DIY Replacement of a Chevrolet Key Fob! (Camaro, Cruze, Equinox, Malibu)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 มิ.ย. 2017
- Decided to replace my Camaro key fob and didn't want to shell over hundreds to a dealership. I recorded the assembly and disassembly of the key fob. I needed to do this to my key fob anyway and thought that I might be able to help some people out by showing how it's done. You should be able to do this at home without the need for any special tools. Hope you enjoy!
Where I bought my key fob: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Song 1: / smoovy
Song 2: / swerve-prod-hiko-momoji
5 years later and this video is a Godsend! My fob fell apart and I bought my car used and it only had one key. 🙄
Thank you for this video!!!
Heh. I found out my Impala has hidden keyholes, and the covers are easy to pop off. A bit annoyign cause you have about 6 seconds after you unlock to stick er in the igntiion or the alarm goes off, but the car
is usable. I'm assuming if the Fob is dead the key might not even work to turn to unlock. (magnetic strip links up with the fob's board/pgoramming)
Did it work?
Did this fob work?
My husband and spent a couple hours trying to open the old one to no success. Then I watched this video today and got it open within 2 minutes... not the same way as you but this gave us encouragement that it was in fact able to be opened lol.
We put in a small pair of pliers and pulled open.
Just finished swapping the circuit board into cheap shell. A few observations: The old fob is not designed to be taken apart; I inserted two screwdrivers to pull it apart and broke the old shell. The head of the key part is different (took me a lot of time to figure this out) so I removed the pin holding the key with a pushpin and replaced the pin holding it in place with needlenose pliers and hammering it it. The spring on the new fob is much weaker than the one on the old fob, so the key does not flip open with the same satisfying authority. I found the video helpful.
Its because you got a cheap replacement. Quality is everything.
Did you have to do any additional steps once you switched it out? I’m having the exact same experience as you are but my car went into “service theft deterrent system”. I put the car in the on position but the signal won’t go away.
You need to wind the spring up to make it flip harder
same here i punctured the board when i was trying to crack it open
The key has to be spun 2 full rotations before closing the case
It’s 2024 and my lock button on my 2013 Cruze fob just broke!🤦🏻♀️ Thank you kind Sir for doing the Lords work!🙏🫡🔥👏
I just did mine, could't swap the key, there's a slight difference between the oem and the blank and I didn't feel like going to a locksmith.
However, as someone else mentionned, by removing the tiny pin that holds the key blade using a finishing nail, needle nose pliers and a hammer, I was able to swap key blades
12$ for a "new" key fob is awesome
these are the worst fob design ever. They need real buttons that won't disintegrate over time. gm fail
Clearly you didn't use much Toyota and Hyundai ones
After doing this, I realized that this key fob is the strongest thing ever built by chevrolet. Besides this toughest keyfob, everything else in this car is falling apart. Thanks chevrolet for doing something right. although instead of using glue, 3 or 4 tiny screws whould have work just fine and much easier. Thanks chevy for convincing me again to buy a japanese car next time.
@@alexrosca6545 Literally I need a new key fob every 4 months, they're absolutely terrible.
The silicone design is 🗑️!!!
Wow I thought it was my long fingernails 😩😩
I tried this and the actual key part like the metal peice from my old key wasnt fitting the new one. What i did is, theres actually a little hole where the long part meets the lower round part of the key, you press that it will come off and you can just do the same for the new one and just swap them. You can see the hole im talking about at 2:23 in the bottom middle of the screen, use a toothpick or something similar and a small metal peice will come out and you can just swap out the key part like i mentioned.
This comment right here ❤
IT WORKED!! i damaged my fob prying it open coz it seems like the bottom just wouldn't seperate properly but no big damage, all the button worked AND the car starts!! THANK YOU SO MUCH I SAVED $65+TAX!
P.S: everyone needs to understand that when he says "turn clockwise" he's talking about the upper casing with which he attached the spring, when you counter-clockwise rotate the casing while pushing down the spring locks into place.
Chevy dealer doesn’t not like this video 🤣👍🏼
Thanks bro
Liked and subscribed 💪🏼
9:00
Thanks bro with your help i managed to replace my Opel Astra H key fob.Hurray GM :D
You saved me $200!!! Thank you, it worked. 🎉
Thanks Brandon for your video! I was able to replace my key fob, I was scared! But, I did it! Great video!!!
Thank you soo much because this fob definitely didn’t come with instructions! You rock!!! 🤘🏾
Destroyed both key fobs trying to get them open this way. I hope whoever designed these things at GM got fired.
