How to Open a Volvo or Polestar with a Dead Key Fob
- First, if you are already inside, click here for help getting started!
- Second, for video help, click here!
- Finally, if you need or want another manufacturer, click here.
Retrieving the mechanical key
Three key fob or remote key or remote control styles are in play for Volvo. With new ownership and a redesign of the XC-90 in 2016 and spreading into other models as they are updated, including the first new Polestar models, comes a new key fob style.
It should be noted that in 2021, a smart phone app became available for both Volvo and Polestar models and can be used to open and start these vehicles. A key card is added beginning in 2024.
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.
The key holes on most models may not be immediately visible, but help with that can be found below.
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.
Getting Inside
Note: Unlocking the vehicle with the mechanical key will set off the alarm. Following the start procedure will also turn off the alarm.
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.
Insert the mechanical key (it may be awkward to get at) 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.
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).
The app simply uses a tap on the screen.
For older Volvo models, if the keyhole at the back of the driver’s door handle is hidden, follow the next set of instructions.
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.
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
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.
Retrieving the mechanical key
To use the most common Hyundai key fobs, press and hold the release button at the key ring end of the remote control or ‘clicker’ and pull the key ring to remove mechanical key. Use the key to unlock the driver’s door. They too remain in limited use today (2025).
The exception come in the form of key fobs with the mechanical release on the back, which. Hyundai began using in 2019 (right). Push the button in order to release the mechanical key.
supplying a new key fob and separate mechanical key shown to the right. This fob has spread to other models as well. To use the mechanical key, a protective cover must be removed and its handle rotated down.
trick. Several other Hyundai models have been added since, namely the Santa Fe, in 2024, and Venue. These models all feature a two-piece door handle. As shown in the image to the left, press the mechanical key into the slot found under the cover at the back of the driver’s door handle (1) and pull forward and up by hand (2).
A “hybrid” of this was introduced in 2020 in the Sonata. By 2024, it is found in the Elantra, Santa Cruz, and Tucson. The mechanical key is again slipped into a slot beneath the back of the door handle and pushed upwards. Now however, a small cover, seen in blue to the left, is slid to the side and out of the way. This should be done when the mechanical key is still inserted and pushed upward. The keyhole is then revealed.
The redesign of the Kona brings with it a new and odd door two-piece handle, as seen to the left. It still features a cap that hides the key hole, which must be removed. It looks like the others, but to get at the key hole, lift the door handle and hold it in the open position. Slip the mechanical key into the open slot in the cap from behind it and rotate the cap upwards. It will come free, exposing the key hole.
In 2019, a very different hidden key hole style was introduced in the Hyundai Santa Fe (removed in 2024), the new Palisade model a year later and the Elantra in 2021. The handle for all intents and purposes is one piece, but a small piece of horizontal trim located just behind the black entry button (arrow) is removable. Pull the handle outward. This exposes another small black button just behind the handle (2, below). Look at the handle from behind to find it.
Push the button inwards using the mechanical key. This releases the trim piece that can be swung away exposing the keyhole. The key can then be turned to unlock the car. Pull the key out before opening the door to avoid damaging the door handle.
Afterwards, the cover can be pressed back on, but your immediate concern is getting into your car.
In the Nexo, a plug protects the key hole, likely from water and debris. Use the mechanical key to pry the plug away (first image left) and then insert the key to unlock the car.
Hyundai vehicles that include a separate mechanical key include two digital options and a facial recognition option. Digital options include a pre-registered card key and a smart phone app on a registered smart phone. The card key and app can also start the car. However, facial recognition will only open the vehicle, so the key fob, card key or smart phone app will be needed to start the car.
Facial recognition is accomplished using a camera mounted in the pillar behind the driver’s door. Again, this will only allow entry and other means will be needed to start the car, so this is of limited value.
For your BMW or Mini, press the button on the back of the remote control (or ‘clicker’) and pull the key ring end to remove the integrated key. The integrated or mechanical key can be used to unlock the driver’s door.
lock cylinder, and introduced a new, slightly redesigned key fob. The button in this case, is on the side, as shown. Press it and pull the key ring end to remove the mechanical key.
shown, has a button on the neck. Push it while pulling the key ring with your free hand to retrieve the mechanical key. On all other Mini key fobs, the button is simply on the back.
With the latest EV line, the iX, i4 and i5 so far, come new key fobs. The i4 and i5 have a traditional looking fob, very much like the second one above. Push the button on the side and pull the key away. However, it will need to be used in a very tight space and so needs to be “undressed”. Slide the frame down the key and remove (right).
The iX mechanical key is behind the chrome cover on the key fob. Look for the button shown (first image). Press it and pull away the cover in the direction of the larger arrow. Then rotate the mechanical key out from the fob starting with the key’s tip (second image).
The electric models we noted above use a mechanical key for entry, as well. Lift the handle (right) of the i4 or i5 to expose the keyhole (black arrow).
the ICE powered 7-Series and will likely find its way to other models.
Both handle styles also feature a proximity detection pad. It is located somewhat in the middle of the driver’s door handle on the i4 (first image) and at the front of the driver’s door handle on the iX and 7-Series (right image). It is the knurled spot seen in the image. Touch an activated key card or the back of a smart phone with the BMW app to the spot and the door will unlock.
Starting 2015 in the 7-Series only, a new style hidden key hole a new cover removal process is featured. The directions from BMW are a little confusing, so do this carefully. It turns out to actually be quite simple.
It starts as a one-piece door handle (above) that must be pulled outward. With the handle pulled outward with your left hand, slip a finger from your right hand behind handle. Feel for a metallic release and push it outward. This will release the cap, which can be pulled away with the thumb and fingers of your right hand, exposing the key hole (right).
A modified version of this was introduced in the 540i for the 2017 model year. It has since been introduced in the X5 and X7 SUVs. The same metal clip is behind what is a smaller cap. The cap is the last bit of chrome at the back of the driver’s door handle and is roughly the same size as the clip, making it easier to feel for.
Like the 7-Series, pull the handle out and slip a finger from your other hand behind handle. Feel for the metallic clip and give it a push. In this case, the cap will practically fly off. 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.
Opening Your Mini
‘clicker’). There are three different but similar key fob styles. The first one has a release button near the gap for a key ring, and is used for Acura models.
The second key fob, also used by Acura, uses a sliding button near the top of what is actually the mechanical key itself. The third one, found on Honda key fobs, uses a slide button just below the mechanical key on the main body of the remote control. See the image below right.
To remove mechanical key, pull it out while pressing the Acura release button or sliding the Honda release button. To reinstall the built-in key, push the key into the remote until it clicks. With one exception, use the mechanical key to unlock the driver’s door.
There are two exception. The first is found in the Honda Civic beginning with the 2022 model year and the Acura Integra beginning in 2023. In these models the key cylinder is hidden behind the driver’s door handle. It is exposed simply by pulling the handle into the open position (left). The mechanical key can then be inserted into the cylinder. Other models may follow.
The introduction of the Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue all electric models in 2024 also brings an entirely new door handle. In this case, the lock cylinder is hiding behind a cap at the back of the handle. Insert the mechanical key into the slot shown in the image to the right. Turn the key and the cap moves to the right and can be removed. This reveals the lock cylinder. The key can now be used in the cylinder to unlock the car.