2018 Ford Explorer
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

2018 Ford Explorer Smart Key Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

I got a call from someone parked near The Crosby, over in Rancho Santa Fe. He had gone into the club for a few hours and come back to an Explorer that would not acknowledge his fob at all. Dead fob, dead handle touch unlock, nothing. He had the fob in his hand and the car just stared back at him.

First thing I asked: when did you last change the battery. He said never, and he'd had the car two years.

I pulled up to him, popped the fob open on my tailgate, and the CR2450 inside read almost no voltage on my meter. Completely spent. Swapped in a fresh one, reseated it correctly, and the handles lit back up immediately. Handle touch unlock, lock button, the whole thing came back.

But we were not done. With a smart key system, I always walk the full function set after any battery work. Every button, both front handles, and I confirmed the vehicle was actually reading the fob presence before I packed up. Takes an extra four minutes and it tells you whether you have a real fob issue hiding under the dead battery or whether that was the whole story. This time it was the whole story.

He made a comment about the dealer wanting him to come in for a diagnostic appointment. He had already called them. I was there, done, and gone before that appointment slot would have even opened up.

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