Key Fob Repair and Replacement Diagnosed, Repaired or Replaced On Site in Devon, Dorset and Somerset
Dean of DB Car Keys, the mobile auto locksmith from Honiton, repairs and replaces key fobs on site across Devon, Dorset and Somerset, reaches most addresses in 20 to 60 minutes and fixes most fobs in 30 minutes.
A key fob repair costs £40 to £100, with no call out fee. Most fob faults are a weak battery, lost synchronisation or a damaged circuit board, and most are fixed without a new fob.
Fob dead or doors not responding? Call the locksmith
A key fob repair costs £40 to £100. Dean confirms the price for the make and the fault on the call.
Dean has worked as a mobile auto locksmith since 2009 and is fully insured and DBS checked. 66 Google reviews rate DB Car Keys 5 stars, and the price is given before Dean travels.
Key Fob Repair Cost and Price Factors
A key fob repair costs £40 to £100 with DB Car Keys, and the fault and the fob type are the two main price factors. The table gives the price of a key fob repair and of the five jobs that sit closest to it, key fob replacement among them.
| Key fob job | Price | What the price covers |
|---|---|---|
| Key fob repair | £40 to £100 | A repair of the circuit board, the buttons or the casing. Most fobs are fixed in 30 minutes. |
| Key fob battery replacement | Quoted by phone | The right battery type fitted and the fob tested, in 5 to 10 minutes. |
| Key fob programming, the fob paired to the car again | £60 to £120 | The existing fob is kept and synchronised with the car again, in 20 to 30 minutes. |
| Replacement key fob as a spare car key, working key present | £80 to £220 | A new fob supplied and programmed, in 30 to 45 minutes once the fob is in stock. |
| Lost car key replacement, no working fob left | £150 to £400 or more | A new fob programmed from the VIN, with no original. |
| Emergency vehicle unlocking, dead fob and locked car | £60 to £150 | The car is opened, and the fob is diagnosed on the same visit. |
Three factors set the price of a key fob repair.
The quote covers travel, parts and programming in one figure, and Dean gives the price before travel, with no call out fee. Workmanship carries a 30 day guarantee, and payment is taken on completion by cash, by bank transfer or by card where card payment is available.
Four Causes of a Key Fob Not Working
A key fob stops working for four common causes, a dead battery, lost synchronisation, water or impact damage and signal interference. The majority of fob failures are not hardware failures, so a broken key fob is repaired or put right without a new fob from a dealer in most cases. The exact cause is diagnosed before any work is recommended, and key fob programming pairs a working fob to the car again for £60 to £120.
Dead or Weak Battery
A dead or weak battery is by far the most common cause. The fob button still lights up or clicks, and the signal is too weak to reach the receiver in the car. A fresh battery, fitted correctly, often resolves the fault at once.
Lost Synchronisation
A fob loses its pairing with the receiver in the car after a new battery is fitted, after another fob was programmed or through electronic drift. The fob is physically fine and out of sync.
Water or Impact Damage
Water from rain, a splashed drink or a beach visit corrodes the internal circuit board. Some components fail at once and others fail gradually. A fob that works now and then, or at very close range only, often has water damage.
Signal Interference
Radio interference from nearby electronics, car park barriers or other key fobs blocks the signal for a short time. A fob that works the next day or in a different location had interference, and no repair is needed.
📍 Real call out, Weymouth beach car park, Dorset
"Summer beach call outs for fob failures are a regular part of our work along the Dorset coast. A family at Weymouth beach car park had a fob dropped in the sea and dried out, and the central locking no longer responded. Salt water is particularly corrosive to the small surface mount components on fob circuit boards. In this case the board was unrecoverable. We had a compatible replacement fob in stock, programmed it to the car on the spot, and the family were back on the road within 45 minutes."
📍 Real call out, Glastonbury area, Somerset
"A Land Rover Discovery owner near Glastonbury contacted us when his smart proximity key stopped being detected by the car. The door did not unlock when he approached, and the push button start did not respond. This turned out to be synchronisation loss, possibly triggered by radio interference at a nearby agricultural facility. Synchronising the key again with the programming equipment took 25 minutes. The fob itself was completely undamaged."
