# Remote for car died--do I need to go to the dealer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 21, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228 "2012-01-21T17:16:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shellofmyformerself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@shellofmyformerself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shellofmyformerself)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/1 "2012-01-21T17:16:21Z")
The “clicker” for my car died (it unlocks the doors, pops the trunk and has a panic button, also, I think it’s part of the security system too?). I’m sure it’s the battery because the car is a 2006 model. Do I need to go to the dealer to have the battery replaced? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/2 "2012-01-21T17:25:23Z")
The batteries are sold at Wal-Mart and pretty much any automotive store. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/3 "2012-01-21T17:55:59Z")
Agreed. It probably just takes a button cell. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/4 "2012-01-21T18:19:18Z")
Ours is a 2000. It takes a button battery. If it’s like ours, you use a coin to pop the case open. You’ll have to reset it after. On ours you stand near the car, then press and hold lock and unlock until the horn beeps. Do you still have your owner’s manual? It will have instructions. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/5 "2012-01-21T21:47:18Z")
You can replace it yourself, but if you have a [Batteries Plus](http://www.batteriesplus.com/t-storeloc.aspx)store near you, just take it over there and they will sell you a new battery and put it in your remote for you. It’s a couple bucks more than Walmart, but a fraction of the price the car dealer charges. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/6 "2012-01-21T21:57:11Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > You can replace it yourself, but if you have a [Batteries Plus](http://www.batteriesplus.com/t-storeloc.aspx)store near you, just take it over there and they will sell you a new battery and put it in your remote for you. It’s a couple bucks more than Walmart, but a fraction of the price the car dealer charges. IME, (honda ridgeline) I had to go to the dealer as they keys are encoded to a vehicle so just a copy of the key does not get you what you need. I even tried downloading instructions on how to program my own key fob and still got nowhere…took the dealer 15 min. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/7 "2012-01-21T22:04:06Z")
You won’t need to resync it with the car if you just replace the remote’s battery. Also, unless money is not a concern, do NOT take it to your dealer to even replace the battery. Some dealerships are honest, but some aren’t and they may at least charge way too much for the battery and at worst charge you $40 or more for resetting the keyless system (which like I said it won’t need). BTW the only time you need to resync it is if you buy a new remote. Even replacing the car’s battery won’t (usually) require this. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/8 "2012-01-21T22:05:54Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > IME, (honda ridgeline) I had to go to the dealer as they keys are encoded to a vehicle so just a copy of the key does not get you what you need. I even tried downloading instructions on how to program my own key fob and still got nowhere…took the dealer 15 min. Can you clarify please: Did you go to the dealer because you needed the battery on your old key replaced or because you wanted to get a new key? ---
**Author:** ![shellofmyformerself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@shellofmyformerself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shellofmyformerself)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/9 "2012-01-21T22:12:16Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > IME, (honda ridgeline) I had to go to the dealer as they keys are encoded to a vehicle so just a copy of the key does not get you what you need. I even tried downloading instructions on how to program my own key fob and still got nowhere…took the dealer 15 min. That’s what I was wondering about…some special code thingy…I have an Accord (which I hate for many reasons, this just being one of them) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/10 "2012-01-21T22:19:48Z")
I’ve several times opened a remote, noted the battery type, then bought & installed a fresh battery. This has yielded 100% success at an average cost around $1.50. I’ve been blissfully naive about any need to visit the dealer or “re-sync” anything. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/11 "2012-01-21T23:37:48Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > I’ve several times opened a remote, noted the battery type, then bought & installed a fresh battery. This has yielded 100% success at an average cost around $1.50. I’ve been blissfully naive about any need to visit the dealer or “re-sync” anything. Mine is an old chevy product, more steps. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/12 "2012-01-21T23:58:03Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > You won’t need to resync it with the car if you just replace the remote’s battery. Also, unless money is not a concern, do NOT take it to your dealer to even replace the battery. Some dealerships are honest, but some aren’t and they may at least charge way too much for the battery and at worst charge you $40 or more for resetting the keyless system (which like I said it won’t need). > > BTW the only time you need to resync it is if you buy a new remote. Even replacing the car’s battery won’t (usually) require this. Service manager at a car dealer here. We get $2.50-$3.00 for a remote battery. The last time I had to buy a button battery for something from Radio Shack it was $5.95. Tell me again how I am ripping people off, I keep getting confused. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/13 "2012-01-22T01:09:06Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Can you clarify please: Did you go to the dealer because you needed the battery on your old key replaced or because you wanted to get a new key? replaced key, tried battery first myself, wouldnt work, got a new key cut, tried to reprogram via provided instructions, failed, took to dealer, handled. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/14 "2012-01-23T12:52:17Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Service manager at a car dealer here. We get $2.50-$3.00 for a remote battery. > The last time I had to buy a button battery for something from Radio Shack it was $5.95. > Tell me again how I am ripping people off, I keep getting confused. 😕 I said some (like yours) are honest. I’ve fixed my own and friends/family cars my whole life and have found that new car dealerships can vary wildly! Recently my sister bought a headlight plug for a 2001 Subaru. It was not OEM just generic but they charged $30 for it. Exact same one was $5 at AutoZone. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/15 "2012-01-24T00:53:00Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > I said some (like yours) are honest. I’ve fixed my own and friends/family cars my whole life and have found that new car dealerships can vary wildly! Recently my sister bought a headlight plug for a 2001 Subaru. It was not OEM just generic but they charged $30 for it. Exact same one was $5 at AutoZone. But they installed it for her, right? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/16 "2012-01-24T04:36:56Z")
Nope, $30 for just the part. A standard three prong headlight plug with three wires with just bare stripped ends (had to crimp, not plug into the harness!) Some new car dealerships, I’d like to say most, have been very decent all around. But I’ve also heard horror stories especially regarding the service departments. Consequently unless you’re getting warranty work or have dealt with them before I never recommend them as a first choice. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/17 "2012-01-26T02:11:36Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Service manager at a car dealer here. We get $2.50-$3.00 for a remote battery. > The last time I had to buy a button battery for something from Radio Shack it was $5.95. > Tell me again how I am ripping people off, I keep getting confused. 😕 I think it’s totally unfair for you to bring up Radio Shack–they’re an outlier! 😉 hh ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/18 "2012-01-26T15:39:09Z")
Since the OP has been answered (and in our experience as well, the battery can easily be changed at home): What about a car where the remote is built into the key vs. being on a separate fob? And: is it possible to get extra keys made for such cars without paying the dealer hundreds of dollars? Ours literally wanted 300 for the “main” key, or 200 for the “valet” key (no remote, doesn’t unlock the glove box). ---
**Author:** ![moveover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@moveover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moveover)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-for-car-died-do-i-need-to-go-to-the-dealer/610228/19 "2012-01-26T15:55:57Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Since the OP has been answered (and in our experience as well, the battery can easily be changed at home): > > What about a car where the remote is built into the key vs. being on a separate fob? > > And: is it possible to get extra keys made for such cars without paying the dealer hundreds of dollars? Ours literally wanted 300 for the “main” key, or 200 for the “valet” key (no remote, doesn’t unlock the glove box). Aaah, but did the $300 include installation? i.e. placing the key into the ignition.