How to Open a Mitsubishi with a Dead Key Fob
Getting into Your Mitsubishi
- First, if you are already inside, click here to get started!
- For video help, click here.
- Finally, if you need or want another manufacturer, click here.
Retrieving the Mechanical Key
Mitsubishi came up with a whole new name for a smart key or key fob. It is called the Free-hand Advanced Security Transmitter key, or FAST, key, and there are two basic styles. Despite the inflated name, it works pretty much like everyone else’s, with a couple of twists at start time for early models. It begins with a mechanical or emergency key.
To retrieve the mechanical key from either key fob style, slide the release lever located on the reverse side of the FAST key fob, as shown, and pull out the mechanical key. It can then be inserted into the lock cylinder at the back of the driver’s door handle and turned to unlock the car. So far so good…
And there’s video help here!
Continue to Part II, Getting Started …
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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Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow.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
As we noted, beginning with the 2016 Volvo XC-90 redesign as well as all Polestar models, a new style key fob is used (right). To retrieve the mechanical key or key blade, look for a slide lever on the top of the key ring end of the fob. This will free the front cover, which needs to be removed.
To do this, push the cover slightly down and away from the key ring end. It can then be pulled up and out, exposing the mechanical key. The key blade can then be lifted out.
With the previous generation key fobs, the is pulled away from the fob rather easily. Slide the spring loaded catch on the back of Remote Key (remote control or ‘clicker’) to the side. Pull the key blade straight out of the remote key. On some models, the lock cylinder (keyhole) at the back of the door handle will be visible. If so, use the key blade to unlock the door. See below if the key hole is hidden.
With the first generation Remote Key, a similar spring loaded catch will be found on the top of the fob, on the key ring end. As with the fob above, slide the catch to the side and pull the mechanical key away. Again, the lock cylinder (keyhole) at the back of the door handle may or may not be visible. See below if the key hole is hidden.
In the Volvo XC-90 and other redesigns going forward since 2016, as well as the Polestar 2, the key hole is also hidden, but easily found and nothing needs to be removed. Simply pull the door handle out as far as possible and the key hole is exposed, as shown in the image.
The Polestar 1 features a door handle that is flush to the car’s body. Push the front of the handle inward and pull away the back, as seen to the right. The key hole is now exposed. As above, insert the mechanical key and turn it clockwise to unlock. Remove the key blade and release the handle. Pull the handle once again and you are in the car.
A mechanical key is not available to unlock the Polestar 3 or Polestar 4. The smart phone app or the vehicle’s key card will be needed. With the Polestar 3, the card is touched to the front of the driver’s door handle (right). With the Polestar 4, the card is touched to the middle of the door pillar just behind the driver’s door (far right).
Press the key blade about a half inch straight up in the hole on the underside of the keyhole cover (right), found at the back of the driver’s door handle. This action will force off the cover. If you are in the dark, you may need to feel for the hole. Yes, you must remove a piece of the car, but it is ok and necessary. Use the mechanical key in the now-exposed lock to unlock the driver’s door.
Four key fob (remote control or ‘clicker’) versions may be seen in Toyota, Lexus and Scion models. The earliest version (left), used only in the Lexus LS for a few years, the mechanical key remains attached to the key fob. Pull the latch found on top of the fob. At the same time, slide the lever on the side upward until the key blade is fully exposed.
The mechanical key is removed from the remaining fob styles. Slide the catch on the top of most Lexus key fobs, or on the side of Toyota and Scion models. Some later 
Lexus models use this key as well. Pull the key ring from the fob while the catch is slid to one side to remove the emergency or mechanical key blade.
A slight variation in even later Lexus models has the slide lever on the top of the key ring end, but not on the mechanical key itself. Slide the lever and pull the key ring away to retrieve the mechanical key.
If the keyhole is not visible, insert the mechanical key into the slot at the base of the door lock cover located near the back of the driver’s door handle and lift slightly to pry away the lock cover and expose the lock cylinder. If you are in the dark, you may need to feel for the slot. Yes, you must pry off a piece of the car. Insert the key blade into the now-exposed lock cylinder to operate. The key can only be inserted in one direction, so turn the key over and try again if it does not go in the first time.
If you do not see a seam or a keyhole, you have the latest Lexus models, the NX, UX and RC as well as RX models built after 2016. This door handle style has since been incorporated into ES and LS models. Pull the driver’s door handle out as shown in the image to expose the keyhole. Insert the mechanical key and turn and you’re in. There is only a small amount of space, so actually turning the key can be a chore.
If you are fortunate enough to own the Lexus LC models, the door handles are flush to the body. Press the front of the driver’s door handle inwards, then pull the rear of the handle out. The key hole is then exposed behind the rear portion of the handle. As above, insert the key and turn and you’re in.
Finally, with the re-introduced Toyota Supra in 2020 come open and start features clearly taken from BMW! The key hole is hiding behind an oval shaped cover at the back of the driver’s door handle. Pull the door handle out and feel for a metal clip is behind the cap and give it a push outward.
The cap will practically fly off revealing the key cylinder. You are still removing a piece of your car and its still ok! Let go of the handle and use the mechanical key to unlock the door using the key cylinder that is now visible through the handle and you’ll be inside.
