How to Open, Start and Replace Fob Batteries in Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Vehicles
We have eleven videos offering help to Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram drivers who’s key fobs or remote controls have gone dead.
Battery replacement videos are shown towards the end.
This video covers the new Jeep Gladiator and newer (2018 and up) Jeep Wrangler featuring a new key fob.
This video features a 2017 Pacifica that uses a new style fob and incorrect starting instructions in the owner’s manual!
This updates pre-2012 Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicles with the removable push button.
Here’s a video that will help with newer Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram models.
And another video for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles built before 2010 and featuring the tapered key fob.
This one is exclusive to Fiat owners.
A video of us replacing the battery in a new style (2017) key fob or remote control.
Another battery replacement for a Fiat key fob. Subtle differences from other FCA fobs.
Here is the battery replacement process in a newer style FCA key fob.
An early Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge key fob battery replacement.
A new flip key for Jeep.
Models covered include the 200, 300, Town and Country, Challenger, Charger, Dart, Durango, Caravan, Journey, Viper, Cherokee, Compass, Gladiator, Renegade, Wrangler, Patriot, 1500, 2500, 3500, Promaster, Avenger, Caliber, Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Fiat 500.
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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.
The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
note the button to push on the back side in the center (top arrow).
Starting the car is a simple process. Touch the “nose” of the key fob to the Start / Stop button. Push the button with the fob itself while stepping on the brake as you normally would. The car will recognize the key fob and start even though the fob’s internal battery is dead.
ignition button with the Toyota, Scion or Lexus logo facing the button or switch. Press the Start / Stop button, keeping the brake pedal depressed. You can even press the button with the fob itself.
The new (2020) Toyota Supra is an exception. There is an image of a key with lines radiating from it on the side of the steering column. Hold the back of the remote control (NOT the tip like the image) against the marked area on the steering column and press the Start/Stop button within 10 seconds while depressing the brake.
Another exception is the Toyota Prius in the 2004 through 2009 model years. These cars have a slot beneath the Start/Stop button that will accept the key fob. Insert the fob, buttons up, then press the Start/Stop button while depressing the brake pedal as normal.
A final exception (right) is found in early Lexus LS models. It uses a key fob with a tapered end and a start cylinder that is turned to start the car. In this case, the taped end of the fob is inserted into the start cylinder. The car will recognize the key fob, which can then be used to turn the cylinder.
message to Step on the Brake. Press the brake pedal very, very hard when trying to start the vehicle again to be sure that the release switch behind the pedal is engaged. Or wait a few minutes and try again.
Here’s the deal: Buckle up, find your model, and if your start battery is still good, we’ll get you underway. Note that they are generally presented as sedans, then SUVs then pick ups.
In Corvette models built before 2014 (C6), the pocket is on the left of the inside of the glove box. Place the transmitter in the pocket with the buttons facing the glove box storage area (right). Then, with the vehicle in P (Park) or N (Neutral), press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.
transmitter in the pocket with the buttons facing up. Again, with the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal. Find a helpful video 
Push button or keyless start is introduced to the Camaro in 2016. It also uses the cup holder as a back up slot, but to their credit, Chevrolet made this one simple. Make sure there is nothing, particularly coins, in the rear cup holder, and simply drop the fob into it. The car will recognize the key and a press of the brake pedal and Start / Stop ignition button will have you on your way. Corvettes (C8), 2020 – 2023, use this spot as well. In 2024, the Corvette spot is moved to the front cup holder.
The Impala uses a back up pocket located in the front of the center console (right). The model is using the flip key thus far through 2018. Drop transmitter into the pocket with the key ring up and the buttons facing out. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.
storage area located above the infotainment screen and remove the rubber mat. Extend the key blade and place the blade into the slot (right).
moved to the center console, as shown. The rubber mat at the bottom of the console will need to be removed, and so anything actually in the console.
The last flip key back-up start option belongs to the Cruze. You must remove the plastic trim piece from the small storage area next to the accessory power outlet near the front of the console. Extend the key blade and insert it into the transmitter slot (right). With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.
The 2017 Cruze gets the new key and a new back up location, which is the front cup holder, as seen to the right. Sonic, Equinox and Blazer models now use this spot as well.