📍 Real call out, Yeovil, Somerset
"Renault key card replacements are among the most common fob call outs we attend across Somerset and West Dorset. The credit card style key from Renault is elegant and fragile. A slight bend, a cracked corner or sitting in a back pocket breaks the internal circuit. An owner near Yeovil had cracked her Renault Megane card. We carry Renault card blanks, and programmed a replacement to her car on her driveway in under 30 minutes."
⏱ Eight signs a key fob needs attention
Key Fob Fault Symptoms and the Fix
Key fob fault symptoms point to the cause and the fix, and eight symptoms cover most faulty car key fobs. The table gives each symptom with its likely cause, the fix and the price.
| Symptom | Likely cause | The fix | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The fob works at very close range only | A very weak battery, or water damage in the transmitter circuit | A fresh battery. A fob that stays weak has its circuit repaired. | £40 to £100 for the repair |
| A new battery is in and the fob is still dead | The wrong battery type, the wrong polarity or a poor contact, or lost synchronisation | The battery and the contacts are checked, then the fob is paired to the car again. | £60 to £120 to pair |
| One button works and the others do not | A worn button or a failed switch on the circuit board | The buttons or the circuit board are repaired. | £40 to £100 |
| The fob was dropped in water | Corrosion on the circuit board. Salt water does the most damage. | The board is assessed. A dried fob from fresh water is often repaired, and a corroded board means a replacement fob. | £40 to £100 to repair, £80 to £220 to replace |
| A smart key is not detected at the door | Lost synchronisation in most cases | The smart key is synchronised again through the diagnostic port, with no new fob. | £60 to £120 |
| A Renault key card is cracked or bent | A split internal circuit | A replacement card from stock is programmed in under 30 minutes. | Quoted from the model and the year |
| The fob unlocks the doors and the engine does not start | The transponder key chip or the immobiliser, not the remote | The chip is programmed again, or immobiliser diagnostics finds the failed part. | Quoted by phone |
| The fob works again the next day or in another place | Signal interference | No repair is needed. | No charge, no visit |
How a Key Fob Is Diagnosed and Repaired
A key fob is diagnosed and repaired at the car in five steps, and most fobs are fixed in 30 minutes. The fob is diagnosed first, so a repair comes before a replacement.
- Call 07830249408 with the make, the model, the year and the symptom. Dean diagnoses by phone where possible and guides a quick test, which saves time before the visit.
- The price is given before travel. The quote is free and carries no call out fee.
- The fob is diagnosed at the car. The battery, the contacts, the circuit board and the pairing are checked before a repair or a replacement is recommended.
- The fob is repaired, paired again or replaced. A pairing takes 20 to 30 minutes through the diagnostic port. A replacement fob from stock takes 30 to 45 minutes.
- The fob is tested. The fob locks and unlocks the car before Dean leaves, and the other keys and fobs keep working.
One call names the likely fault from the symptom, across Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Four Key Fob Services
The four key fob services run from a battery to a full replacement fob, and each car key repair is diagnosed and done on site, on all makes and models.
Key Fob Battery Replacement
Key fob battery replacement is the right battery type fitted correctly, with the fob tested before Dean leaves. Fob batteries differ by make and model, and the CR2032, the CR2025 and the CR1620 are three of the types in use. The wrong battery, or a battery fitted with the polarity reversed, damages the internal components. DB Car Keys carries a full range of fob batteries.
Key Fob Reprogramming
Key fob reprogramming pairs a fob to the receiver in the car again through the diagnostic port. A fob loses its synchronisation after a new battery, after another key was programmed or through electronic drift. The existing fob is kept and synchronised in most cases, with no new fob, and the cost is a fraction of a full replacement.
Replacement Fob Supply and Programming
A replacement fob is supplied and programmed on site when the fob is beyond repair, with physical damage, a corroded circuit or a broken housing. Stock covers the most common makes, Renault key cards included. A less common fob is sourced quickly and fitted on a follow up visit.
