My 2006 Jetta’s key fob is acting up. Whenever I press any button, it sets off the car alarm. The alarm stops when I press the panic button. I can manually unlock the doors and trunk with the metal key, but the remote functions are unusable because of the alarm.
The key fob has a blinking red LED, and the manual suggests this indicates a low battery. So, the first thing I did was replace the battery. However, the problem persists even with a new battery. When I opened the fob to replace the battery, I noticed some corrosion, especially around the old battery and metal contacts. It looked quite old and worn. I cleaned the corrosion with de-oxit and installed a fresh battery, but the issue remains. The inside of the fob now looks clean after cleaning the corrosion.
Is my key fob broken? This is the only key I have for the car, so I know I’ll need a replacement anyway. But I’m trying to figure out if the fob is definitely the root cause of this alarm problem. Also, where is the best place to get a new key fob? I’ve heard that VW fobs for Mk5 models are technologically advanced, meaning replacements are “special” and likely expensive. Any advice on troubleshooting or getting a replacement would be greatly appreciated!