That was the biggest accomplishment of my life ... dremel tool and patience holy shit
To make it work correctly you must also switch the machined key, meaning you have to knock the small drift pin out of both metal keys and put the original key into the new chrome swing lock mechanism and reinstall the pin.
If you don't do the last steep, the key will not stay closed in your pocket.
The new parts in the swing lock mechanism are clocked differently and sized differently so no matter how you try to interchange the mechanical mechanism it does not reassemble and work. You must switch the actual metal key with the chrome swing or hinge mechanism. You need a hammer, long nose pliers and either a #53 or #52 drill bit that you will be breaking and using the shaft of as a drift punch. Drive the pin out using the hammer and drill bit with the shaft of the bit against the pin. When putting the pin back in, hold it with the long nose pliers and drive it in with the hammer.
So when all is done, you use the circuit board and the machined key portion of the Original key fob, everything else is the new parts.
Other then that, it's perfect!
Everything else in the video is super clear.
EDIT: Thank You for this video!
Never bothered to make a follow up video on this before selling the car, but what you described is exactly how I fixed this issue with the key 👍
@@brandonnotgood Excellent video Brandon! Thank you for posting it.
So did the old key fob have a screw under the chevy emblem? Did you put a screw through the new one?
Thank you for this video! I'm going to bookmark this so when the new key fob I bought will help.
Next time don't work on a rug when dealing with electrical components. Static/friction will mess your circuits up. Aside from that very useful tutorial vid!
Question what if one of the buttons are missing on the key fob your replacing like I need to replace one the over the top buttons on case came off but on the program board now my trunk button came off?
ty for this video. was these being sold on amazon and was weary because i couldnt find any videos of how it worked. this gave me confidence to order it and stop dealing with this broken unlock button (hopefully)
Thank you 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 helped a lot
Thanks SO MUCH!!!! You are the best!!
Thanks you make it easy to understand and know how to do it
Good video. It worked for me.
Thanks! This is very helpful.
6 yrs later. Thnx
Professional work good sir
Thanx for making❤
I'm relieved and surprised this worked because usually when I try DIY I do more damage than good.
Most of the tutorials on the internet make this seem effortless but getting the original key apart is a bit tricky. I work in a company that assembles electronic devices similar in design to this key and I knew exactly that the shell is going to be glued, but I did not expect it to be glued by some kind of military-grade super glue. Or maybe it was so hard just because my Chevy Cruze keys are almost 10 years old. I kinda chipped away bits of the plastic shell away with a swiss knife, destroying the knife and my desk in the process, until I got pissed and went to the garage and locked the key in place in a vice and used iron pliers. In hindsight I should have done that right away because the key then came apart smooth as butter. Of course you gotta be really careful not to damage the electronic chip inside but there's enough of the plastic bits that you can grab onto to take it apart safely.
So really that is the only difficult part. While I did put the thing back together easily enough, just like in your case the metal key part itself does not fit the plastic shell perfectly, apparently mine is a size 6 and the key I bought was a size 1 - I think. The thing doesn't stay closed, BUT, if you DO NOT ROTATE the spring when putting the case back together the key will just be kinda loose so you can put it in your pocket without getting poked and you can open it like a zippo - how cool is that!
And another thing, even though this process took like half an hour and the battery was removed the whole time, the new key surprisingly still worked and did not need any kind of re-programming. Not sure how, I'm guessing the code is hard coded into the chip or whatever. I do drive an European 2011 Cruze, so it could be a totally different story for cars in other markets.
There's usually a screw that needs to be unscrewed before it comes apart. If it doesn't come apart easily, don't force it like I did. Use needle nose plyers for better leverage.
I basically destroyed mine trying to get it separated. That damn thing was sealed with the strongest glue in the universe.
Did it work fine after, though?
After doing this, I realized that this key fob is the strongest thing ever built by chevrolet. Besides this toughest keyfob, everything else in this car is falling apart. Thanks chevrolet for doing something right. although instead of using glue, 3 or 4 tiny screws whould have work just fine and much easier. Thanks chevy for convincing me again to buy a japanese car next time.
@@alexrosca6545 lol CLEARLY their way of having to make people shell out an extra $50 to $300 bucks. literally had to tear mines up all morning today with a mini hacksaw to replace it with the $10 fob case I got off Amazon. hell, I'm proud of myself. felt like I got to stick it to "the man" for at least a day... 😂
@@alexrosca6545 did you buy your car used? I have over 100k miles on my Camaro and have had zero problems or issues. Mine still looks and drives new. Maybe someone just didn't take care of your car properly.
