2013 Toyota Highlander
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

2013 Toyota Highlander Smart Key Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

A guy out in Peutz Valley picked up a used 2013 Highlander and called me on a Tuesday. He had one fob, the original, and it was doing something strange.

The car would start without any complaint, but about half the time the door handles would not respond to touch. He would stand there pulling the handle like it was a regular car, then remember, then try the button on the fob, and that would work. Inconsistent enough to be maddening, not broken enough to feel urgent.

He had already replaced the battery himself. Did it at a counter at an auto parts store, handed the fob back over, watched the guy pop it open with a flathead. I asked him which battery they put in. He did not know. I asked if they pressed it flat or just dropped it in. He said he could not remember.

I drove out and met him near his place. Opened the fob on the hood of my van. The battery was a CR1632, correct type, but it was sitting at a slight angle and one contact had a small outward bow from being pried open wrong. The cell was making contact enough to start the car, which draws on the vehicle's own system once you are inside, but the RF signal for the door handles was marginal. That is a lower-power function and it was right at the edge.

Straightened the contact, reseated the battery flat, closed it up correctly. Walked every door. Touch unlock on both front handles came back clean. Tested the remaining three fob buttons. Tested the emergency insert blade in the door cylinder since he had never tried it.

He had been one bad battery install away from convincing himself the fob was failing. The whole thing took maybe fifteen minutes. He was relieved more than anything.

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