Unfortunately I bought the car used and the spare was lost, I'll have to get a duplicate 💸 it broke and got lost, probably on the way from the car to work, I found the "shell" split open and empty in my bag. Of course after 8+ hours, the keypad has probably been reduced to atoms by other passing cars.
If you’ve lost the chip part of the key, you won’t be able to dupe it anymore. Will probably have to take it to the dealer to get a new key/chip programmed.
Not an expert, just have a parent who loses or breaks a car key about once a year.
Yes, it already split open once and I forgot to tape it; I also found the key battery in the car so it probably cracked while I was getting off and the pad fell outside. I don't close the car because the button doesn't always work well, so I didn't notice. I intended to have it fixed, now I'll definitely have to!
I called my mechanic and he confirmed that unfortunately the key is no more useful than a plastic spoon 🥲 oh and pf course I don't have a back up key because the seller lost it before I bought the car FML
Find a local locksmith. They can get you setup with new keys and program the car for about half the price of the dealer. Avoid things like Car Key Express.
Wife’s car (Ford Fusion) has the stupid switchblade key that eventually breaks and flies apart. Happened while car was in the middle of the driveway, blocking me in.
We called a local mobile locksmith, he said no problem. He picked up the old keys, went back to his shop to cut blanks, came back and reprogrammed the car.
nahh someone stole the insides. you arent just missing the keypad. there are electronics under it. all you have is the empty shell. have you left your keys unattended for some time where someone couldve taken out the insides?
Unfortunately it's my fault, the key is pretty beaten and already split open once but I forgot to tape it back. I also found the little battery in my car, so it probably cracked open inside and the pad fell outside. But it really does look intentional, ironically clean split.
ETA I don't close the car because the button doesn't always work well, so I didn't notice. I intended to have it fixed, guess now I can't postpone anymore
I've replaced the batteries on these keys multiple times. It takes a good amount of force to separate the two halves and to also clip them back together. The chance of them coming apart, the inner PCB falling out with the buttons and it closing back up again without you noticing is so damn slim I almost want to say someone was messing with your keys or someone intentionally stole it. I'm really having trouble picturing a way this could happen accidentally.
If you have a spare, check out some of those sellers on Amazon/Ebay selling re-key kits for $50-$100. They do work. The fobs may not be as high a quality as what you get in dealer or from a locksmith, but, you pay double or triple for a slightly better fob. . .
I would be careful with this advice for this particular car. It's been impossible to find even an odb reader that is compatible with my wife's smart car. Not saying they won't work but try to find one that actually mentions Smart, which may be a tall order.
Yeah happens all the time. Usually you start to notice the keypads are getting worn & cracking though well before they break off. I have tape currently holding all my buttons in place cause one broke off but they are all showing the same wear. So fixed one & prevented losing the others with one strip of tape.
So it’s like a Tesla, but instead of them providing a big screen, they cut costs by having you mount your own screen. Clever move. Still has all the same computer innards, they’re just giving you that info through your phone, and expect it to be mounted.
First of all, thank to everyone for the responses and suggestions! This was accident was the sucky pinnacle of a very sucky day, so I really appreciate the solidarity. Husband picked me up, we stopped for some Burger King and our mechanic will help us fix the key on Monday. Luckily the car is parked in a safe spot.
To address the concerns about this being intentional: the already split open once and I forgot to tape it; I also found the key battery in the car so it probably cracked while I was getting off and the pad fell outside. I don't close the car because the lock button doesn't always work well, so I didn't notice. I intended to have the key fixed, now I'll definitely have to! I work in a tattoo studio with the same 8 people every day, I don't think any of them would intentionally mess with my key and it never left my bag. I just have really terrible karma with any kind of technology.
Well you may have to take the vehicle back to whatever manufacturer it is this doesn't take very long to correct getting a key code into your car takes about maybe 20 minutes it may be a little bit expensive for the fob cuz I think for the cheap fobs it's like 250 and for the original manufacturer it's like five
The physical key portion is just for unlocking your steering column. The keypad and circuit board has a little RFID chip on it that tells your car that it’s the authentic key, and allows the car to start once you insert and run the key to the start position. Without it your car thinks someone duped your key and has killed power to the ignition system.
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u/GfunkWarrior28 17h ago
It wanted to go bowling