@@gearheadjeff I have a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu with 110k miles... Yes, I bought it used at 108 miles... I always buy my cars used, drive them for couple of years and then get into something else, from german to japanese to american etc... I've tried out and had many makes and models, but NEVER ever had to put so much money into a single car within couple of months of ownership! (I have my cars inspected at the mechanic before buying). Best luck I had with the Japanese cars, one time drove a camry with 170k miles for 2 years and only did 3 oil chances! so, to maintain it I only spent under $100 in 2 years. This chevrolet Malibu already cost me thousands in maintenance in 2 months!!! I drove it normally for a month, then it overheated.. did a headgasket replacement.. then 2 weeks later the engine compartment was smoking.. replaced the intake manifold... then exhaust, then sensors, then bushings and links, then the radio, nav with backup camera and the power seat stopped working, haven't repaired these yet, I probably won't, too expensive, then a week ago even this damn key broke!!! WTF GM... this thing looks beautiful but boy what a piece of crap this is...
I am having trouble getting the roll pin back in the hole. Can't get a good grip on pin with needle nose pliers it keeps slipping. Any suggestions...also tried tweezers.
The unlock button on the mother board is broken. I replaced the key fob and all but Is there a way to program the panic button to unlock the car?
Just saved people $200 for a new key fob, so ridiculous how much dealerships charge you for that
The engraved key is held in by that little roll pin. Put the key in new remote and reprogram it takes 30 seconds for two remotes to reprogram, Chevy wanted $100 to reprogram
LOL, im glad it's not static sensitive! Carpet and electronics normally dont mix.
Good video bro, u helped me thanks
On my 3rd set of crap key fobs. Tried this method too and the replacement had a different design internals for the key flip.
This was a cool video but my 2014 SS fob had no screw and did not just pull apart i had to actually break it very carefully which was a hassle
Thanks man! Way easier to switch circuitry than program a new fob for my silverado when my old fob works fine it just looks shabby.
Thank you so much for showing me this!!!!!!!!!!!
Great knowledge here. Mine didn't go back together right so it locks closed and pops open...but it is programmed, and does everything it is supposed to. Thank you. That was $40 saved from needing a key cut.
Where are you getting it cut for $40?
Where did you find the key fob with the Chevy emblem, I need a replacement case for an 2015 equinox. Thanks : Rick frane
Thanks for the help
Thanks for the video ... I would have never been able to have done this without it. I had a tremendously hard time opening the old fob. I had to score the edges of the fob's seams, and then use closed needle nose pliers into the side opening (then spreaded them open) to get that fob apart.
No problem! Just happy that someone found it useful.
I had to do the same thing with mine. It was almost like someone glued it shut. I bought mine used as well.
It worked great, thanks
This video saved my life I almost had to buy a whole new key
Glad I could help!
Man idk how you got your original fob apart so quickly! I literally broke mine piece by piece after fighting it for an hour!lmao
Ps great tip on turning the bottom counter clockwise I thought I had messed up on assembly lol
Bro fucking same holy shit it’s like someone glued it shut
That's because it wasn't the original fob.that key fob was an aftermarket fob
No one mentions the tiny skrew inside.... Just broke this shit in 3 pieces 🤦♂️
If you watched the video before doing anything......
There is a screw under the chevrolet logo ,you need to lose it before open it …
I did it myself twice without using 2 knives, just used hands for disassembling old one.
I tried for over an hour and I can't get my old fob open! I'm taking a break I'll try after work but I highly doubt I'll get it open. Any suggestions?
I went ahead and paid $109 for a nee one then took a change on my old ones.
I finally got them apart. No screw in either.
I manger to fixed one with the two, so now she has a new one, and I have a repaired one.
Thanks! I tried to pry open old remote as shown, and ruined the case. It was not made to come apart.
Jack Keesee that happen to me too thank god I had the new shell already
I was successful, but I had to pretty much destroy the old fob to get it apart. I also kept the original stronger spring. The key doesn't swing out that well yet but I think it will wear in with time.
you have to preload the spring when putting on the back piece, carefully turn counter clock wise 2 times to "wind" up the spring so the opening action is stronger.
Can you order replacement key? Mine for the fob is missing
Great video, but I still can't do that. Why? Because, when I got to the part where you have to take apart the new fob and yours, "just came apart". Yeah, no. Mine is stuck together like it is Super Glued! I have nearly lost my mind trying to get this darn thing apart! On top of everything else, I locked my phone in my car and of course, now I am unable to unlock my car doors or open the trunk or anything! I swear, I really am losing what little sanity I have left. I really wish you were here to help an old man out.
