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Service: 855-564-2389
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Parts: 855-564-2360
You press unlock and nothing happens. You press it again, try the lock button, then walk up and try the door handle. The key fob worked yesterday, and now you're standing next to your Volkswagen trying to work out whether this is something you can fix yourself or something you need to book.
The battery in the key fob is one possible cause. The car's own battery is another, and you can test it before you buy anything for the key.
A Volkswagen key fob battery replacement only helps if the problem is in the key. Slow starting, dim headlights, or warnings on the dash can point to the car's battery instead, and we offer a complimentary battery check. If the car seems healthy, replace the battery in the key, and check your owner's manual for the type it takes.
It could be, and a weak Volkswagen battery shows up on the car as a slow or struggling start, dim headlights, and alerts on the dash. If you notice any of those, start with the car's battery and leave the key alone for now.
The other case to rule out is a car that has been parked for weeks or months. If you only spend part of the year in Naples, the car's battery has been losing charge the whole time it sat, even with the car off. Have it tested before you open up the key.
If you have a second key, try it first. If the spare works, that points to the first key. If neither one works, that points to the car, so start with its battery.
| What you notice | What it can suggest | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| The car starts slowly, the headlights look dim, or the dash shows alerts | The car's battery is weak | Have the battery tested before you touch the key. We offer a complimentary battery check. |
| The car has been parked for weeks or months | The battery lost charge while the car sat | Get it tested before you replace anything in the key. |
| The car starts and runs normally, but the key fob doesn't respond | The problem is more likely in the key, and its battery is the simplest part to replace | Replace the battery in the key using your owner's manual, or schedule service and we'll take a look at the key. |
The battery type and the way the key opens depend on your model and key style, so your owner's manual is the place to start. Before you take anything apart, note which way the old battery faces. Take the old battery with you when you buy the new one so you can match it.
Keep both batteries away from children. A swallowed coin-sized lithium battery can cause severe burns in as little as two hours, so if a child swallows one, go to the emergency room right away.
Start with the battery you just installed, and check that it's the type your key calls for and that it faces the same way the old one did. If both are right and nothing has changed, the battery wasn't the problem, and the next step is a look at the car's battery and the key itself.
If the key was dropped, got wet, or spent time in a beach bag, tell us when you schedule service.
We start with the car's battery, which our Volkswagen-trained technicians test and, if it needs replacing, swap for a Volkswagen-approved one. The test is complimentary. If the battery tests fine, tell us what the key has been doing so we know where to look next.