Key fob battery change in Exeter
Professional key fob battery change services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
5 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Car key fob battery changed so your remote works again. Fob opened carefully, correct battery fitted, tested working. Part of our elderly help service.
When Your Car Won't Unlock From a Distance
You press the button on your car key fob. Nothing. Press again, harder. Still nothing. Now you're manually unlocking the car like it's 1995, and the alarm goes off because you didn't use the fob.
It's the battery. It's always the battery.
💡 Pro tip: Most key fobs start working intermittently before dying completely. If your range has shrunk from 10 meters to 1 meter, battery's on its way out. Replace it before it dies completely and you're locked out.
Common Key Fob Issues
| Symptom | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No response at all | Dead battery | Replace battery |
| Works very close to car only | Weak battery | Replace battery |
| Intermittent working | Battery dying | Replace battery soon |
| Some buttons work, others don't | Battery low OR broken button | Replace battery, test again |
What You Get
🔧 The Service
- Fob opened without breaking clips
- Old battery removed
- Correct replacement fitted
- Tested working with car
📦 Battery Included
- Common coin cells carried (CR2032, CR2025, CR2016)
- Quality batteries, not cheap ones that die in 6 months
- £2-3 per battery on top of callout
✅ Working Remote
- Unlock/lock from distance
- Boot release working
- Panic button working (if fitted)
- No more manual unlocking
How to Know Battery is Dying
Early warning signs:
- Range decreasing (used to work from 10m, now only 2m)
- Red LED dim or flickering when pressed
- Intermittent working (works sometimes, not others)
- Have to press multiple times
- Buttons feel unresponsive
Don't wait until completely dead - replace when you notice these.
Pricing
| Job | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single key fob | 5 mins | £60 |
| Multiple fobs (spare keys) | 10 mins | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum callout. Batteries extra (£2-3 each). If you've got home alarm fobs, garage door remotes, they all use similar batteries - I'll do them while I'm there.
Common Fob Types
Flip key (key folds into fob):
- Usually easy to open
- Battery compartment obvious
- Popular on VAG group cars (VW, Audi, Skoda)
Separate fob (key and fob separate):
- Small screw or clip to open
- Sometimes tricky without breaking
- Common on older cars
Integrated (key and fob in one unit):
- Can be fiddly to separate halves
- Easy to crack casing if forced
- Newer cars often use these
Part of Elderly Help Service
This typically combines with other small battery jobs:
- Hearing aid batteries
- Watch batteries
- Garage door remote
- House alarm fob
- TV remote
All done in same visit, same callout fee.
Common For...
✅ Elderly drivers - can't manage tiny battery or fiddly clips
✅ Broke the casing - tried to open it, snapped the clip
✅ Not sure which battery - don't want to buy wrong one
✅ Multiple keys - do them all at once
Why Choose Us for Key fob battery change in Exeter?
Car remote working again
Correct battery type fitted
Fob opened safely
No damage to casing
What to Expect
Step 1: Identify Battery
Open fob carefully, check battery type, confirm I've got the right replacement.
Step 2: Replace Battery
Remove old battery, clean contacts if corroded, fit new battery correct way round.
Step 3: Test
Close fob, test with car - lock, unlock, boot release, everything working properly.
🔧 DIY Tips
Changing key fob batteries yourself is simple if you're careful:
🔧 What you'll need
- Correct battery (check online for your car model)
- Small flathead screwdriver OR coin
- Gentle touch (don't force clips)
🔨 How to open most fobs
- Find the seam - where two halves meet
- Look for slot - small notch for opening
- Insert tool gently - coin or screwdriver
- Twist slowly - don't force
- Separate halves - clips pop open
- Note battery orientation - + side up or down
- Replace battery - match orientation exactly
- Press halves together - clips should snap closed
- Test - with your car
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Forcing clips (breaks casing - expensive replacement)
- Battery in backwards (won't work, might damage fob)
- Losing tiny screws (some fobs have them)
- Not noting which way battery sat (+ up or down matters)
💡 Pro trick: Before opening fob, Google "[car make model] key fob battery change" - there's usually a YouTube video showing exactly how for your specific fob. Saves breaking clips through trial and error.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🚗 Smart keys: Some newer cars have keyless entry - you don't press a button, car unlocks when you touch the handle. These still use batteries and will eventually stop working when battery dies. Same battery change process.
Battery life: Fob batteries typically last 2-4 years depending on use. If yours dies after 6 months, either a dud battery or there's a fault in the fob draining it.
Multiple cars: If you've got 2-3 cars, check all the fobs while I'm there. They often use the same battery type, and if one's died the others are probably similar age and ready to go.
Broken fobs: If your fob is cracked, held together with tape, or missing buttons, changing the battery might not help. Water damage or broken solder joints inside need different fixes (or replacement fob).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I pay someone to change a car key battery?
Some fobs are fiddly to open without breaking the clips. Some elderly people can't manage the tiny battery or have arthritic hands. Some people try to open it wrong and snap the casing. Some just want someone who knows what they're doing to do it right first time.
What battery does my car key use?
Depends on make and model - usually CR2032, CR2025, or CR2016 coin cells. Some use small button cells. I carry common types and can identify which you need by looking at the fob or checking online.
Will changing the battery erase my key programming?
No - the battery just powers the remote. Programming is stored separately and won't be lost. Your key will work exactly as before, just with a working remote.
Can you do spare keys at the same time?
Yes - if you've got multiple fobs for the same car, might as well do them all while I'm there. They'll all be using similar age batteries. Same callout fee.
My fob still doesn't work after battery change - what's wrong?
Could be faulty battery (rare), corroded contacts inside (clean them), or the fob itself is broken (water damage, dropped too many times). I'll check and let you know.
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