key fob stopped working even w fresh battery

Asked by Mel Apr 27, 2024 at 07:43 PM about the 2005 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer V8 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

one day key fob didnt open door 2005  eb explorer, changed fob battery tried
the on/off trick still doesnt wk using key now to open & yes car starts  I have
tried the dash lights on & off trick & hear the clicks of locks all around
vehicle, and pushed the fob lock button several times with dash lights both
ways on & off left key in ignition, but fob is still not working & I cant alarm the
vehicle by doing 2 clicks on fob when I get out because its not working. I
push lock button on car door when I get out but I would love to be able to
open with fob so not fumbling around in dark parking lot trying to put key in
etc.

5 Answers

550

Open up the fob, remove the battery and check for any corrosion on the battery terminal; you might also clean the area using an electronic spray cleaner.

307,545

Could be time for a new fob. I just had to replace the fob on my 2010 vehicle as it just stopped working. After I got the new ones programmed I took the old fob apart and found the tiny switches inside were just falling apart.

157,685

You didn't install the battery backwards, did you?

155,705

Usually these keyless entry systems work on a rolling code system. The vehicle computer knows what code to expect next when you use the fob next. If the fob gets out of sync with the vehicle computer for some reason it will stop working. These "tricks" that are all over the internet rarely work. They're usually part of another repair and/or the poster doesn't understand how the system works! Your local locksmith, if it's a good one, or your local Ford Dealer is your best bet. Jim

203,125

Based on what I'm reading, it seems that the batteries went dead, then when you changed batteries, the car lost the fob code. You need to reprogram the car to the fob. It's simple, covered in the owners manual. Yes, the twenty year old fob could just be dead and you need to replace it, but try the reprogram. By reprograming, you actually refresh everything about the fob & car.

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