Many Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge owners have noticed something peculiar about their key fobs – a sixth button that seems to do nothing. You might have even purchased a stylish 6-button key fob case, hoping to finally utilize that mysterious button, perhaps thinking it’s a panic button or some other hidden feature. If you’re trying to program your Chrysler key fob, especially if you only have one original, understanding this extra button is key. Let’s dive into why that sixth button is often inactive and how you can potentially unlock its functionality.
The 6-Button Chrysler Fob Puzzle
The reality is, if you’re in the UK or Europe, that sixth button, often found on replacement key fob cases, is likely a dummy. Despite the physical presence of six micro-switches on the circuit board inside your standard 5-button fob, the conductive membrane – the layer that translates your button presses to electronic signals – is designed for only five buttons.
This discovery came as a bit of an experiment when trying to understand the ‘panic’ button programming. Sourcing parts online, like a 6-button case and blade, reveals that the internal components of your existing 5-button fob’s circuit board are indeed prepared for six buttons. They fit perfectly into a 6-button case.
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The Missing Link: Conductive Membrane
The issue isn’t the buttons themselves, but a small, seemingly insignificant part: the conductive membrane. This thin, cellophane-like layer sits between the circuit board and the fob shell. It’s etched with conductive tracks that complete the electrical circuit when you press a button. For European Chrysler fobs, this membrane is designed with only five tracks, corresponding to the standard five buttons: lock, unlock, trunk, and panic. The sixth micro-switch for the potential ‘panic’ button remains disconnected due to the membrane’s design.
Finding a replacement conductive membrane with six tracks in the UK or Europe proves to be difficult. While you can easily find 6-button key fob shells and even circuit boards equipped for six buttons, the crucial conductive membrane is the missing piece of the puzzle.
The American Solution: A Complete Fob
So, how do you get a fully functional 6-button fob, especially if you’re aiming to program a spare using your one original key? The answer lies across the Atlantic. In America, 6-button Chrysler fobs are available and, crucially, come with the necessary 6-track conductive membrane.
The solution, albeit slightly involved, is to acquire a complete second-hand 6-button fob from the US market. You can often find these on online marketplaces. Once you have a US fob, you can then carefully disassemble both your original European fob and the US fob. Transfer the 6-button European circuit board into the 6-button US fob shell, ensuring you also include the 6-track conductive membrane from the US fob.
By doing this, you essentially create a hybrid fob: your original circuit board now paired with a conductive membrane that activates all six buttons, including the potentially dormant sixth button.
Programming Your Chrysler Key Fob
With your newly assembled 6-button fob (or your standard fob), you’ll likely need to program it to work with your vehicle, especially if it’s a new or replacement fob. While the specifics can vary slightly depending on your exact Chrysler model and year, the general process for programming a Chrysler key fob with one original key often involves a sequence of actions performed inside your car.
Refer to online resources for detailed programming instructions specific to your Chrysler model.
These resources typically outline steps that utilize your existing original key in the ignition, combined with door lock manipulations and button presses on the fob itself, to enter programming mode and synchronize the new fob with your vehicle’s immobilizer system.
Unlocking the potential of that sixth button on your Chrysler key fob might require a bit of ingenuity and sourcing parts from different markets. However, understanding the limitation of the conductive membrane and exploring solutions like using a complete US fob can pave the way to fully utilizing all the features your key fob hardware is capable of.
