Replacing your Honda 2016 Crv Key Fob Battery should be a straightforward task, but sometimes a new battery doesn’t immediately solve the problem. It’s a common scenario where owners find their key fob unresponsive even after a battery replacement. This often leads to frustration, but the issue is usually simple to resolve. This article will guide you through troubleshooting steps to ensure your new key fob battery works perfectly with your Honda 2016 CRV.
Understanding Key Fob Battery Voltage
Key fob batteries, typically CR2032 coin cells, have a specific voltage range crucial for proper function. A brand new battery should ideally measure between 3.3 to 3.4 volts DC (VDC). Key fobs are designed to alert you to low battery levels around 3.0 VDC, indicating it’s time for a replacement. Batteries tend to fail quickly once they drop below 3.0 VDC, often experiencing a sudden decline around 2.9 VDC. Therefore, if your old battery was nearing or at 3.0 VDC, replacing it is definitely the right step.
Simple Fix: Reseating the New Battery
The most frequent cause of a new key fob battery appearing to be ineffective is a poor electrical connection. During the battery replacement process, it’s possible for a temporary connection issue to occur. To address this, a simple “rinse and repeat” method can often work. Open your key fob and remove the newly installed battery. Then, re-insert the same new battery, making sure it is firmly seated in the battery slot. Ensure there’s no plastic protective film inadvertently left on the battery contacts, as this can block the connection. Sometimes, this simple reseating is all it takes to establish a solid connection and get your key fob working again.
Advanced Troubleshooting: Inspecting Fob Contacts
If reseating the battery doesn’t solve the problem, the next step is to carefully inspect the metal contacts within the key fob that connect with the battery. Occasionally, these contacts can become slightly bent during battery replacement. A bent contact might make good contact with an older battery but not with a new one, potentially due to slight variations in battery dimensions or contact point positions.
Disassemble your key fob again and examine the contacts. Use a voltmeter to check if the contacts are actually receiving voltage from the newly installed battery. Place the voltmeter probes on the contacts to measure the voltage. You should ideally see a reading above 3.2 VDC, and preferably around 3.3 VDC. Also, double-check one more time for any plastic protector tabs on the new battery poles that might have been missed. Gently adjust any bent contacts to ensure they make proper and firm contact with the battery. After confirming good contact and voltage, reassemble your key fob and test if it now functions correctly.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you can usually resolve most issues related to a new key fob battery not working in your Honda 2016 CRV. These steps focus on the most common culprit: connection problems, ensuring a functional key fob after battery replacement.
