Question 1

My key fob shell cracked and the blade came loose. Can you fix it without replacing the whole key?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's worth doing before assuming you need a full replacement. The 2019 Range Rover uses a folding emergency blade housed inside the smart fob body. The pivot pin and the shell itself are wear points, and cracking at that hinge is something I see on these. The electronics inside are usually fine.

If the circuit board is intact, I can transfer it into a new shell on site. That keeps your existing programmed key alive without going through a full registration procedure. If the blade is also damaged or worn, I cut a replacement blade to your vehicle at the same time. Full replacement and programming is also on the table if the board took damage in the break.

Question 2

What exactly is a smart key and how does it work on the 2019 Range Rover?

Accepted Answer

The fob your Range Rover came with does a few things at once. There's a transponder chip inside that talks to the vehicle's immobilizer system. When the car recognizes that chip, it allows the engine to start. There's also the RF side, which handles the remote functions via the five buttons on the fob. And there's a physical emergency blade folded inside for situations where you need to manually operate a lock cylinder.

All three have to be working for the full feature set. If the battery dies, the RF side goes out but the transponder can still work through the backup antenna built into the steering column area. Hold the fob directly against that spot and try to start. If the blade breaks, the electronics are usually still fine. If the fob gets damaged or the module loses its registration, you need diagnostic equipment to pair a replacement. There's no button sequence or ignition trick that handles that on this system.

Question 3

My Range Rover is showing a key-not-detected warning. What should I check first?

Accepted Answer

Start with the CR2032. This fob gives low-battery warnings early, so the battery that "seems fine" might be reading weak to the car. Pop in a fresh one and retest.

If the warning persists, try the backup start method. There's an antenna built into the steering column area specifically for this. Hold the fob flat against the lower steering column, press the brake, and try to start. That bypasses the RF signal entirely and reads the transponder directly. It works even with a fully dead battery.

If neither of those clears it, and especially if a second fob shows the same warning, the issue is likely on the vehicle side. The security module on this generation can drop key registrations after a power event or a module glitch. That's a diagnostic job, not a battery swap. Call me and I'll connect at the OBD port and sort out what the module is actually reporting.

Question 4

I bought a replacement fob online. Can I just program it myself?

Accepted Answer

No. The 2019 Range Rover has no owner-accessible self-programming sequence for smart keys. Adding a fob to this system requires professional diagnostic equipment communicating with the vehicle's security module through the OBD port. The module has to authorize the new key, and that process involves security-level access that no ignition-cycle trick or button combination can replicate on this generation.

The fob you bought online isn't useless. A pre-cut or uncut blank from a reputable supplier is fine to use. But it's just a shell and a chip until it gets registered to your specific vehicle. Bring it along when you call and I can program it on site rather than having you source one separately.

Question 5

Can relay theft actually affect my 2019 Range Rover here, and is there anything practical I can do about it?

Accepted Answer

It's a real concern, not an overblown one. These vehicles have been heavily targeted by relay attacks, where thieves use a pair of amplifying devices to extend the fob's signal from inside your home to the car parked outside. The vehicle sees a valid key signal and unlocks.

A few things that actually help: store your fobs in a signal-blocking pouch when you're home. They're cheap and they work. Keeping the fob away from exterior walls and windows reduces the range of a relay device. Some owners also use a secondary steering wheel lock as a visible deterrent, since relay theft is opportunistic and thieves move on quickly if there's friction.

What won't help: the car's built-in security alone. These systems are not designed to detect relay amplification. The defense is physical distance between the fob and the vehicle, and that starts with where you store the key.

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