I guess you can just press the button on green circuit to unLock your car to take your phone out
My key plastic came off after droping my car off for routine maintenance at the shop. I was piss when i saw they let the rubber fall off. So i was thinking cant you just do this. Now i know its possible time to order a new keyfob shell.
good job
Dated October 6th 2022, @ 2:01 . The Key FOB was a bitch to take apart, however; the small gap opening between the key and the folder. used a Needle nose plier closed first-> insert -> try and open that did the trick to release the casing and the motherboard. it Help on the fix!! Thanks !
The knife slipped and I stabbed myself. My wife just dialed 911. Be careful doing this. I’m bleeding out my gut badly.
nicholasyoder survival of the fittest
Not sure whether GM Holden Australia is different - but the fob seems to be one solid piece of plastic - so unless your really prepared to break it (mine still works just) for the internals. There is no going back.....
Another way would have been to tap out the pin holding in the key on both fobs and just put your key in the good one. Nice video.
TheSocratesian doesn’t work that way. It isn’t a pin. Just looks like a pin.
Yes and no. Yes, if you haven't already programmed 5 remotes to your car. No if you have. The way he did it works without having to reprogram a new remote. You can only have 5 remotes programmed to your car. After that, you have to have the Dealership un-program and reprogram to wipe out the memory. I have no idea what that would cost, but I imagine not cheap. By the way, yes, I have 5 programmed. When the recall happened on the remotes, they gave me two chipped keys. That meant I then had 4 programmed devices. The two original remotes and the two chipped keys. When they gave me the chipped keys they removed the switchblade style keys from my remotes. Well, I wanted a switchblade style remote, so I bought another and had the key cut. That made five total. Now my buttons are wearing out on the original remote. I still have the other two, but in order to repair or replace that worn out remote, I will either have to do this style of repair, or have the dealership get involved with the programming.
Thank you so much. This made my day!
Did you have to program this to your car? Did all the button still work like remote start
Did you ever figure it out if you need to reprogram it?
Carina Alvarez no I ended up having to stop being cheap and bought a new key from the shop and they cut and programmed it for me...I heard this option messed up a lot of people’s car
I have the same problem, can I just swap out the button pad or front cover?
It might not fit perfectly depending on what year you have, but it's worth a try
thank you ... very much .. i have GMC terrian and pads are just junk .. my condom last longer than the pads.. god bless u for video helped me alot ..
Thank you so much.
So if i buy a new key fob and put my old key in it, will i have to program it to the car ?
Yes
ZahalaG no you don’t unless you remove the circuit board from old one to the new one..they key has to be cut from a locksmith or whoever has a key cutting machine or if yours ain’t broken then switch the key blade too.
some Krazy glue or gorilla glue applied along the clamshell contour/crack and a vise clamped tight tor 24 hours is a great way to reseal the fob, provided all your parts in 100 % working order.
This video was extremely helpful, but the twist and close part was so hard! If anyone has any other tips, it would be great!
with the twist and close bit, have the button and spring already placed in the key, the put the other end of the spring in the back of the case and twist the direction the key will be coming out once (or else the key wont move when you press the button). If you try to do it like he did it, it will be much harder.
Thanks 🎉🎉❤
My 2015 Vauxhall Astra which has almost the same type of key fob did the same thing a few months ago so I had renew it most be a General Motors poor quality thing my previous car was a vw which I owned for 12y and apart from a few scratches both key fobs were ok
I’ve been wondering what’s that middle button with the car I have it and idk what it does any help??
Usually key fobs have: 'lock', 'unlock' and 'open trunk'
Please I need ur help
Thank you for saving my last nerve 😅
So I bought 2 key shell fobs off internet, had the keys cut, swapped the circuit boards, one fob works (programmed) , one fob does not work (not programmed). Tried the put first key in, then second key to program, NOT WORKING. Any ideas on how to program 2nd fob ? (2010 Camaro)
If the circuit boards were programmed prior to this, it should have worked fine. Not really sure exactly what problem you're having with the second one, but maybe the battery for one of the fobs is dead?
if the 2nd key wasn't already programmed then you will need to visit the dealer with around $100 or find a keysmith (huh?) that can do it. I have a second key, got off ebay, waiting on my lazy butt to go get it programmed.
yancysr Can you please post the link here, where did you bought. I need one but I don’t know where to buy.
look in your manual and or TH-cam it ... plenty of video how to program it yourself I did that to my chevy ss .. direction was in my manual
GREAT
My key won't lay flat and pop out like before. Driving me crazy. I have two keys and replaced both and in both the key won't lay flat. It seems so easy for you to twist the key part and it just goes back to normal. 😬
Wish mine was that easy. Last owner or dealer glued the fob together.....
