If your push-to-start car won't recognize the fob, a dead fob battery is the most common reason. The good news is that almost every push-to-start vehicle has a backup method to start the car even with a dead fob.
Key not detected
A “key not detected” message on the dash means the car cannot pick up the fob's signal. Before you assume the worst, run through the usual reasons.
- A weak or dead fob battery, by far the most common
- The fob is somewhere the car struggles to read it: in a phone case, beside your phone or other fobs, or in a bag with metal in it
- Interference near where you are parked
- The fob has been damaged or has lost its programming
Whatever the cause, the backup below usually gets you going.
The hidden backup most drivers don't know
Push-to-start fobs are designed with a backup in mind. Even with a flat coin-cell battery, the fob has a passive chip the car can read at very close range. The trick is getting the fob close enough to the right spot.
- Look for a marked spot to hold the fob, often the start button, steering column or centre console
- Hold the fob directly against that spot, then press the brake and the start button
- Check your owner's manual for the exact backup location for your vehicle
- Many fobs also hide a metal key blade to unlock the door if the car won't open
Why this works
The backup uses the same transponder technology as a traditional chip key. At very short range the car can power and read the chip without needing the fob's own battery. That's why pressing the fob right against the marked spot often does the trick when standing a metre away does nothing.
Brake pedal / shifter interlock — not the fob
Sometimes the car sees the fob and still won't start, and the key isn't the problem at all. Push-to-start cars want the brake pressed firmly (the clutch on a manual) and the shifter fully in Park before the start button does anything. If the shifter isn't quite seated in Park, or the car isn't registering the brake pedal, pressing the button may only switch on the accessories. If the dash shows no key warning and the car still won't crank, check those first. A brake switch or shifter fault is a job for a mechanic, not a locksmith.
Push-to-start at −30
Deep cold hits both batteries at once. Cold cuts the voltage a fob's coin cell can deliver, so a fob that was fine in the fall can go undetected on a frozen morning, and the backup spot is the way around it. The car battery struggles in the cold too: if the fob is detected but the engine turns over slowly or only clicks, the car battery is the likely cause, not the key. Warming the fob in your hand or an inside pocket before you press start also helps.
Fix the easy thing first
Once you're going, swap the fob's coin-cell battery. They're inexpensive, available at most stores, and usually a quick change. If a fresh battery brings the fob fully back to life, you've solved it for the price of a coin cell.
When it's more than a battery
If a new battery doesn't help, or the car still won't detect the fob up close, you may be looking at a worn or failing fob, or a programming issue. A replacement push-to-start fob needs to be programmed to your vehicle, and it starts from $170, all-in. Tell me your year, make and model and I'll confirm the exact price. I work on most makes and models, older cars included.
How I can help
I'm a mobile auto locksmith serving Winnipeg and the surrounding area, so I come to you rather than you arranging a tow. Going to a dealership for a fob can cost more and usually means towing and waiting, whereas I can program a replacement on site. Lost key replacement starts from $200, and a car lockout is from $150. Before any work I check your vehicle registration and matching photo ID as standard procedure to confirm the vehicle is yours. You only pay once it works, price agreed up front, no hidden fees.
2017 Toyota Highlander — spare smart key · more on my channel
Frequently asked questions
- Can I start my car if the fob battery is dead?
- Usually yes. Hold the fob against the marked backup spot, often the start button or column, then press the brake and start. Check your manual for the exact spot.
- Do you program replacement push-to-start fobs?
- Yes, on site anywhere in Winnipeg and the surrounding area. A replacement push-to-start fob starts from $170, all-in; share your year, make and model and I'll confirm the exact price.
- Is a locksmith cheaper than the dealer for a fob?
- A dealership can cost more and usually means towing and waiting. As a mobile locksmith I come to you and agree the price up front, with no hidden fees.
Need a car key, fob or lockout in Winnipeg?
Mobile auto locksmith — I come to you, 7 days a week.
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- See my up-front pricing
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