If you’re a 2012 Town and Country owner, you might have noticed something curious about your key fob, especially if you’ve considered replacing its case or exploring all its potential functions. Many owners discover that while their key fob case appears to have six buttons, including a ‘panic’ button, not all of them may be functional right out of the box, particularly in models outside of North America. Let’s delve into the specifics of 2012 Town And Country Key Fob Programming and why that sixth button might be more elusive than you think.
The interesting thing about the standard 5-button key fob for models like the 2012 Town and Country is that internally, the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is often designed to accommodate six buttons. This is a common observation when owners open up their fobs, perhaps to replace the battery or the outer casing. You might even purchase a 6-button key fob case, hoping to enable the panic button, only to find it doesn’t work.
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The reason for this discrepancy lies in a small but crucial component: the conductive membrane sheet that sits between the PCB and the button contacts in the fob case. For many 2012 Town and Country key fobs, particularly those outside the US market, this membrane is designed for only five buttons. Even though the sixth micro-switch for the panic button is present on the PCB, the conductive track on the membrane to activate it is missing.
So, what can you do if you’re keen on having a functional panic button on your 2012 Town and Country key fob? One potential solution involves looking towards key fobs specifically designed for the North American market, where the 6-button configuration, including the panic button, is standard. These key fobs are designed with the necessary six-track conductive membrane.
The approach then becomes transferring the internal PCB from your original 5-button fob into a 6-button fob case from a US supplier. The idea is that by using a complete 6-button case, crucially including its conductive membrane, with your existing PCB, you might be able to activate that dormant panic button.
Keep in mind that the transponder chip (ID46) within your key fob is likely locked to your vehicle, and these are widely available should you need a replacement. Programming your key fob after any component swap is a necessary step. Resources for Chrysler key fob programming are readily available online, offering instructions to synchronize your fob with your 2012 Town and Country’s system.
In conclusion, while upgrading to a 6-button case on your 2012 Town and Country key fob might seem straightforward, the key to unlocking the panic button functionality often lies in ensuring you have the correct conductive membrane. Exploring US-spec key fob components could be the key to finally utilizing that sixth button.
