Key FOB went thru the wash. Starts car but won’t unlock.

pdesjardins · 02-06-2021, 11:46 AM

Ugh. Fob is nice and clean. Had a sloshy sound like water inside, so left it in a bag of rice for 2-3 weeks. It starts the car but doesn’t seem to pick up a charge. Haven’t gone for very long drive though.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

tracer bullet · 02-06-2021, 12:32 PM

Guessing the starting relates to an RFID tag inside that it can sense, they don't really get water inside. The other may be battery operated and it's drained out.

Rice was a good idea but you'll want to disassemble it. Remove the battery and etc. and be sure it's dry. Shake it, blow it out, rice maybe again, whatever.

Then replace the battery and cross your fingers. If it works, great. If not then it's probably time for a new one.

pdesjardins · 02-10-2021, 07:54 AM

Thanks for the reply. It’s one of two fobs I have, luckily. It’s also not the one with the removable battery. I’ve tried a couple of 25 minute drives to the airport, but as far as I’ve needed to go lately. I may try a local dealership and see if they can charge it up for me.

tracer bullet · 02-10-2021, 08:20 AM

Ahhh, yeah sorry I sometimes forget if I'm on the 1-addicts side or the F25 X3 side. I have one of each. The X3 uses a replaceable battery.

pdesjardins · 03-06-2021, 08:40 PM

Update: the fob eventually kept a charge and it seems to be back to normal.

02-06-2021, 11:46 AM	#1
pdesjardins New Member 3 Rep 16 Posts Drives: '08 128i Conv. + '17 230i Conv Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Plaistow, NH nad Ft. Myers, FL iTrader: (0)	Key FOB went thru the wash. Starts car but won’t unlock. Ugh. Fob is nice and clean. Had a sloshy sound like water inside, so left it in a bag of rice for 2-3 weeks. It starts the car but doesn’t seem to pick up a charge. Haven’t gone for very long drive though. Any thoughts? Thanks!
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02-06-2021, 12:32 PM	#2
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2391 Rep 3,531 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	Guessing the starting relates to an RFID tag inside that it can sense, they don't really get water inside. The other may be battery operated and it's drained out. Rice was a good idea but you'll want to disassemble it. Remove the battery and etc. and be sure it's dry. Shake it, blow it out, rice maybe again, whatever. Then replace the battery and cross your fingers. If it works, great. If not then it's probably time for a new one.
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02-10-2021, 07:54 AM	#3
pdesjardins New Member 3 Rep 16 Posts Drives: '08 128i Conv. + '17 230i Conv Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Plaistow, NH nad Ft. Myers, FL iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the reply. It’s one of two fobs I have, luckily. It’s also not the one with the removable battery. I’ve tried a couple of 25 minute drives to the airport, but as far as I’ve needed to go lately. I may try a local dealership and see if they can charge it up for me.
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02-10-2021, 08:20 AM	#4
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2391 Rep 3,531 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	Ahhh, yeah sorry I sometimes forget if I'm on the 1-addicts side or the F25 X3 side. I have one of each. The X3 uses a replaceable battery.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-06-2021, 08:40 PM	#5
pdesjardins New Member 3 Rep 16 Posts Drives: '08 128i Conv. + '17 230i Conv Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Plaistow, NH nad Ft. Myers, FL iTrader: (0)	Update: the fob eventually kept a charge and it seems to be back to normal.
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