Car Key Not Working After Water Damage? What to Do

It happens fast. A key fob slips out of a pocket into a puddle, falls in the snow, or takes a trip through the washing machine. Whether the key survives depends heavily on what you do in the next few minutes.

The single most important rule

Do not press any buttons. Water inside the fob plus an electrical signal is what kills the electronics. Every button you press while it is wet pushes current through water that should not be there.

What to do right away

• Take the fob out of the water immediately. Do not shake it hard.
• Open it if you can. Remove the battery cover and the battery.
• Dry the outside gently with a soft cloth, no heat, no hairdryer.
• Let it air dry for 24 to 48 hours in a warm, dry place.
• Do not put it in rice. Rice dust can get inside and cause more damage.
• Do not use a hair dryer or oven. Heat warps the components.

If it still does not work after drying

If the fob is completely dry and still does not work, the water has likely damaged the internal components. At that point there are two paths:

• A new fob, programmed to your vehicle, which is usually the reliable option
• Internal repair, which sometimes works but is not guaranteed

Either way, it needs to be done with the right programming equipment for your vehicle, which is the part most people cannot do at home.

Preventing the next one

• Keep the fob in a sealed pocket, not loose in a bag
• Use a waterproof key pouch in winter and near water
• For vehicles with a physical transponder key, consider that water is much less damaging than to a fob

Where we serve

We cover Grande Prairie and the surrounding Peace Country, including Clairmont, Sexsmith, Wembley, Beaverlodge and Valleyview.

The bottom line

If your key gets wet, the first move is the most important: do nothing but dry it, slowly. If it still fails after 48 hours, a mobile key programmer in Grande Prairie can replace it at your location without a trip to the dealer.