Help - car key in washing machine!

[Leech]

Bros, need your quick advice. I believe I have short circuited my car keys. After going through a complete wash cycle of wash in my washing machine, it does not work properly anymore, albeit I could still use it by taking out the battery. But this is very inconvenient. So I would like to know if there is any place where I could seek help to have the key repaired if necessary.

 

I know easiest is to buy a new one. But given my car is coming to 6 hrs old and that it's costs at least $600 to buy a new key. Still need to add on "service fees, coding fees" etc., I am really reluctant to order a new one...

 

Any advice appreciated.

 

Btw, I drive an A6.

[Koalamao]

Mine's an a5 sb. Same key. What you need to do is to "dismantle" the key ie detach the metal key from the holder, remove the battery tray etc. Shake away any excess water and leave it to dry naturally. If you have a dry box, all the better. Do not use hairdryer or clothes dryer coz the static built up will kill the chip.

 

In the meantime, do not use the key ie press any buttons. Try it after 48 hours. It should work.

 

Good luck.

 

[Jtay]

I went through the same thing before - after one ICT, forgot to take out car key from my uniform, and it ended up in the washing machine.

 

I tried to dry it by opening up the key and leaving it under the sun for a week, but still wasn't able to get the remote to work. In the end I went to s*xxi to duplicate the car key. But mine is not a high end system, so no immoboliser, and duplicating the key / remote only costs about $90.

 

 

[5936]

I think taking battery out and leaving it to dry is the best option.

 

Give it a try.

 

And if drying fail, $600 will fly away.

 

 

Wish you good luck.

[Leech]

I just used hairdryer and suntan last nite and this morning! Also have changed new battery and tried pressing buttons again this morning. Looks like I have done all the wrong things! Thanks for your advice. Will try your method now.

[Dark]

I had an old windows mobile phone also went thru complete washing cycle including spinning dry. I immediately took out the battery and left it to dry naturally for about 3 days (excess water already spun dry) and it served me for another 1 yr before I upgrade to a new phone.

 

Good luck to your car key!

[Gerries]

Go to Soxxi Pte Ltd

[Gerries]

Usually they will take out the small glass transponder, like a micro pill capsule, and transfer to a new case with the circuit. This glass transponder is the expensive part, not the cover. I order a cover from ebay for my VW, costing US$12, and I transferred myself after seeing a youtube video. You need to be super careful not to break the capsule.

[Branteo]

I know easiest is to buy a new one. But given my car is coming to 6 hrs old and that it's costs at least $600 to buy a new key. Still need to add on "service fees, coding fees" etc., I am really reluctant to order a new one...

 

Any advice appreciated.

 

Btw, I drive an A6.

 

Your A6 only 6hrs old ... so new ... go make a new one from the agent lah!

[Mcf777]

lucky, my car insurance policy cover LOST of car key.

so dont have to worry about his issue.

[JackRabbit]

I had a similar experience. I happened to go splashing in the sea at East Coast with my kids, with my key in my shorts pocket. The seawater thoroughly drenched my remote, and by the time I noticed it at the end of the day - corrosion had already begun. I washed the remote under tap water to clear off the salt. When we reached home that night, I used a screwdriver to disassemble the remote and washed the parts again. I threw away the battery. Then I left the whole thing to dry overnight.

 

Next day, I removed the battery from the spare remote and tried it in my seawashed remote - and voila! it still worked!! So lucky! But the remote did have signs of corrosion.

[Mockngbrd]

6 hours old not very old wad

[Atlantis80]

TS's key issue was over a year ago.. should have moved on by now?