Replacing the battery in your 2011 Nissan Altima key fob should be a straightforward task. However, sometimes you might encounter issues after swapping out the old battery for a new one. As experts at keyfobprog.com, we’ve seen two common problems arise after a 2011 Altima Key Fob Battery Replacement, and we’re here to provide solutions.
One frequent issue is receiving an “Invalid Key ID” or “No Key Detected” message on your dashboard even after a battery replacement. In this scenario, you might also notice that the door request buttons on your Altima no longer function. Interestingly, the key fob buttons for remote locking/unlocking and the panic button often continue to work, and you can typically start your car by pressing the start button with the key fob itself, or by using the emergency key slot if your model has one.
Here’s how to resolve this “Invalid Key ID” problem after a 2011 Altima key fob battery replacement:
- First, remove the backup door key from your key fob.
- Enter your Nissan Altima, ensuring you leave the key fob inside the vehicle.
- Press the start button twice without pressing the brake pedal. This will cycle the ignition to the ‘ON’ position without starting the engine.
- Exit the car, leaving the key fob inside, and take the backup door key with you.
- Close the driver’s side door and use the backup door key to manually lock the door by turning the key to the left in the door lock cylinder. You should hear the locking mechanism engage.
- Immediately unlock the door by turning the key to the right in the door lock cylinder. Again, listen for the unlocking mechanism.
- Remove the door key and re-enter your Altima.
- Press the start button one more time (again, without pressing the brake) to turn the ignition to the ‘OFF’ mode.
After performing these steps, the “Invalid Key ID” messages should disappear, and all key fob functions should return to normal.
The second common problem after a 2011 Altima key fob battery replacement is the opposite: everything works fine except for the push-button functions on the key fob itself. This means remote door lock, panic button, remote trunk release, and remote start (if equipped) might not function.
If you’re experiencing this lack of push-button functionality after a 2011 Altima key fob battery replacement, the solution involves rebooting your Altima’s ECU (Engine Control Unit) with the key fob inside the car. A cold boot of the ECU, with the key fob present, will often reprogram the push-button functions.
The easiest way to perform a cold reboot is to disconnect the main car battery located under the hood.
- Open the hood of your 2011 Nissan Altima and locate the car battery.
- Using a wrench, carefully disconnect the negative battery cable.
- Wait for a minute or two to ensure a complete discharge.
- Reconnect the negative battery cable securely.
Be aware that disconnecting your car battery may reset some of the ECU’s learned settings. Your car might idle slightly differently for the first few miles after reconnecting the battery, but it should quickly return to its normal operation.
Ideally, replacing the battery in your 2011 Altima key fob before it completely dies can prevent these issues. However, if the battery voltage becomes very low, the key fob’s internal memory can sometimes become corrupted, making a simple battery replacement insufficient.
For your 2011 Altima key fob battery replacement, the correct battery is a CR2032 button cell. While a CR2025 will fit and work in an emergency, it is slightly thinner and has a lower capacity, meaning it won’t last as long as a CR2032.
A final tip: If you have two key fobs for your 2011 Altima, you can try reprogramming both at once by leaving both key fobs inside the car when performing either of the procedures described above. While we haven’t personally verified this with two key fobs simultaneously, it is reported to be a working method.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve most issues encountered after a 2011 Altima key fob battery replacement and get back to using your key fob without problems.
