Key Fob Repair

[Ltngdrvr]

Decided to start a new thread for this, extended from my thread ALFA OBD Gurus. https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/alfa-obd-gurus.270579/

My key fobs had become super sensitive, being triggered at the lightest touch, often resulting in my finding my truck sitting in the drive running, even though I hadn't tried to remote start it, or unlocked even though I had locked it when parked.

What happens is the contact discs on the under side of the rubber button pads become dislodged, sticking to the circuit board, making contact with the contact points on the board at the slightest touch of the button pad.

In that thread it was suggested by @RaceC that there was an easier way to fix my original key fobs, rather than replacing them entirely, which would require reprogramming, along with the need for the code for the truck. The fix was to buy replacement rubber key fob button pads from amazon. So, went to amazon and searched that out, found a seller selling a pair for about $16 and bought them. After that, the order confirmation screen came up and on it was more similar items suggested, one of which was another fob button pad for a touch over $6, and it was on prime so I could return it easier if I needed to. I clicked the link, and it turns out that seller offered the fob button pads in pairs for only $10, so even cheaper yet for a pair! So, cancelled the original order and ordered the $10 pair, and since they were on Prime they shipped way faster than the first order and they came in today.

Big thank you to @RaceC for saving me money and time and giving me the route to a simple fix!

If you want to find these on amazon, use the search terms below because for some reason amazon links don't seem to work on here.
Search terms, copy and paste on amazon>
KAWIHEN Keyless Entry Remote Key Fob Skin Replacement for Chrysler Town AND Country Dodge Durango Grand Caravan Journey Ram 1500 2500 3500 Jeep Grand Cherokee GQ4-53T M3N5WY783X IYZ-C01C

So, the key fobs are a bit of a PITA to take apart, they have a tiny screw in the end where the mechanical key slides in. I ended up buying a whole new set of micro tipped screwdrivers just so I could get one the size needed to take the screw out. After the screw is out, the two halves just pry apart, then pull the circuit board out, then remove the old rubber button pad and replace with the new one and the reassemble the fob.

The newly repaired fobs work like new, with a nice new click feeling button detent when you push the buttons. A way easier, far less expensive way to fix the fobs when they become super sensitive. $10 for a pair of button pads, compared to $26 for new complete fobs that have to be reprogrammed to boot.

Pic of new key fob button pads, arrows pointing to contact discs inside.
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Pic of old fob button pad, red arrows showing dislodged contact disc locations, green arrow showing the one still in place.
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Pic of circuit board, arrows showing the dislodged discs sitting loose, this is what screws the deal up, making contact with the contact points on the board when they aren't supposed to.
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Pic of the end of the fob with the mechanical key removed, the tiny screw has to be removed to separate to two halves of the fob to get in to do the repair.
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The tiny screw...
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And, the like new repaired fob, in perfect working order!
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[Ltngdrvr]

Something I left out, the loose contact discs on the circuit board need to be removed before reassembling the fob. They are just sitting loose on the board, just pick them off.

 

[Wiredawg]

Thanks for the post, great bird dogging an inexpensive fix for the expensive fobs. I've personally never had a problem with mine, but nice to know there's a cheap fix if I do.

Cheers, Ron

 

[RammerJam]

Thanks for the write-up. Very informative and, even more important -- Useful. It's gonna save a lot of people a lot of trouble in the future.

Is it just me or do the contact points and the Fob cover look like a mirror image in the Pic #1?

Also, the old contacts? I'm sure you just discard those, right?

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Thanks for the write-up. Very informative and, even more important -- Useful. It's gonna save a lot of people a lot of trouble in the future.

Is it just me or do the contact points and the Fob cover look like a mirror image in the Pic #1?

Also, the old contacts? I'm sure you just discard those, right?

Has to be the mirror image since the circuit board lays in the buttons opposite of how it is in the pic, flip it over to lay it into the buttons.
I saved the old button pad and the contact discs, although they aren't good for anything anymore.
I'm terrible about keeping stuff like that...just in case...

 

[lpennock]

I saved the old button pad and the contact discs, although they aren't good for anything anymore.

I've had some luck using RTV to hold the pads to the rubber. It works for about 6 months and then needs repeating.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

I've had some luck using RTV to hold the pads to the rubber. It works for about 6 months and then needs repeating.

For 5 bucks a piece, the new button pads work great, and hopefully will be 5 years before I have to worry about it. And, of course, almost no chance I will still have the truck then anyway!