The 2024 Blazer Electric Vehicle (EV) is a different animal. Its back up spot is at the bottom of the center console storage area. Drop the key fob on the spot shown (right) with the buttons up.
The Trax, which first saw push button start in 2017, also uses the front cup holder as its back up slot. However, there are three cup holders in the center console area, with the front one being separated from the two behind it. Be sure to use the one in the very front. See the image to right.
The new Trailblazer model has the back up pocket in front of the center console storage area and behind the the two cup holders on the console (image at right). Drop the key fob into the pocket or depression, The manual states that the buttons should be facing the front, but we don’t believe this is possible given the shape of the pocket. We also believe that it will not likely matter. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.
pocket also located in the face of the front of the inside of the center console. However, the pocket points down, as shown to the right. Slide the transmitter into the pocket with the key ring facing out, buttons forward (in the Suburban we had on hand, the engine started with the buttons facing either way). It is a loose fit, so don’t be concerned. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal. Check out the video 
In the Chevrolet Traverse, through 2023, the transmitter pocket is at the bottom of the center console storage area, as seen in the image to the right. The outline of the transmitter will be visible to the front of the console. The 2024 Traverse uses the left or driver’s side cup holder, exactly like the Silverado EV below. Once the fob is in place, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal to start the vehicle.
shown in the manual. There are three storage spots in the console (see the red arrows), and one of them will be the “pocket” but none of them are actually marked. Drop the transmitter or key fob in the front storage spot first and attempt to start the car normally, with your foot on the brake and pressing the Start / Stop button.
In the Silverado pick up (note that the electric version is discussed below) and the Malibu sedan, the pocket for the transmitter is located in the face of the rear of the inside of the center console. Silverado gets push button start for the first time in 2019. Slide the transmitter into the pocket with the key ring facing up, and the buttons out (or however it will fit!).
the Start / Stop ignition button as normal. The pocket in 2021 Tahoe and Suburban models with a bench seat is also moved to this location, at the back of the console.
transmitter into the left side cup holder (second image below right).
First a word of caution concerning the Ford GT. Its latches are entirely electronic, the result being that, in the event of a power failure while inside the car, a back up plan is necessary. There is a strap on each pillar alongside each seat, as seen n the image to the right. Pull it to release the door.
In the Taurus, Expedition (before 2018) and Flex the Intelligent Access key slot is to the rear or the side of the console and points up. The key is slipped in vertically or horizontally depending on the slot’s shape, with the buttons facing out, as in the image shown. After inserting the key, use the Start / Stop ignition button and brake pedal to start your vehicle as usual. If it fails to start, turn the fob so that the buttons face back and try again. Once the vehicle is started, the key can be removed from the backup slot, if you wish.
In the updated (2018) Expedition, the back up slot is in the front cup holder. There is a two-piece mat at the bottom, and the front piece needs to be pulled away. It is a loose fit and slips out easily. Drop the key fob into the slot with the buttons facing the back of the vehicle and start it as normal.
New in 2019, the Transit Connect uses push button start for the first time. The back up slot is also in the cup holder. The rubber mat at the bottom of the cup holders needs to be removed and Ford recommends removing the mechanical key as well. Lay the key fob in the front cup holder with the buttons facing up and the unlock button towards the front of the vehicle. Step on the brake and start the vehicle as normal using the Start / Stop button.
The new Ranger compact pick up also uses a cup holder, the rear one. Place the key fob in the cup holder making sure that it is centered and is parallel to the brake handle, as can be seen in the image at right. The truck can then be started by stepping on the brake and using the Start / Stop button as normal.
In Explorer and Fusion models, the slot is found near the Auxiliary, USB and power ports in the center console, like the one shown. The Intelligent Access key is slipped in with the buttons facing out (in the Explorer we had, the vehicle started with the buttons facing either direction) and the key ring up.
The Edge back up slot is inside the center console, but actually beneath the the front of the console (right). It is difficult to see, but it can be felt as raised tray just the right size for the remote control. Slip the remote onto the tray with the buttons up and press the Start / Stop button while stepping on the brake as normal.
The 2017 Escape has a new back up location (see below for earlier Escape models), which is changed again in 2018.
