A broken key fob can make your life miserable. Fortunately, fixing these issues is easy with the right tools and procedures.
Always ensure that you ground yourself prior to beginning repairs to eliminate static electricity. It only takes a second, and is good practice when working with electronics in general.
Find any debris that may be under the bad key. Breadcrumbs and other pieces of debris often get stuck underneath keys, which prevents them from advancing properly.
Broken Car Keys
Car keys are something we ignore until they fail or stop working at the most uncomfortable times. When your car keys don't work, it can be a hassle to open your trunk to buy groceries, open your doors to go somewhere, or start your engine to get to work.
Over time, keys to automobiles may wear out. They may be damaged due to being thrown around or dropped, and the internal components may wear down to the point that they're no longer functioning as they should. This is a big problem since it means you won't be able to use your vehicle unless you have a spare key or have your mechanic fix the problem.
Most broken car keys are easily repaired or replaced. If your key is just damaged inside your lock or ignition, you can sometimes remove the remaining portion of the key using pliers or a wire coated with. A locksmith may offer you a set of special tools for removal that are designed to slide into the key and apply a pincer-like grip on the broken pieces to safely remove them.
If the key to your car is broken in half, a simple and cost-effective solution is to glue the two pieces back together. This is tricky because you need to make sure that the pieces are correctly aligned, but the result are very effective. Keep a pair or scissors and a roll tape at hand in case you want to alter the alignment.
Replace the battery in the car key fob to repair a broken key. If your car key fob won't turn on and you don't yet have a replacement then this is the ideal solution. Based on the model of vehicle, you can often do this by removing the key fob and then opening it using a screwdriver, or a small tool.
If the issue is more severe, such as if your key fob is totally inactive or does not switch on at all, you will need to get it replaced. You can do this at the dealer, but an auto locksmith will usually be more affordable. They will come to you and make the necessary repairs or even replace the key fob.
Broken Key Fobs
As with all electronic devices, car key fobs can fail. When they stop working they are not difficult to fix. You'll first need to determine the cause.
The majority of the time, when the key fob stops working, it's because the battery is dead. Removing the battery is the most simple and cheapest solution, and it's something you can do at home.
If cleaning the fob isn't working then you can take it apart. Your fob has a circuit board inside that holds a number of "contact pads" for each button that you can press on the fob (lock buttons or trunk buttons, etc.). The contact pads are made of rubber and coated in an electricity conducting film that begins to wear off as time passes. You can clean the contacts on your key fob with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab to remove any corrosion.
If you suspect that the contacts are broken or loose, you can use a pair of tweezers. If repair car key do this it's a good idea to use some silicone on the back of your key fob prior inserting the new contacts. Silicone will seal the contacts to keep out water.
Another reason to consider a non-functioning key fob is that it has become un-paired with the vehicle. When you hit a key fob it sends the car a message that communicates to it what you're trying to do. If the key fob is unpaired, it won't recognize the car and will not allow you to start the engine.
It's time for you to call a locksmith or a dealership technician if you can't get the key fob that you want to pair with your car. They'll have the equipment to reprogram the key fob and make it functional again. It's likely that you'll need to pay for the service, but it will be much cheaper than purchasing a brand new key fob.
Keys are not responsive
If a key on your keyboard stops working, it can be a complete nightmare. The first step is to make sure that the key isn't blocked by something physical. Dust, hair, and other debris can accumulate over time and obstruct the key's movement or cause interference to its circuitry. Try gently taking the key off and clean the area beneath it using a rag and ruby alcohol. This may be all that's required to get your key back in working order.
If the key does not work, it's an issue with your software. If your key doesn't do what you expect, make sure to check the settings of your game to confirm that it is correctly mapped.
You could also try reinstalling the keyboard drivers to fix the problem. Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause your keyboard to cease functioning, so it is important to always ensure that they are updated as often as possible.
The key might be damaged. Every key switch is comprised of two circuits, and they may wear out in time to the point where they can no longer recognize the press. If this is the case the best solution is to replace the entire keyboard, as it's likely to cease to function properly.
If you've tried all of these solutions, but your keyboard does not respond you're in need of a professional inspect your laptop keyboard or an external computer keyboard. It could be that the membrane that covers the keyboard is damaged or one of the keys are malfunctioning.
You can test the keys using the keyboard tester. The website will tell you whether the keys are functioning correctly or not. If they're registered correctly in the latter, it's most likely a software problem. The other solutions can be applied to restore full functionality. You could also use an external keyboard until your internal keyboard is repaired or replaced.
Keys that aren't working
Keys that aren't working can be an enormous pain, but fortunately, they're generally easy to fix. Most of the time the problem is caused by a piece or dirt underneath the key or just not being connected properly to the laptop or keyboard. If you're not sure if this is the case, begin by cleaning the keys and then using canned air to remove dust or dirt.
The key could be misaligned. It is possible to fix this problem with a professional. However, it is more likely that the key will need to be replaced. If you have an electronic key that isn't able to be turned with a metal key, the transponder chip may have stopped functioning. You'll need a new key that is programmed.
If your external keyboard or laptop keys aren't recording any actions in any way, you could try a key testing website. This will allow you to determine if the keyboard malfunctioning or if software is causing interference.
A switch that isn't functioning properly could be the cause of a key not performing as expected. If you have a mechanical keyboard it is easy to check this by looking beneath the keycap to see if there is any debris that has accumulated on it. If you spot something, use canned air to clear it up and then remove the cap. This will allow you to replace the hooks that connect the retainer to the switch and hopefully restore functionality to the key.
If you have a keyboard key that isn't performing the intended function only in one program, then it's likely that the settings for the game's keyboard have mapped the key to a different action. Check the settings of your keyboard and press the key again to see whether it's functioning properly. If it's not, it's best to purchase a brand new keyboard and have it installed by an experienced. This is true, especially when you play a sport which requires a lot more typing.
