# Keyless Car Starting: What to Do When Your Fob Battery Dies Little-known methods to unlock and start your vehicle when the key fob battery is dead. - **Source:** [Core77](https://brifing.si/source/f6ad2371-dd12-4b4f-8976-2d2533729d9b) - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/942d467a-dd3a-4e32-8fb8-3c0eb4ff26ce ## Short Lifespan of Key Fob Batteries Automotive key fob batteries typically last a few years. When they die unexpectedly, vehicle manufacturers have designed backup methods to enter and start your car. These little-known solutions are standard in many modern vehicles. ## Discovering the Physical Key Under the small cap on the driver's door lies a conventional lock mechanism. If your fob doesn't have a blade key, there might be a hidden physical key inside. Follow the parting lines to extract this emergency key. ## Volkswagen's Starting Method In brands like Volkswagen, a special area with a key icon sits beside the steering column. Placing your dead fob here activates the immobilizer chip via induction, allowing engine start with the button. ## Honda's Hidden Solution Honda models hide the induction loop behind the start button itself. Pressing the button with a dead fob triggers the system. This clever engineering solution rescues drivers in emergencies. ## Other Supporting Brands Dozens of brands including Audi, BMW, Ford and Toyota use this technology. While implementation varies slightly between manufacturers, all rely on the same fundamental induction principle. ## Emergency Knowledge Matters Monitoring fob battery life and learning these backup methods is crucial for every car owner. These manufacturer-specified solutions can save significant time and stress during unexpected situations. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.core77.com/posts/144717/How-to-Unlock-and-Start-Your-Car-When-the-Key-Fob-Battery-is-Dead — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._