Is your 2011 Camaro key fob looking worn out, or maybe the buttons are starting to stick? Perhaps the flip mechanism is loose from constant use. Instead of spending a lot of money on a brand new key and programming at the dealership, you can easily replace just the shell. This guide will walk you through a simple 2011 Camaro Key Fob Shell Replacement, allowing you to refresh your key fob without the hefty price tag.
Replacing your 2011 Camaro key fob shell is a straightforward process that anyone can do with just a little patience and a small tool. You won’t need any special skills or technical knowledge, and you can save yourself a significant amount of money by doing it yourself. Let’s get started on how to give your Camaro key fob a new lease on life.
Tools You’ll Need
Before you begin, gather the necessary tool for this quick repair:
- A small flathead screwdriver
This is the only tool required to carefully pry open your existing 2011 Camaro key fob shell and perform the replacement.
Step-by-Step 2011 Camaro Key Fob Shell Replacement Guide
Follow these simple steps to replace your 2011 Camaro key fob shell:
Step 1: Remove Battery Cover and Battery
First, you’ll need to remove the battery cover from your key fob. Flip out the key blade to the open position. Place your thumb in the area where the key was housed and gently pop the battery cover off. Once the cover is removed, you can easily pull out the battery.
Step 2: Pry Open the Key Fob Shell
Now, take your small flathead screwdriver and carefully begin to pry open the key fob shell. Start on the top side of the key fob. Insert the flathead screwdriver into the seam and apply gentle pressure to start separating the two halves of the shell.
Step 3: Separate Front and Back Shell
Next, move to the backside of the key fob, near the metal keyring holder. Pry slowly and carefully in this area to ease the front face completely off from the back face. You might be able to hold the remaining plastic part and push against the metal part to help separate them. Be aware that there is a spring mechanism inside, so when the front face comes free, it might spin a couple of revolutions due to the spring force.
Step 4: Remove Key and Chip
Once the shell is open, you can proceed to carefully take out the key blade and the internal chip from the old shell. Set these components aside as you will be transferring them to your new 2011 Camaro key fob shell.
Step 5: Reassemble with New Shell (Spring Mechanism)
Now it’s time to assemble everything into your new key fob shell. This part is crucial for the flip key mechanism to work correctly:
- If the push button separated from the key blade, put it back together.
- Place the chip back into the front face of the new shell, ensuring it’s facing down correctly.
- Insert the key blade into its designated slot in the “out” (open) position.
- Put the spring back into the push button area. It should seat into a locked position.
- Place the back face of the new shell onto the spring, making sure the spring’s small “foot” is in its correct position.
Step 6: Final Assembly
With the spring in place, you’ll need to apply the spring force to the flip key mechanism. Hold the key fob like shown in the image below. Spin the back face in a counterclockwise direction. This will spring the key blade outwards. Rotate the back face two full revolutions counterclockwise and then snap the shell back together. Finally, press the two halves of the key fob shell together firmly until you hear a click, ensuring it’s securely closed.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve successfully completed your 2011 Camaro key fob shell replacement. This simple DIY task can save you significant money and time compared to going to a dealership for a complete key replacement. By following these steps, you’ve given your key fob a fresh, new look and extended its life. Enjoy your like-new 2011 Camaro key fob!
