When Winter Strikes: Why Your Remote Start Key Fob Fails in Cold Weather and How to Fix It
As winter temperatures plummet, countless drivers face a frustrating morning ritual: pressing their remote start button repeatedly, only to watch their car remain silent and cold. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. When winter hits Columbus, Ohio, key fob problems become one of the most common reasons drivers call a car locksmith. If your key fob stops unlocking the door, doesn’t respond until you press it 10 times, or your remote start refuses to activate on cold mornings you’re not alone.
Understanding Why Cold Weather Affects Key Fobs
Extreme cold affects modern smart keys in several ways. Batteries drain faster, internal circuits stiffen, receivers freeze, and ice buildup around door locks prevents the fob signal from reaching the vehicle. The primary culprit behind most cold-weather key fob failures is battery performance degradation.
Cold weather effects can weaken a battery, making it less efficient. The cold can reduce battery efficiency. Cold weather effects can weaken a battery, making it less efficient. Low temperatures reduce battery voltage, even when the battery is new. This means that even a relatively new battery may struggle to provide sufficient power when temperatures drop below freezing.
Most smart key batteries are temperature sensitive causing the fob to become intermittent, fully functional, or inoperative all in the same day. Cold weather kills those fob batteries (all makes and models of cars).
Common Cold Weather Key Fob Problems
Several issues typically arise when temperatures drop:
- Reduced Signal Range: One of the most frustrating cold weather car problems is when your key fob doesn’t respond. You press the button, but nothing happens.
- Intermittent Function: Anyone else have an issue with their keys when the temps drops below freezing. Had a couple cold days this winter and on those days my key fob doesn’t wanna unlock/lock even when I’m next to the car.
- Complete Failure: Cold + an old battery = instant key fob failure.
- Remote Start Issues: Remote start is the first feature to fail when the car battery drops power.
Troubleshooting Steps for Cold Weather Key Fob Issues
Check Your Key Fob Battery
Dead Battery: The most common issue. Battery Check: Replace the key fob battery if it’s weak or dead. Cold temperature can make battery less effective. Maybe there’s a bad contact in the key fob you might be able to fix by opening it and changing out the battery.
Even if your vehicle hasn’t displayed a low battery warning, you have a marginal battery in the key fob that will not trigger a low battery warning at room temperature, but is too low to function at 20 degrees.
Warm Your Key Fob
A simple solution that often works is body heat. If you kept the fob closer to your body you’d never have an issue, countless others on the mountains did that exact same thing and had no issues. If it is an issue with the battery in the fob not opening the doors when it’s cold out, Hold the key up against the bottom of your chin while inside the house and unlock the doors that way.
Check Vehicle Battery Performance
The first step in remote start troubleshooting is to check the vehicle battery performance. The first step in remote start troubleshooting is to check the vehicle battery performance. Cold weather can also expose a weak vehicle battery. If your starts are sluggish or electronics are acting weird, a quick battery test can save you a bad morning on I-85.
Professional Solutions and When to Call an Expert
If basic troubleshooting doesn’t resolve your issues, it may be time to consult a professional. For residents in the Chester, Pennsylvania area, an experienced automotive locksmith chester can provide comprehensive diagnostics and solutions for complex key fob problems.
Reprogram Key Fobs: Attempt to reprogram the key fobs to the vehicle. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual for reprogramming the key fobs. This process may require both key fobs and might need to be performed by a dealership or automotive locksmith if it’s not feasible to do it yourself.
Prevention Tips for Winter Key Fob Maintenance
Preventing cold weather key fob issues is often easier than fixing them:
- Regular Battery Replacement: Regularly replacing the key fob battery can help. Replace batteries before winter arrives, even if they seem to be working fine.
- Proper Storage: Keep your key fob warm by storing it in an inside pocket close to your body rather than in an outer jacket pocket or purse.
- Avoid Electronic Interference: Keep the key fob away from other electronic devices. This reduces the chances of interference.
- Regular Maintenance: Regular maintenance is crucial for preventing Cold Weather Car Problems. It’s essential for ensuring your remote start works effectively.
Understanding Your Service Options
When dealing with persistent key fob issues, working with an established locksmith service can make all the difference. McCausland Lock Service, operating as locksnkeys.com, brings over 100 years of family locksmithing expertise to Delaware County and Philadelphia County, PA. McCausland Lock Service combines five generations of locksmithing expertise with modern security solutions. Tom and his daughter Chrissy continue our family tradition of providing personalized, detail-oriented service that outperforms big box stores and inexperienced competitors.
Their automotive services include OEM key replacement at a fraction of dealer prices. Walk-ins welcome for most vehicles. This level of expertise is particularly valuable when dealing with complex modern key fob systems that require specialized programming and diagnostic equipment.
Emergency Preparedness
Winter weather can be unpredictable, so having a backup plan is essential. For winter months, keep a reliable 24 hour locksmith near you saved for emergency road situations. That’s why cold-weather-related lock and key failures spike from December to February.
Consider keeping a spare key fob battery in your vehicle’s glove compartment, and familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s manual key entry and emergency start procedures. Many modern vehicles have backup systems that allow you to start the car even when the key fob battery is completely dead.
Conclusion
Cold weather is harsh on smart keys. Keeping a spare battery and knowing a trusted automotive locksmith near Columbus, Ohio can save you from a cold-weather lockout. By understanding why key fobs fail in cold weather and taking preventive measures, you can avoid the frustration of a non-responsive remote start system on those frigid winter mornings.
Remember, while some troubleshooting can be done at home, complex issues with modern automotive security systems often require professional expertise. Don’t let a malfunctioning key fob leave you out in the cold – take proactive steps to maintain your vehicle’s remote access systems and know when to call in the experts.