to a receiver unit in the car. When the unit registers that the signal is correct, it allow s the driver to use the fob to unlock doors, start the car’s engine or perform other tasks. But some car makes and models have different versions of these radio frequency numbers. That means the radio signals that connect the fob to the reader in the door of one 2021 Toyota Tundra, for example, may be different from those mated with other 2021 Toyota Tundras. In fact, a 2015 Honda CRV can have any one of 20 fob versions, Wilson says. “Every single detail matters when you buy a new fob,” says Sam Wilson, Max’s brother, who is also a second-generation locksmith. “Think of it this way : You can’t buy one traditional key and expect it to work on every car. It’s the same with fobs. There are a lot of variables.
How to Replace or Repair Your Car s Key Fob
Lost or broken devices can leave drivers with costly expenses and vulnerabilities
KTSDESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images Most new cars today come with a key fob that allows drivers to enter the vehicle without putting a key in the door lock. Some even control a car’s ignition. But what happens when that fob gets lost or damaged?Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. The device can be expensive to replace , so some drivers are tempted to find a cheap option online instead of turning to a dealer or a reputable automotive locksmith. But experts recommend against going that route. For one thing, it might not work, but it can also leave drivers open to scammers. “When customers buy their own fobs after doing searches for makes and model years, they often don’t work,” says Max Wilson, owner of the the Locksmith Agency in Richmond, Virginia. “All the Honda, Toyota [and other manufacturers’ fobs] look exactly alike, but their radio frequencies are different.” A key fob is an electr onic lock that controls entry and perhaps ignition without having to use an actual key. The fob communicates with the vehicle using radio waves that align with the car’s locking mechanism. Most new cars come with two fobs, and they often have enhanced functions , like the ability to start a car remotely or lower all the windows at once. To do its job, an automobile fob radiates a unique, low-frequency signal to a receiver unit in the car. When the unit registers that the signal is correct, it allow s the driver to use the fob to unlock doors, start the car’s engine or perform other tasks. But some car makes and models have different versions of these radio frequency numbers. That means the radio signals that connect the fob to the reader in the door of one 2021 Toyota Tundra, for example, may be different from those mated with other 2021 Toyota Tundras. In fact, a 2015 Honda CRV can have any one of 20 fob versions, Wilson says. “Every single detail matters when you buy a new fob,” says Sam Wilson, Max’s brother, who is also a second-generation locksmith. “Think of it this way : You can’t buy one traditional key and expect it to work on every car. It’s the same with fobs. There are a lot of variables.