Dealing with a malfunctioning key fob for your 2008 Chevy HHR can be incredibly frustrating. You might immediately think about heading to the dealership for a costly 2008 Chevy Hhr Key Fob Replacement. However, before you spend a significant amount of money, there’s a surprisingly simple fix you can try at home that might save you hundreds of dollars. Dealerships often charge exorbitant prices for new key fobs and programming, but in many cases, the problem isn’t a broken fob – it’s something much easier to resolve.
The most common culprit behind a seemingly dead key fob is corrosion on the battery contacts inside the fob itself. This corrosion can build up over time, hindering the flow of power from the battery and preventing your key fob from communicating with your Chevy HHR. The good news is that this is often a very easy problem to fix with just a few household items. You might not even be able to see the corrosion with the naked eye, which is why this simple cleaning process is always worth trying first.
Here’s how you can attempt to revive your 2008 Chevy HHR key fob before considering a 2008 Chevy HHR key fob replacement:
-
Open Your Key Fob: The Chevy HHR key fob is designed to be opened. Use a dull knife or a similar flat tool to gently pry it apart. You’ll notice a waterproof seal around the edge, so it might require a bit of pressure. Don’t worry about breaking it – if it’s already not working, you’re not making things worse!
-
Remove the Battery: Once open, carefully remove the battery. It’s likely a CR2032 battery.
-
Inspect and Clean the Battery Contacts: Look closely at the metal contacts inside the key fob where the battery connects. There are typically three contact points: two prongs and a base. Corrosion often builds up on the base.
-
Apply Lemon Juice: Take a Q-tip and lightly dampen one end with lemon juice. The citric acid in lemon juice is a mild acid that works well to dissolve corrosion.
-
Clean the Contacts: Gently wipe all the battery contact points with the lemon juice-soaked Q-tip.
-
Dry the Contacts: Use the dry end of the Q-tip to thoroughly dry all the contacts. Make sure there’s no moisture left.
-
Replace the Battery: For the best results, replace the old battery with a brand new CR2032 battery. These are readily available and inexpensive, usually costing only a few dollars. Replacing the battery eliminates a potentially weak or dead battery as a cause of the problem.
-
Test Your Key Fob: Reassemble your key fob, making sure it’s properly closed. Then, go to your 2008 Chevy HHR and test the key fob to see if it now works.
Image alt text: Close-up of an opened 2008 Chevy HHR key fob revealing the internal components including the battery and contact points, illustrating the area to be cleaned for corrosion.
You might be surprised to find that this simple cleaning procedure is all it takes to restore your key fob’s functionality. Many key fobs, including those for the Chevy HHR, are often revived with this method.
If cleaning the contacts doesn’t work, there’s another common issue to consider before you assume you need a full 2008 Chevy HHR key fob replacement. Sometimes, one of the small prongs inside the fob that holds the battery can become unsoldered. If you suspect this might be the case, a battery store like Batteries Plus can often help. They can usually check for this issue for free and might even be able to quickly resolder the prong for a minimal cost, or even for free, depending on the store and the situation.
Before you spend a significant amount on a 2008 Chevy HHR key fob replacement at a dealership, take a few minutes to try cleaning the battery contacts. It’s a quick, easy, and potentially money-saving solution to a common key fob problem. Give it a try – you might be surprised at the result!
