It's The Fiat 500 Keys Case Study You'll Never Forget
Fiat Panda Key Fob Replacement
Fiat Panda keyfobs are equipped with a transponder that sends an electronic signal from the fob to the car to open doors or start the motor. The fob could stop working for a variety.
A dead battery for the coin is the most common cause of key fob malfunctions. Other causes are water damage or a malfunctioning module and interference signals.
Dead Coin Battery
If the battery in your key fob has died, the first thing to do is replace it. Make use of a button cell battery that has the same voltage, size, and specifications as the old one.
If the key fob was exposed to water (such as saltwater or rain at the beach) It must be cleaned prior to being used again. The trick is to use a paper towel that has been soaked in isopropyl or an electronic cleaner.
If the key fob is not working despite being not exposed to water, it could be due to a malfunction in the receiver module, or even in the internal electronic chip. In these instances, reprogramming the key fob using an OBDII scanner may assist.
Water Damage
If your key fob took a bath in the pool or puddle or gone down the wash machine, it could have some water damage. It's usually possible to get it working again by taking the battery off and cleaning the circuit board with isopropyl alcohol. It's best to let the fob dry completely prior to installing a new battery.
It could be that you have a defective module in the event that your remote stops working after replacing the battery or reprogramming. You can find information on reprograming the majority of remote keys on YouTube or refer to your owner's manual. You can also reset the computer of your vehicle using the OBDII scanner tool.
Faulty Receiver Module
The key fob contains the chip that communicates with the vehicle's system. This chip will stop sending and receiving signals to the car if damaged. A key fob falling off can cause this, as could water exposure. If the key fob is not working after exposure to water it could be possible to fix the issue by cleaning the chip with isopropyl alcohol or electronic cleaner.
If the key fob does not respond after cleaning it, then it is likely that the module is faulty and needs to be replaced. A faulty receiver can also cause the key to cease to function. This is usually caused by electromagnetic interference.
Faulty Electronic Chip
The electronic chip inside the key fob is an essential component of the anti-theft system in your vehicle. It sends out a signal the immobiliser device in the vehicle to determine whether the key is in fact valid. Your car will not start when the chip is damaged.
A defective chip could be caused by interference caused by objects, bad weather or transmitters close to your vehicle. In this instance it is likely that a new fob would be required.
Faulty battery contacts
The battery contacts on the key fob could be damaged through heavy use. If they are bent, or damaged, the fob will not send any signals to the receiver modules inside the vehicle.
Modern fobs have rubber seals that block out water. Submerging them in water even if it is just a light drizzle or splash could harm the chip's electronic components.
The key fob has an electronic chip that communicates with the vehicle's immobilizer system in order to activate it. It uses the old red keys for older vehicles or the cryptocoding system used in the latest vehicles. If the chip is defective and needs to be replaced.
Problems with 12 Volt Batteries
A damaged battery could cause the key fob to work. The car's computer will not recognize the remote when this happens.
Before replacing the battery, test it with the voltmeter to determine its capacity. A fully charged battery should read 12.6 volts. If the reading drops significantly the time is now to replace it.
To determine the capacity of a battery test the battery's capacity by placing an electrical load on it for a few minutes. This will remove approximately 1% of the surface charge. After that, measure the voltage. The higher the capacity of the battery is, the longer it will keep its voltage. The ideal scenario is to keep it close to 12 volts several minutes.
Radio Signal Faulty Radio Signal
This is the main reason for a key fob that ceases to send signals to the car. The battery could be replaced to fix this problem. TheKeyLab is essential to purchase a battery that has the same dimensions and voltage as the original.
Fobs take a lot of punishment, and aren't impervious to destruction. Battery contacts and buttons can be damaged by rough handling.
A signal may also be interrupted by other transmitters or objects which use the same frequency. A light control panel in your home, for instance could interfere with key fobs using the same bandwidth. This could affect the remote control of your car.
Faulty OBDII Scan Tool
There are many reasons why a scanner may not work. Certain are more complicated than others.
Professional scan tools enable mechanics to examine the car's systems and perform a variety of self-tests. These tools can help save time, but they're expensive and not accessible to the majority of DIYers.
If your OBD2 scan tool won't power on, test the voltage at the terminals 16 (scantool power) and 4 (chassis earth). If both are in good condition it's likely that a fuse has been blown. This is the most common reason for failure of the scan tool. It is usually easy to fix the issue by replacing the fuse blowing up.