Key fob battery - take to dealership?

[Anonymous]

I take mine to the dealership - it’s less than $10.

[Anonymous]

OP, your post reminded me that I've been procrastinating on this front. I already had the batteries, and it took a minute each maybe to replace batteries from two fobs.

[Anonymous]

I just did my Mazda Cx-5 and I'm not that handy. Got the battery off of Amazon and then watched the video. Took me 2 minutes. Good thing because I was using the spare fob and then that battery went. So I replaced both at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Watched the YouTube and changed the battery myself. It's tricky, but doable. There's usually a small spring inside - don't lose it. And when you open the key fob, take a photo of the inside so you can replicate how all the pieces are positioned. Do it on a well-lit, flat surface.

Tip: pay extra for Duracell, Energizer, or other name brand batteries. I got some no-name brand off Amazon and I was changing the batteries every 2-3 months. They didn't hold a charge for long.

[Anonymous]

Spin off--has anyone just had a key fob gone bad? We have a 2012 Toyota and one key doesn't work at all, and the other one sometimes has to be held up to the ignition button to get the car started ("key not detected" otherwise). Batteries have been changed multiple times as well as checked for current and are fine. We have been living with it for a while, but the having to pry the physical key out of the fob to lock and unlock the doors is becoming cumbersome. Cost to replace is 450$ at dealer, $380 at another shop that seems a bit suspect and with only a 30 day warranty. Any thoughts or advice? Will probably end up getting one new one and keeping the somewhat working one as is.

[Anonymous]

I’ll do it for $9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I take mine to the dealership - it’s less than $10.

But what a waste of time.