How to Open Jeep Key Fob: to Change Battery

The Jeep key fob is a component of your car’s keyless entry system. Unlike in the olden days when manually locking and unlocking car doors was required, recent-year Jeep models with key fobs do this for you electronically. Therefore, it would be advantageous to become familiar with this novel feature and understand when a battery replacement is necessary. You can definitely accomplish these goals with the aid of this guide.

Ways to Tell If a Key Fob Battery is Low

Indicator Light Displaying Green Flashes

Whenever you turn off your engine, pay attention to the indicator lights and see if it does this. If the answer is yes, it is a sign of a weak battery and a signal degradation.

Multiple Button Presses

The simplicity of opening and closing your car doors is one of the obvious advantages of owning a Jeep key fob. It may be time to visit the local hardware store for a pack of 3V CR2032 coin cell batteries if you are having trouble performing this straightforward procedure.

Decreased Range

A 50-foot operating range is typical for car key fobs, not just Jeeps. If your key fob does not work at this range, immediately change the battery.

Inconsistent Operation

Yes, sometimes we are tempted to blame ourselves (as well as our drained fingers) when this occurs. But believe me when I tell you t is a fading key fob battery causing these inconsistencies. To avoid incurring costly reprogramming costs, make sure to replace your key fob battery right away.

How to Change Jeep Key Fob Battery

Batteries for Jeep key fobs typically last three to four years. The battery could run out much sooner, though, depending on how often it is used. It’s time for a battery replacement if you have to press the keypad several times to lock your car doors or if your key fob is no longer functional within 45 feet of your car.

1. Pop the Jeep Key Fob Open With a Screwdriver.

You will require a flathead screwdriver to open your key fob and access the battery because it is made of plastic that snaps together. To accomplish this, place the screwdriver tip into the seam of the key fob (located close to the key ring). Pry bars are favored by some Jeep owners.

For some Jeep models like the Jeep Renegade, it is necessary to remove the pull-out metal ignition key first before popping the key fob open. The metal ignition backup can be released by finding the metal switch on the key fob and sliding it over. The metal ignition key should be placed aside in a secure location once it has been extracted.

2. Apply Pressure on the Screwdriver as You Pry It Open.

You can use the screwdriver tip on its own or with the aid of soft material, depending on how delicately you can complete this step, to lessen the chance of damaging the plastic. Put the screwdriver tip at the Jeep key fob seam. And with just the right amount of force, pry it open (never twist) – but be careful not to damage the key fob’s plastic parts. Otherwise, you won’t be able to reassemble it later.

3. Remove the Jeep Key Fob Battery from Its Housing.

As you disassemble the key fob, you will see that it consists of five parts, as follows:

• The first half of the housing that has holes for the keypad and the key attached to it
• The keypad
• The circuit board
• The battery
• The second half of the housing that holds the battery in place

I advise noting down the polarity of the old battery before you take it out, so you won’t forget it when you replace it. Observe the circuit board as well. Adjustments must be made in order to return it to its original position if any of its tiny parts are missing or loose.

Lastly, take care not to scratch or bend the metal electrical contacts if using a screwdriver to pry out the old battery.

4. Insert the Replacement Battery.

Typically, the key fob battery has its positive side facing up and its negative side facing down. However, this may not be the case for all key fobs. This is why I suggested earlier noting the polarity of the old battery; using that mental image as a foolproof guide, you can position the new battery.

The positive news is that some Jeep key fobs have labels printed into the battery socket with instructions for how the battery should be installed.

5. Reassemble the Key Fob Components.

You must put the other components of the key fob back together after changing the battery. The circuit board should first be inserted into the keypad, then the keypad should be inserted into the housing where it fits. Once you have completed these steps, you should be ready to go. It is simplest to complete the following when reassembling. Place the half with the battery on the half with the keypad and circuit board, according to Quadratec.

6. Snap the Key Fob Housings Together.

At this stage, the two halves of your key fob should be assembled. Now all you have to do is snap them together, starting close to the key ring and moving to the opposite end of the casings. In particular, for key fobs with a pull-out metal ignition backup, it’s crucial to make sure the housings of the key fobs are flush at every edge. If not, the latter won’t fit when you replace the key fob.

7. Reprogram Your Jeep Key Fob (Optional).

Changing the battery is typically all that’s required to fix a non-functioning Jeep key fob. It’s possible that this won’t always be enough, in which case you’ll need to reprogramme your key fob to get it working again. If you find yourself in this situation, then follow the below steps:

• Have your Jeep key fob programmer on hand. This is available from a Mopar® online store or an authorized parts center.
• Next, turn the ignition to the first position while putting your key in the ignition. Do this without turning on the engine, please.
• The OBD/DLC port on your car is under the steering column on the driver’s side. Insert the key fob programmer into this port.
• Lock and unlock buttons on your Jeep key fob should be simultaneously pressed for three seconds, followed by two seconds of unlocking.
• Remove the Jeep key fob programmer after turning off your ignition.
• Before testing your key fob, wait two minutes. By that time, it should already work.

Conclusion

Drivers of Gretna Jeeps are provided with key fobs, and they should last for years without ever needing any maintenance. That said, those who hang on to their model may eventually need to search the internet for “how to change the battery in jeep key fob” or “how to program a jeep key fob”. So use this guide to change the battery on your own!

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