In the 2018 Escape, the back up slot is found in the front cup holder. The bottom is marked with radiating lines meant to indicate radio waves. Remove anything that may be in the cup holder and set the fob inside, as shown in the image at right. Once it is placed, use the Start /Stop ignition button to start the vehicle while stepping on the brake as normal.
And in 2019, the back up slot for the Escape is back at the front of the center console, beneath a mat that must be removed (right). The new Bronco, introduced in 2021, shares this location. A fob-shaped depression will be seen once the mat is removed. Place the fob on the spot with the buttons up. Once it is placed, use the Start /Stop ignition button to start the vehicle while stepping on the brake as normal.
The EcoSport, introduced in 2018, also uses a location in the front of the center console. Drop the fob into the slot with the key ring up and the buttons facing the back. After inserting the key fob, use the Start / Stop ignition button and brake pedal to start your vehicle as usual. And again, the key fob can be removed from the backup slot once the vehicle is started, if you wish.
New in the 2015 Mustang, the 2017 Fusion, and the 2018 Expedition (as noted previously), the backup slot is hidden under one of the cup holders.
The new all electric Mustang Mach E has a back up slot at the front of the center console storage area, next to the 12-volt power outlet (right). Place the remote control in the slot as shown (2) with the buttons facing up (or out).Once the remote control is in position, press the Start / Stop button while stepping on the brake to activate the high voltage battery.
Push Button Start is new to the Ford Pick-up line in 2015, first with the F-150, and it has two back-up start options. If the shifter is on the steering column, look inside the center console to the rear for the slot. Note that there are two console storage areas. The one needed and shown is beneath the center bench seat.
If the shifter is on the center console, the slot will be under the rubber mat in front of the shifter. Remove the mat and insert the Intelligent Access key with the buttons facing up.
In 2017, trucks with the shifter on the center console have the back up slot moved to one of the cup holders. Through 2020, the front cup holder is used, but it is moved to the rear cup holder starting in 2021. Remove the mat at the bottom (see image) by pulling the tab and stand the key fob up in the slot, buttons forward. Then press the Start / Stop button while stepping on the brake as normal.
In the F-250 or larger truck, the slot is located beneath the tray to the left of the cup holders in the center console. Remove the tray and the cover from the center console. The slot, which is in the shape of the key fob, or Intelligent Access key, will be exposed.
The compact Focus has five variations alone, with the Escape and C-Max sharing two of them and the Fiesta sharing one. The fifth Focus variation belongs to 2016 models only. All are located on the right side of the steering column near the windshield wiper lever. And see below for Fiesta and Focus models built after 2020 and not sold in North America.
If you see the transmitter symbol, which may have a key or tower in between the radiating lines, and you have a three button Intelligent Access key, slip the key into a small slot beneath the symbol, as shown.
If you have a five button Intelligent Access key, place the key against the transmitter symbol, as shown in the image, and start the vehicle. The vehicle will recognize the key, even if the key’s battery is dead. Use the Start / Stop ignition button and brake pedal to start your vehicle as usual.
If you see a cover, like the one shown above, there are two options. If a small slot or notch is visible, as seen in the image, pry off the cover using the mechanical key and insert the Intelligent Access key, as shown.
If the covering does not have a slot or notch to pry off the cover, which will include Fiesta models, simply hold the Intelligent Access key against the cover, similar to the five-button process shown above and as shown here, and start your vehicle using the Start / Stop ignition button and brake pedal as usual. The vehicle will recognize the key, even if the key’s battery is dead.
In 2016 and going forward, Ford made a change in the Focus. The back-up slot will be found at the bottom of the center console. It will appear as a depression in the floor of the console in roughly the shape of the key fob.
console storage compartment with the buttons facing up.
Fiesta and Focus models built after 2020 feature a small storage area in front of the shift lever on the center console. The area’s rubber mat must be removed, much like the pick up trucks with center console shifters seen earlier. There is even the mark of a key with lines radiating from it to point out the location (top arrow). Place the fob as shown (lower arrow) with the buttons up. Step on the brake and start the car using the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.
Finally, if you happen to have the GT model, the back up location is a storage tray at the front of the center console beneath its rubber mat, like the Fiesta and Focus above. Lift the mat and place the key fob with the buttons up, as shown in the image. Step on the brake and start the car using the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.