Is your Chevy Cruze key fob cracked, broken, or just plain worn out? Don’t rush to the dealership for an expensive replacement. If the metal blade of your key is still in good shape, you can easily replace the key fob cover yourself. This guide will walk you through replacing your 2011-2016 Chevy Cruze key fob, saving you time and money. This process works for any damage to the key body, making it a perfect DIY fix to restore your key to its former glory. You’ll need one working key to follow these steps; if you only have one key, we’ve included a special note at the end to help you out.
Tools You’ll Need
For this straightforward repair, you won’t need a garage full of tools. Just gather these simple items:
- Small Hammer: For gently tapping the punch and pin.
- 1/16″ Punch: To push out the retaining pin. A gunsmithing punch set works perfectly, but any small hammer and 1/16″ punch will do the job. You can find a 1/16″ punch easily online.
Parts Required
Before you start, make sure you have the correct replacement key fob. You’ll need an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) key fob to ensure compatibility. Aftermarket keys may not work correctly with your Cruze. You also won’t need to get the key blade on the new fob cut, saving you another trip and expense.
- Replacement 4-Button OEM Cruze Key: (Check availability on Amazon.com) – For standard Cruze models.
- Replacement 5-Button OEM Cruze Key: (Check availability on Amazon.com) – For Cruze models with remote start.
Step-by-Step Key Fob Replacement Procedure
Let’s get started with the replacement process. The most common issue is a crack near where the key blade swivels out, but this procedure is effective for any damage to your key fob body.
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Prepare Your Broken Key: Identify the retaining pin that holds the key blade in place. This is a small metal pin located near the base of the key blade.
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Position for Pin Removal: Place your broken Cruze key on a firm, stable surface. Make sure the side of the key with the retaining pin is accessible.
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Punch Out the Retaining Pin: Using your 1/16″ punch and hammer, carefully tap the punch against the retaining pin. You want to tap in the direction that will push the pin out of the key fob. Gentle but firm taps are best.
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Prepare the New Key Fob: Take your new OEM Cruze key fob and repeat the pin removal process. You might find the pin in the new fob is quite tight. Rest the edge of the new key on a hard surface to provide leverage and stability while you tap the pin out. It may take a few solid whacks with the punch and hammer, but the pin will eventually come out.
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Swap the Key Blades: Carefully remove the metal key blade from your old, broken key fob. Now, take your original key blade and place it into the new key fob body.
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Re-insert the Retaining Pin: Align the holes in the new key fob and the original key blade. Take the retaining pin from either the old or new key fob and push it back into place. In most cases, you can push the pin back in using just your hammer. You likely won’t need the punch for this step.
Programming Your New Cruze Key Fob
The good news is that programming your new key fob to your Chevy Cruze is incredibly simple and requires no special tools or trips to a locksmith. Follow these two easy steps:
- Start Your Car with the Old Key: Use your existing, working key to start your Chevy Cruze. Let the car run for a few seconds.
- Program the New Key: Turn off your car and remove the old key. Within five seconds of turning the ignition off, insert your new key (with your original blade) into the ignition and start the car.
That’s it! Turn off your car and test the buttons on your new key fob to ensure they are working correctly. In most cases, the key fob will program on the first try.
Special Note for Single Key Owners
If you only have one key for your Chevy Cruze and don’t have a spare to start your car with, don’t worry, you can still perform this replacement. Here’s how:
- Remove the retaining pin from both the old and new key fobs as described earlier.
- Take just the metal blade from your original key and insert it into your car’s ignition.
- Press the “open” button on both your old and new key fobs to ensure the swing mechanisms are in the open position.
- Use your old key fob (without the blade) to start your car.
- Immediately turn off the car.
- Quickly pull the old key fob off the key blade still in the ignition.
- Attach the new key fob (without its blade) onto the key blade in the ignition.
- Start the car again.
- Carefully remove the key blade from the ignition (pliers might be helpful if it’s tight).
- Finally, assemble your original blade into the new key fob and secure it with the retaining pin as described in the procedure above.
By following these steps, you can easily replace your broken 2011-2016 Chevy Cruze key fob cover and restore full functionality to your car key. Enjoy the satisfaction of a DIY repair and the money you’ve saved!