I followed this video till the end. I did every step and his video was helpful disassembling the key and reassembling it, although once I replaced everything that need to be replaced with the old key parts the new key will not flip and the button isn't sticking out it's pushed in and I don't know how to fix this. Ive looked it up on TH-cam, iv'e searched it, tried fixing it myself and i can't find the problem.
You might have to transfer the old key blade to the chrome button piece that came with the new one
My button caved in too like that lol
got mine put together , i think but the buttons are not working?
Look up DIY key fob programming if you have one of your old fobs start car with it let run like 10 seconds turn it off immediately insert your knew fob it will start cart and program that new remote it takes 10 or 15 second the cit car off and buttons should work.
Good one. No fluff either.
I replaced the medal part of the key but couldn’t make it mechanical(open and close) it’s stuck on open, but I know I won’t be buying a gm car after this stupid frustrating incident
2:00 you need to remove the bow tie and unscrew the screw
We're you ever able to get the key to fold and stay down? If so, how did you do it? I need to replace mine as well
Yes, you just need to switch the original key blade onto the swing mechanism that came with the new fob. There are multiple write-ups on the specifics of how to do this in the comments of this video. Hope that helps!
Do we use the new key circuit board or replace it with old key circuit board ?
Please clarify.
Using the old key circuit board is ideal to keep the original programming and make sure you don't have to reprogram the key
@@brandonnotgood My original programming is not working for the new key.
I already have the key cut, will it automatically program the new circuit if I turn on the vehicle with the new circuit inside the keyfob?
If not, any suggestions, to make the old circuit work in new keyfob please 🙏
www.programyourremote.com/ has instructions for programming and also key duplication
But did it work to unlock and lock the car and open the truck. That's what I want to know.
Yes
Just put the metal key on your key ring and you wont have to worry and the key flipping out or not
Those key fobs are also Impala key fobs
It isnt a screw hole under my chevy logo 2015 equinox
Hey Brandon, buddy boy, did it work to start your Chevy vehicle? I am about to switch two key fobs in bad shape into two brand new key fobs, so I am watching lots of videos like yours. The ending would be perfect if you started your vehicle with the new key fob. I am going to guess it worked. Thanks for the humor and the instructions. I am also scared to do it, to be honest, since I am programming this for someone else's vehicle, okay, it's my husband's vehicle. He borrowed my Jeep and when I saw how bad his key fobs were, I decided to program two new ones for him. Thanks so much! Wish me luck, I think I can , I think I can! Yes I can. LOL - This saves everyone a ton of money- some pay over $350.00 for a new fob, because they need a new mother board, and then someone has to but a new key, and they charge big bucks for it all. You did a good job!
Yeah, it started the car just fine and continues to work years later for the new owner of the car. Just make sure you switch the board from the old fob into the new one and it shouldn't give you any trouble starting up. If you use a new motherboard, it will have to be programmed. I did also end up switching out the blade holder to the one that came with the new fob shortly after making this video and that allowed the blade to stay closed. A lot of people have commented about that on this video and they include pretty good instructions for getting that done. The trickiest part about all of this (and hardest to film) was just getting the tension back on the spring and getting the fob to close. Looks relatively easy when you see someone do it, but it's harder than it looks to do it without everything coming apart over and over again. Good luck with everything!
Omg my unlock is pushed in!!! was so sad when I saw it
They key didn't stay shut and this is the issue I am having swapping over a new key fob.
You can detach the key blade from the swivel base and swap them.
it wont fit buddy u got to cut the new key blade
sc K not true. I just swapped them.
unless you had an aftermarket remote to begin with then you can swap it
A. Marie how did you get the pin out?
@@mybro727it's a roll pin so a tiny roll pin punch would work or something small
did the fob end up working, unlocking and locking the car?
Yeah, I switched the board from the old fob to the new one, so no programming had to be done and everything worked.
Mine doesn’t work now
@@brandonnotgood i tried this but the shells are different in size so wheni tried put the old key to the shell it wounld fit and i fckd up the board in the process of trying to open the old shell lol
You dont have program the key once you change your old key foab to a new one??.
Shouldn't have to if you're transferring the internals from the original key
To program a new fob that you transferred your key into start car with the 2nd original key fob let it run 10 to 15 seconds turn car off and remove that key immediately insert the key of fob needing to be programmed and start car .let run 10 to 15 seconds turn car off buttons should then work.
So what went with little screw and Chevy emblem?
I just chose to not use the screw
You just have to twist it the other way. I had to do it twice to get it to work perfectly.