Experiencing issues with your Smart car key fob? It’s a surprisingly common problem where the key fob buttons stop working, even though the car starts perfectly fine with the key. Many Smart car owners, particularly those with the 451 model, have encountered this frustrating situation. If you’re facing this issue with your 2008 Smart car key, you might be relieved to know there’s a “magical,” albeit unwritten, procedure that could get your key fob working again without a trip to the dealership.
This guide outlines a step-by-step method, based on real-world experience, to potentially reprogram your 2008 Smart car key fob. While some steps might seem redundant, this process has proven effective for regaining full functionality of your key fob buttons.
Step-by-Step Guide to Reprogramming Your Smart Car Key
Before you begin, ensure you have a new battery handy. Starting with a fresh battery eliminates a common culprit for key fob issues.
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Replace the Battery: Begin by replacing the battery in your non-working Smart car key fob with a new one. It’s a small investment that can save you a lot of trouble.
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Inspect the Key Fob: Carefully examine your key fob for any signs of physical damage or broken components inside. If you’re unsure, you can visit an auto parts store like AutoZone. They often have testers that can check if your key fob is transmitting a signal.
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Lock the Car (Using a Working Key Fob if Available): If you have a second, working key fob, use it to lock your Smart car. This step is based on personal experience and might not be strictly necessary, but it’s part of the successful procedure.
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Manually Unlock the Door: Take your non-working key fob and manually unlock the driver’s side door by inserting the key into the door lock and turning it clockwise.
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Press Key Fob Buttons (Initial Attempt): Press and release each button on the key fob (unlock, lock, and rear hatch). At this stage, it’s recommended to be inside the closed car, although this might not be critical.
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Insert Key into Ignition: Place the key into the ignition slot.
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Press Key Fob Buttons (in Ignition – 1st Time): Press and release each button on the key fob (unlock, lock, and rear hatch) while the key is in the ignition.
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Turn Key to ACC (Accessory) Mode: Turn the key in the ignition to the ACC or accessory mode. This is the position just before starting the engine.
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Press Key Fob Buttons (in ACC Mode): Again, press and release each button on the key fob (unlock, lock, and rear hatch) while the ignition is in ACC mode.
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Start the Car: Start your Smart car engine.
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Press Key Fob Buttons (Engine Running): Press and release each button on the key fob (unlock, lock, and rear hatch) while the car engine is running.
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Turn Off Car and Remove Key: Turn off the car engine and remove the key from the ignition.
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Press Key Fob Buttons (Final Check): Finally, press and release each button on the key fob (unlock, lock, and rear hatch) one last time.
At this point, your 2008 Smart car key fob buttons should be working again! This sequence of steps has been reported to successfully restore the functionality of the key fob buttons in situations where they have become unresponsive.
Understanding the Process (Speculation)
While the exact technical reason for this procedure working remains unconfirmed, it’s speculated that this series of actions helps the car re-establish communication with the key fob. The steps involving turning the ignition to different modes and pressing the buttons might trigger a reset or re-synchronization process within the car’s system.
Another anecdotal observation suggests that simply leaving the key in the car after turning it off for about 10 minutes can also sometimes resolve the issue. During this period, the car might automatically re-establish the key fob connection.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Battery Quality: Ensure you are using a high-quality replacement battery.
- Key Fob Condition: If the key fob is physically damaged, this procedure might not work, and you may need to consider professional key fob repair or replacement.
- Patience: Follow each step carefully and methodically. While some steps might seem unnecessary, they are part of the reported successful process.
By following these steps, you have a good chance of reprogramming your 2008 Smart car key fob and regaining the convenience of remote locking and unlocking. If this method doesn’t work, consulting a qualified locksmith or your Smart car dealer would be the next recommended step.
