KEY FOB NOT WORKING

[oliver's dad]

The key fob on my 2004 x-type has stopped working again - I have it 'reset' by a local independent about once every year or so at a cost of £25 (which involves him plugging in a lap top etc etc) - and I have tried to reset it as in some of the youtube vids (where you are told/shown how to switch between positions one and two on the ingition switch etc), but this doesn't seem to work for me  -I don't get the required 'ping' noises.  It's driving me mad, and I'm getting fed up with the whole (costly) process - can anyone please help or tell me what I'm doing so wrong?  Any sensible replies would be extremely welcome....

[Manniewinaename]

Drivers door needs to be open when you do the reset as shown on youtube. So open the locks, enter car, do not close door.

Thats how it works on mine anyways!

[oliver's dad]

Hi Steve, and thanks for your reply.  I have seen two or three Youtube vids about how to go about fixing this problem, but I admit to being puzzled when the two I really tried to put into practice differed in whether the driver's door should be open or closed!  I did try both (each of them had the same 'alternate between position 1 and 2 on the ignition switch four times until you hear a 'ping'), but neither gave that all important 'ping' noise.  I'm presently waiting to get some new CR2032 batteries in order to change the current one in the fob and see if that makes a difference.  I admit to not being a techy so some of this is me flying a little blind, but I'll let you know how I get on...and thanks again for your input.   Graham

PS  The resets I have had done in the past by the Jaguar independent were always successful, but I wonder if the things they manage to do with their laptop and special software are perhaps different to what we can do here, and whether the program they use precludes the settings being changed in any other way (if that makes sense)?

[Greg]

The keys are cheap enough on eBay.  Yours could be faulty. Get another and reset it

[oliver's dad]

Hi Greg and Steve.  It turns out that the only problem was the button battery (2032) in the fob itself.  Not being that technically minded it was a bit of a relief, and at least I'll know to try that first if it happens again.  Thanks for your input - much appreciated,   Graham

[ultrageoff]

An awful lot of people have X type key fobs that are a bit 'iffy' - one or two buttons don't work, you need to press once sometimes, two or three times on other occasions etc? The main problem is that  the microswitches inside the fob become worn out, often (weirdly!) covered in a combination green or brown 'goo'.

A button on mine had even become semi-detached from the circuit board. There's a cheap and reasonably quick fix that will very probably leave your key fob working 'as new':

1. Buy a new replacement key on eeebaaay for around £13.98 . 433MHz version for UK and Europe, different in USA. Split in into two halves, as you do when changing the battery in the fob. See YouTube videos for guide - it's easy. Don't expose the circuit board, just get it split into the two halves. Do the same for your old key.

2. Put the new 'buttons' half of the key onto your old 'key' end. This means you now have a new set of rubber buttons, a new set of switches on your new circuit board and a new battery (which was included). No need to expose the circuit board or check the battery - just combine the new buttons end with the the old key end.

3. Make sure the aperture cover on your ignition lock isn't sticking. If it is, you won't be able to pair your new buttons to the car. Squirt some WD40 in, push the key in and out a few times and it should free up. If it is okay, it looks as below.

4. Watch the YouTube videos on how to pair your key(s). Have the door open and do it quickly, not slowly and carefully - you only have ten seconds. Don't hang about - 1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2, pull key out, press a button on each of your remotes.

Honestly, this is the quickest and easiest fix for a key fob buttons. If, say, your fob will lock remotely but not unlock, this is very likely to be the fix.

Does not apply if your key will not start the car - that'll be something else.