New in 2023, Lexus NX, RX, RZ and TX feature a rectangular pry off cover (right) at the back of the driver’s door handle. Slip a credit card or some equivalent into a gap at the front of the cover and pry the cover outward. When the cover clears the handle, push it from the rear to remove it fully. The key hole will then be exposed.
the lock knob at the back of the Intelligent Key (remote control or ‘clicker’). Use the mechanical key in the driver’s door key cylinder to unlock the door.
The second key fob is the spitting image of the fob used by the Mercedes-Benz folks for years. A few old Chrysler Corp. (now FCA) vehicles use it too.
As noted, the key hole on nearly all Nissan and Infiniti models is visible at the back of the driver’s door handle, and the mechanical key can be used to unlock it. Two exceptions to this are the Nissan GT-R and the Infiniti QX80. The key hole is a bit hidden, behind the front of the driver’s door handle and a cap that must be removed.
To access the key hole, press the rear end of the driver’s door handle to lift up the front end, just as you would normally to get inside. Note the cap shown in the image (above right, A). While holding the door handle out, use the mechanical key and turn the cap counterclockwise to remove it. Once removed, the key hole is exposed and the mechanical key can at last be used to unlock the driver’s door (above right).
In the 2025, the QX80 offered a new feature — flush door handles that extend when the key fob approaches the vehicle. If the battery in the fob is weak or dead, this will not occur. Getting to the key hole is a process similar to that for the GT-R. Press the front of the door handle inward. This rotates the rear of the handle outward (right, upper). The handle can then be pulled open. Do so as far as it will go exposing the key hole beneath the back of the handle (right, lower). You can now use the mechanical key to unlock the car.
Mercedes-Benz now features two SmartKey styles. The original and most common style is tapered, like the one shown to the right. To retrieve the mechanical key, slide the release catch found near the top of the fob in the direction of the arrow and pull the mechanical key away from the SmartKey (remote control or ‘clicker’).
In 2017, a second, rounded SmartKey style was introduced in the E-Class sedan, and is shown to the right. It migrated to S-Class sedans in 2018 and is found in all 2018 E-Class models.
In 2021, another key fob was added to the S-Class Maybach that looks similar and operates very similarly. It is a little more tapered at the key ring end. Again, push the button on the back and remove the mechanical key.
Make sure the handle of the mechanical key is pointed away from the paint. Insert the key into the opening (black arrow) underneath the cap as far as it will go. Hold the door handle out. Pull the cap that is now on the mechanical key as straight as possible away from the vehicle until it releases.
The 2021 Maybach adds flush door handles. This has now been added to AMG and EQS models in 2023, EQE, E-Class, S-Class and C-Class models in 2024.
Finally, the 2023 CLE Cabriolet and 2024 GLC models employ yet another method to hide the key hole. Pulling the driver’s door handle to the open position reveal the key hole underneath the back of the handle. Simply insert the key and turn and you’ll be inside. And yet again, the alarm will likely sound, but it will go off when the car is started.
Think You Locked Your Keys in the Trunk? Maybe Not…
Locked Your Keys in the Trunk?
In the world of Push Button or Keyless Start cars, three calls are commonly received by service departments and roadside assistance operators: lock outs, dead key fob batteries and keys “locked” in the trunk or behind the rear hatch.
The third, keys locked in the trunk or storage area, is usually a conceptual problem that is a result of the nature of “locked” when it comes to modern push button ignition systems.
And of course the length of the explanation highlights one of the many problems associated with advanced technology. Perceived as user-friendly, the details can be more than confusing.
So first, assuming, and yes we hate to use that word, that the battery in the fob is strong, closing the trunk with the fob inside does not lock your keys inside. Just as a driver can approach the car with the key fob in a pocket or purse and open a door with just a touch, there is also a touch spot or pad for the trunk.
The difference is, of course, that a door has a handle to pull while a trunk does not. Thus a sense of panic can easily arise in a driver who has not routinely opened the trunk using the touch pad. Feel for it – it will generally be a raised or depressed, rubberized bit above the license plate. It is not visible unless you bend over and look for it.
This takes us to the nature of “locked” on push button systems. A driver steps from his or her car and presses the lock button on the fob. The locks engage. However, he or she can approach the vehicle at any time and open it with just a touch, all because the vehicle is in constant communication with that key fob. The same is true for the trunk, even with the fob inside the trunk.
So is the vehicle locked?
Well yes – and no! If the driver is within range, anyone can walk up to vehicle and open it. However, most vehicles make it possible to lock all the doors from the inside, which overrides the touch system.
This can result in a lockout, if the interior lock switch is engaged when exiting the car – and leaving the keys inside. This is roadside assistance time, unless you are fortunate enough to have OnStar, or an equivalent service.
So just to confuse things further, many manufacturers have included a trunk lockout switch, usually located in the glove box. This allows a driver to lock the trunk with the switch, then manually lock the glove box and hand the key fob to a valet while keeping valuables protected. If that switch is engaged and the keys are in a closed trunk, its roadside assistance time again!
Truly though, in the vast majority of situations, if you have dropped the keys into the trunk and closed it, relax. If you have a push-button start system, simply touch the pad above the license plate or on the lift handle of your rear hatch and the trunk lid or hatch will pop open.
The video below will help as well.
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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