Do Not Make This Blunder With Your Fiat 500 Keys
Fiat Panda Key Fob Replacement
Fiat Panda key fobs contain transponder chips that send signals to your car to open the doors or start the engine. However, the fob can stop working for several reasons.
The most commonly cited reason for key fob failure is a dead coin battery. Other causes are water damage, an inoperative receiver module and signal interference.
Dead Coin Battery
Replace the battery if your key fob has died. Make use of a button cell battery that has the same voltage, size and specifications as the old one.
If the key fob was exposed to water, like a splash of rain or salt water at the beach, it will have to be cleaned before it can be used again. A paper towel soaked in isopropyl alcohol or electronic cleaner will do the trick.
If the key fob doesn't working even though it is not exposed to water, it could be due to a malfunction in the receiver module or in the internal electronic chip. Reprogramming the keyfob using an OBDII scan could help in these cases.
Water Damage
If your key fob took a bath in the pool or puddle or gone through the washing machine, you may have some water damage. It is usually possible to be able to get it back up and running by getting rid of the battery and scrubbing the circuit board with isopropyl alcohol. It is recommended to let the board completely dry before putting in a battery.
There could be a problem with the module in the event that your remote stops working after replacing the battery or reprogramming. You can find the instructions for reprogramming most vehicles' remote keys on YouTube, or consult your owner's manual. You can also reset the computer in your car with the OBDII scanner tool.
Faulty Receiver Module
The key fob contains a chip which communicates with the vehicle's system. If the chip is damaged, it cannot longer be able to send or receive signals to the vehicle. Dropping the key fob can cause this, as could water exposure. If your key fob isn't working due to water exposure it is possible to fix it if clean the chip with electronic cleaner or isopropyl ethanol.
If the key fob does not respond after cleaning it there is a good chance that the module is faulty and will require to be replaced. A malfunctioning receiver module could also cause the remote control key to stop functioning. This is usually due to electromagnetic interference.
Faulty Electronic Chip
The electronic chip in your key fob is a vital part in the anti-theft security system in your car. It sends a message to the immobiliser inside your car to tell it whether the key is legitimate. Your car will not start if the chip is damaged.
A defective chip can be caused by interference signals from other objects or weather conditions that are bad, or transmitters operating on the same frequency near your vehicle. In this situation, you will need an entirely new key fob.
Contacts with the battery may be damaged.
The battery contacts of a key fob are very delicate and can get damaged when used for long periods of time. If they're bent, or broken, the fob won't send any signals to receiver modules in the vehicle.
Modern fobs are equipped with rubber seals that block out water. A splash of water or light rain should be fine but submerging them into saltwater could damage the electronic chip.
The key fob contains a chip that communicates with the vehicle's immobilizer to allow it to activate it. The system is based on the old red keys that were used in older vehicles or the cryptocoding system used in newer vehicles. If the chip is not working properly, it will need to be replaced.
Poor 12 Volt Battery
A faulty battery can cause the remote to cease working. When this happens the car's computer cannot recognize that the remote is within the vehicle.
Test the battery using an voltmeter prior to replacing it to determine its capacity. A fully charged battery should display 12.6 volts. If the reading drops dramatically, it's time to replace it.
Put an electrical load for a short period of time on the battery to gauge its capacity. This will eliminate about 1 percent of the surface charge. Then take another measurement of the voltage. The better the battery's capacity is, the longer it will keep its voltage. The ideal scenario is to keep it at or near 12 volts for several minutes.
Faulty Radio Signal
This is the most typical reason for the key fob not sending signals to a car. This issue can be fixed by replacing the battery. However, it is important to choose a battery that is the same size and voltage as the original.
Fobs can take a lot punishment, and aren't indestructible. fiat key fob and contacts are brittle which means they could be bent or damaged by rough usage.
A signal can also be interrupted by other transmitters or objects which use the same frequency. A light-control panel at your home, for instance could interfere with key fobs that have the same frequency. This can interfere with the remote control of your car.
The tool is not working properly. OBDII scan tool
There are a number of reasons why a scanner may not work. Some are more complex than others.
Professional scan tools enable mechanics to observe the car's networks and conduct a variety self-tests. These tools can help save time, but they're expensive and not accessible to most DIYers.
If your OBD2 scanner won't turn on Check the voltage on terminal 16 (scan tool power) and terminal 4 (chassis ground). If these are both present it's likely that a fuse has failed. This is one of the most frequent reasons for failure of the scanner. It is generally easy to fix the problem by replacing the fuse that was blown.