Question 1

What is the cheapest way to replace or fix my 1996 Intrepid remote?

Accepted Answer

Call a mobile locksmith who knows this generation before you do anything else. A few things to try first: replace the CR2016 battery and make sure it is seated flat against both contact points, not tilted. If the battery is fine and the fob still does not respond, the module may have lost its learned codes - which happens after a battery disconnect or a dead car battery. That relearn can often be done without any special equipment on a vehicle this age.

If the fob itself is physically damaged, replacements for this era are available and re-enrollment is typically a quick job. You do not need to tow to a dealer, you do not need an appointment, and the dealer is going to charge a fraction more than you need to spend. I come to you in Berry Park or anywhere in Imperial Beach and handle it on site.

Question 2

How much harder is it if I have no working remote at all versus just adding a spare?

Accepted Answer

On a 1996 Intrepid, the remote is not tied to starting the car the way a modern transponder or smart key is. Losing all remotes does not lock you out of driving - your ignition key still works independently. What you lose is the convenience of remote lock and unlock, and depending on your alarm setup, you may have to deal with the alarm triggering when you open the door with the key blade.

Adding a spare or starting fresh with a new fob on this generation is a manageable job either way. The bigger concern is making sure the body module accepts the new fob during enrollment, which on some of these older units can be finicky if the module has any stored faults. Get a spare made while you still have a working remote and you skip that headache entirely.

Question 3

Are aftermarket remotes for the 1996 Intrepid worth buying?

Accepted Answer

Hit or miss. The aftermarket fob market for vehicles this age is flooded with old stock, clone units, and shells that look right but use cheap internals. The transmitter board inside is what matters, and low-quality boards from online marketplaces have inconsistent output that can make enrollment unreliable or give you short range even after a successful relearn.

OEM remotes from reputable suppliers are still out there for this generation and are not expensive. I carry remotes I have tested on real vehicles. If you already bought one online and it will not enroll, bring it out and we can test it - but sourcing a known-good unit from the start saves a second trip.

Question 4

My 1996 Intrepid alarm keeps going off randomly. Could it be a bad remote?

Accepted Answer

Possibly, but the remote is usually not the cause. On these older Chrysler alarm systems, random triggering is more often traced to a door jamb switch with worn contacts, a hood pin switch that has gotten corroded, or the alarm module itself being sensitive to voltage fluctuations from an aging battery.

A failing remote with a weak battery can sometimes send garbled signals that confuse the module, but that is less common than a hardware issue on the vehicle side. If it is happening consistently when you use the key blade to enter, start with the door switches. If it is random with no pattern, check the under-hood pin switch and the battery health first. The remote is the last thing I would blame unless it is visibly damaged or the battery is almost dead.

Question 5

Can I program a second remote for my 1996 Intrepid myself at home?

Accepted Answer

On a vehicle this age, there is a real chance yes - Chrysler built onboard relearn sequences into a lot of their 1990s products. No scan tool, no dealer visit. That said, the exact procedure depends on what alarm or body module your specific car has, and some versions of the sequence are easy to botch if you do not know the timing. If the first attempt fails, some modules will time out and require a waiting period before you can try again.

If you want to try it yourself, look for Intrepid-specific forum threads from owners who have walked through it. If it does not work, call me. I have done enough of these to know where the sequence usually goes wrong.

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