It happened to the best of us. After owning my Smart car for over two years and being extra careful with its fancy electronic key fob, I committed the ultimate car owner “faux pas” – I washed it. Yes, you heard it right. My car key fob went for an unexpected swim in the washing machine, all because I forgot to check my pants pockets before laundry day. Having had cars with remote entry systems before, I was usually accustomed to key fobs attached to a keychain, separate from the actual key. My other vehicles have standard keys, so I was trying to be diligent with the Smart’s key, knowing the potential headache if I were to lose or damage it. And since I am the laundry person in the house, I had no one else to blame for this mishap but myself.
I discovered my mistake right after pulling the key fob from the wet clothes, thankfully pre-dryer. Rushing to the car, I nervously pressed the unlock button. To my surprise and relief, it worked! Lock and unlock functions were responding. “Phew,” I thought, “dodged a bullet there.” It was my usual workday morning, so thinking everything was fine, I left the spare key at home and headed to work with the seemingly functional, albeit slightly damp, key fob.
Fast forward eight hours later, walking out of work, ready to go home. I confidently pressed the unlock button on my key fob. Instead of the usual beep, I got a single honk, accompanied by blinking parking lights. Confused, I tried the door handle – still locked. Another press of the unlock button, another single honk. Panic started to set in. Then I tried the lock button. That’s when things escalated quickly. The car went into full panic mode, unleashing a continuous barrage of honking, with the parking lights flashing frantically. Now, this Smart car isn’t equipped with a meek little horn; I had upgraded it to a LOUD air horn. Imagine the scene in the parking lot – my car blaring like a wounded whale. I managed to stop the panic mode, but the doors remained stubbornly locked.
Alt text: Close-up of a Smart car key fob with mechanical key extended, highlighting the integrated electronic components.
Remembering something from the owner’s manual from ages ago, I recalled the manual key entry. Carefully, I removed the keyhole cover, being extra cautious not to break the delicate stem. The mechanical key slid in, and I manually unlocked the door. Then the alarm went off. Of course, it did! It had been too long since I’d consulted the manual, forgetting that manual entry triggers the alarm. Thankfully, it was just the siren this time, not the ear-splitting air horn. For a moment, I stood there, contemplating how to disarm the alarm since the key fob buttons were clearly unresponsive. A desperate thought crossed my mind: “Maybe starting the car will reset it?” To my immense relief, it worked. I had already caused enough auditory chaos in the parking lot for one day.
Driving home, I attempted to lock the car using the key fob buttons. Still no response. Inside the house, I grabbed the spare key, pressed the lock button, and – success! The car locked instantly. The spare, thankfully, had not been subjected to a washing machine cycle. Curiosity and a sliver of hope led me to dissect the washed key fob. About nine hours post-wash, upon opening it, I found it surprisingly wet inside. I didn’t take pictures in my haste, but the interior was definitely damp. I proceeded to clean and dry the back of the circuit board and around the battery compartment as thoroughly as possible, lacking proper electronic cleaning alcohol at home. Hoping for a miracle, I tried the key fob on the car again. Still nothing.
Alt text: Internal view of a disassembled car key fob, showcasing the circuit board, battery, and button contacts, relevant for car key fob repair guides.
Back inside, I reopened the key fob for a more detailed inspection, focusing on the prongs holding the circuit board to the button panel. They appeared to be three-headed prongs that might release if squeezed. I attempted to compress them, but they wouldn’t budge. Then, thinking they might not be that securely fastened, I gently pried the board away from the button panel. It detached cleanly. And there it was – more water and residue trapped on that side of the board. I cleaned it again, reassembled the fob, and decided to give it a longer drying time, about 16 more hours, before another test.
The next morning, I tentatively tried the washed and dried key fob. Lock and unlock functions were working again! I hadn’t yet tested the hatch release or the panic button, but those would have to wait until later. For now, it seemed like the electronic components in this Smart car key fob were more resilient than those in my old Mk III Jetta’s fob. Fingers crossed, this impromptu DIY repair was a success. I’ll be sure to update on the remaining functions and perhaps add some step-by-step pictures later for anyone else unfortunate enough to wash their car key fob. Hopefully, this experience can offer some guidance if you ever find your car key fob taking an unexpected bath in the washing machine.