Flip Key Fob Repair
Flip key fob repair covers a folding blade and a remote fob in a single housing. When the remote part fails, the blade still opens the car by hand and the central locking stays off. The fob is assessed for reprogramming, a replacement housing or a new flip key cut and programmed. Flip keys are very common on VW, Audi, Peugeot and Citroën models.
Dean diagnoses the fob by phone where possible, which saves time before the visit.
Four Key Fob Types Repaired and Replaced
The four key fob types repaired and replaced cover every type of remote key in use on UK roads.
Remote Fob With a Separate Blade
A remote fob with a separate blade is a standalone fob for the central locking and a mechanical key for the locks. The two parts work independently, so the blade opens the door by hand when the fob loses its sync.
Remote Flip Key
A remote flip key holds a blade that folds into the fob body. The remote unlocks the car, and the blade works the ignition and the door lock. A damaged flip key housing is often replaced with no programming when the electronics inside are intact.
Smart Key and Proximity Fob
A smart key works keyless entry and push button start. The car detects the fob in a pocket, the door unlocks on touch and the engine starts with a button. A smart key that loses its sync leaves the car acting as if no key is present, and synchronising the key again resolves most cases with no new fob.
Renault Key Card
A Renault key card is a key the size of a credit card, practical and fragile. A slight bend, a cracked corner or a back pocket splits the internal circuit. Card blanks for the most common models are in stock and are programmed on site, and the key card is a very common call out along the Somerset and Dorset border.
Vehicles With the Most Key Fob Callouts
The vehicles with the most key fob callouts across Devon, Dorset and Somerset fall into two groups, the most frequent makes and the coastal failures.
Renault key card call outs are most common in Yeovil, Sherborne and along the Somerset and Dorset border, where older Megane and Laguna models are widespread on rural roads.
Salt air along the Dorset and Devon coasts, at Lyme Regis, West Bay, Charmouth, Exmouth and Sidmouth, speeds up circuit board corrosion inside fobs. Beach car park call outs are most common from June to September.
Recent Key Fob Callouts
Four recent key fob repair and replacement callouts across Devon, Dorset and Somerset, each with its time.
Renault Megane key card, cracked, replacement programmed on site
Land Rover Discovery, smart key synchronised again, no new fob
VW Golf flip key, remote paired again and blade cut
Ford Fiesta fob, sync lost after a battery change, programmed again
The list of key fob repairs is updated regularly. Call 07830249408 for an arrival time at any address.
Dean, DB Car Keys
Mobile Auto Locksmith, Honiton, Devon
Dean is the car locksmith who answers the phone, diagnoses the fob and does the repair. Dean is fully insured and DBS checked, and has repaired and replaced key fobs across Devon, Dorset and Somerset for over 15 years.
Dean on Key Fob Repair Jobs
Three points on key fob repair jobs in the first person, as Dean and DB Car Keys state them.
On repair or replacement
“In most cases we can synchronise or pair your existing fob again, with no new parts needed. A replacement fob is only necessary when the existing one is physically damaged beyond repair. We always assess the existing fob first and advise you honestly whether repair or replacement is the right approach.”
On a wet fob
“Fresh water damage where the fob was dried quickly has a reasonable chance of being repaired. Salt water is far more damaging and often corrodes the circuit board irreparably. We assess the board condition on site and advise honestly.”
On Renault key cards
“We carry Renault card blanks in stock for the most common models. Most Renault card replacements are completed in under 30 minutes.”
What DB Car Keys Customers Say
Verified Google reviews from key fob and car key customers across Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Car Makes Covered for Key Fob Repair
Remote fob repair, reprogramming and replacement cover all major vehicle makes.
Call 07830249408 with the make and the model, and Dean confirms the job before travel.
Key Fob Repair Areas in Three Counties
Mobile key fob repair and replacement reaches every area of Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
EX, PL and TQ postcodes, including the coastal towns with a higher risk of fob corrosion.
DT postcodes, with Jurassic Coast beach call outs at their highest in the summer months.
TA and BA postcodes, with Renault key card call outs common in Yeovil and Sherborne.
Call 07830249408 for a key fob repair in EX, PL, TQ, DT, TA and BA postcodes.
Key Fob Repair FAQs
Seventeen common questions about key fob repair and replacement, with the answers.