Dropped your fob in a pool, sink, or puddle?
Here’s how to save it – and what to do if it’s already too late.
Dropped your fob in a pool, sink, or puddle?
Here’s how to save it – and what to do if it’s already too late.
A fob that goes in the water is not automatically dead, but the clock is running. Two things kill it: an immediate short circuit while the battery is still connected, and slow corrosion that eats the circuit board over the following days. What you do in the first few minutes decides which of those you’re dealing with.
Move fast and resist the urge to test it:
Pat everything dry with a microfiber cloth, then leave the opened fob and battery compartment in a dry, airy spot for 24 to 48 hours. Silica gel packets work better than rice, which leaves starch dust behind. Never use a hair dryer, oven, or microwave — heat warps the plastic and cooks the components faster than it dries them. When it’s fully dry, fit a fresh battery rather than reusing the wet one.
Not all water does equal damage:
If it went into a pool or lake, a quick rinse in distilled water before drying actually helps — it flushes out the residue that would otherwise keep eating the board.
Here is the pattern we see constantly: the fob dries out, works fine for a week or two, then starts acting up — shorter range, buttons that need pressing twice, then nothing. That’s corrosion doing its work quietly. If your fob has been swimming and now behaves inconsistently, treat it as failing rather than fixed, and get a spare car key made before it strands you.
Sometimes the board is simply gone. In that case we can supply and program a replacement fob for your vehicle on site — no tow, no dealer appointment. Bring us the year, make, and model and we’ll match the right fob. See our key fob service for what that involves.
We’ll tell you what a replacement fob costs before we come out, based on your vehicle. No hidden fees, no surprise charges at the end. And if your fob is likely to recover on its own, we’ll say so instead of selling you a new one you may not need.
If drying it out didn’t work, we come to your location anywhere in the Las Vegas area and program a replacement on the spot. Call now for a straightforward price, or book online. You can also read about getting a new car key.
We bring professional mobile locksmith service directly to your location throughout the Las Vegas area.
Whether you need a replacement car key, spare key, lockout assistance, or ignition service, we’re ready to help where and when you need it.
We come directly to your location with the equipment needed to cut and program car keys on site.
