How to Reprogram Key Fobs by Yourself at Home
A fob or generally called a key fob is a small security device that is used to control and provide secure access to multiple devices such as cars, garage doors, mobile devices, and computer systems.
![a key fob](https://anewwayforward.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/a-key-fob.jpg)
Key Fobs History
The key fob is generally used to describe a key chain and many other similar devices. This word fob is believed to have been originated from watch fobs, which existed in the early 1880s.
Here the fob is referred to as the ornament that is attached to key chains, remote car starters, and many other devices that can be used to control with a fob.
Like many electronic devices, this device can also malfunction at any time after some use because we all know no matter what kind of warranty you get for an electronic device, they can surprise you at any time.
However, if your key fob malfunctions, you can easily reprogram it by yourself at home.
This article will help you with a step by step guide on how to reprogram the key fob by yourself at home successfully without having to go to an auto dealer and spend a huge amount of money.
How to Reprogram Key Fobs by Yourself
General programming
Every car has different ways to reprogram the key fob; the guide mentioned below is the simplest way to reprogram any key fob.
This is suitable for most of the cars available on the market, but sometimes you will need to find the exact information on your car model before taking any further steps.
![reprogram the key fob](https://anewwayforward.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/reprogram-the-key-fob.jpg)
And you can find more and to the point information of your key fob in the car manual that is available both online and also comes with the car.
1. Replace the batteries inside the key fob
Before thinking of going advance, always check the batteries just like you do with every other electronic device.
Check the batteries and replace them if you have not done that for a long time. A bad key fob battery will cause many problems for you when you are reprogramming it.
The batteries are often cheap and easily available in the market, and if you are confused as to which ones to replace them with, check the owner’s manual that will give you the exact type and size of the batteries.
2. Getting inside the car
After changing the batteries of the key fob, get inside the car along with the car keys and the remote that you plan to reprogram.
Once inside the car close all the doors, this process of closing the doors is important as it may affect the process of reprogramming in between.
3. Ignition
After closing carefully checking, the car is locked from everywhere, start the ignition and turn it to one position so that all the electrical systems are working and no system is on standby mode.
You need to make sure that the ignition is not on the radio, and you need not start the engine as the process does not require to start the car.
4. Button on the remote
All key fobs have several buttons on them, which include open, lock, and alarm buttons, as well. Certain advanced cars also have started the engine button their key fobs.
After putting the key in on position in the previous step, you need to press the lock button on the remote and immediately without wasting any time turn the key in off position.
You need to repeat this process three times and ending it on the position from where you started.
This process will send an indicator to the electronic control system of the car that the key in the ignition that’s sending out the signals belongs to you, and it will save the data after the process is done.
5. Wait for a sound
After the last process, you need to wait to hear the lock sound, if you do hear the sound it will indicate that the process was done successfully and you have entered the programming mode now.
If you do not hear the sound the first time, you will have to repeat the above process several times until you finally hear the sound.
Once this process is done, you need to press the lock button again in 5 seconds, and the programming will be done with it.
Timing is very crucial in this as you need to be sharp and vigilant while you are doing the process, and a slight delay will make you repeat the whole procedure again.
6. Programming additional remotes
If you possess more than one remote for the car and you need to program those as well, you don’t have to repeat the whole process again and again for each and every remote.
You have to press the lock button in less than 10 seconds after you have entered the programming mode, which will successfully program these remotes as well successfully.
7. Ignition
After you have successfully programmed all of the remotes that you possess, you do need to turn off the ignition, which will successfully end the programming process of the remotes.
8. Testing
After terminating the programming process, you need to exit the car along with your key fobs and close all the doors properly, making sure even the trunk is closed properly.
After exiting the vehicle test all of the key fobs that you programmed by unlocking and locking the car a couple of time, this will help in verifying the process and a job well done.
9. Specialist hardware
For some advanced or unique car reprogramming, the key fob is not going to be a piece of cake, and for that purpose, you will need to have specialist hardware in order to reprogram the key fob.
In these situations, we suggest that you contact your car dealer or mechanic who handles all of your car problems, but that might get a little expensive.
You can get your key fob reprogrammed from any other locksmith who deals with these kinds of problems and is not just a traditional locksmith but an experienced auto locksmith.
![unique car reprogramming](https://anewwayforward.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/unique-car-reprogramming.jpg)
This will be less expensive as compared to the car dealer, and you can also get a master key made from him as well.
Creating the master key will require a code card that is easily available in your car’s user manual.
10. Understanding vehicle security
The security of your car is divided int two categories; the first one is car entry, and the second is starting the car.
Nowadays, almost every new car comes with the key fob in which you don’t have to insert the key into the doors to open them you press the button on the fob, and all the doors are unlocked.
The older car key fobs used rf systems that were not fully secure, and their signals could be hacked and played back to unlock the vehicle.
Nowadays the cars are using many advanced systems for key fobs which is more sophisticated and generates a new code every single time, the receiver on the vehicle also produces the same code, and they are synchronized to unlock the vehicle.
Reprogram Key Fobs Importance
The importance of key fobs varies from person to person and car to car. Some people who still use older vehicles will never be satisfied with this technology because they are used to the traditional key setup.
While the new generation like us wants keyless entry doors so that we do not have to be worried about losing the keys.
These key fob benefits everyone because they are safer, and they certainly more secure than other older systems, so chances of car theft are very low as compared with older systems.
The key fobs are also very convenient to use and are also coming now with the customizable option so the owners can also add vehicle monitoring function now as well which is pretty good to have if you happen to live in a bad neighborhood or an area with a lot of kids or traffic.
It is very important to keep a check on your key fobs because you never know when and where they stop working.
Because now people rely so heavily on this system that they leave the keys in the car because they don’t need them to open or start the car because of the advancement in technology.
Final Thoughts
So, if your key fob stops working and you need to unlock the car, but you left the keys inside to it will be pretty difficult to unlock the car because of the added security and everything.
It is better to be safe than sorry, so; you need to make sure that you check the key fobs every week or so that they do not malfunction while you are out of the car and or inn between an emergency.
Also, you can try to have spare remote like before people used to have a spare car key that might help you get out of tricky situations as well.
This guide is not the ultimate solution to your key fob problem, and if it doesn’t help consult the locksmith or your car dealer and it may need to be replaced.
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