How to change the battery in a Toyota Camry Camry key

The key fob has a built-in electronic device that requires a power source, which is provided by a battery. The service life of a power supply cannot be infinite; the time comes when it will have to be replaced. Many owners turn to specialists. But the operation is quite simple, which you can easily do yourself.

Appearance of the key and its features

The device body is made of plastic and is available in 3 styles:

The electronic device is standardly dark in color and rectangular in shape, equipped with control buttons and a system for extending the key for the ignition switch using a lever.
The smart key is black and rectangular in shape with rounded edges. The remote control contains buttons for manipulating the locks.
Metal car key from the ignition switch, an electronic chip with buttons is built into the head.

The car is supplied with a plate with an identification number for restoring the opening devices at an authorized dealer in case of loss or damage to the key, as well as 2 mechanical ones:

The main one is black and matches all locks. A transponder is integrated into the head - a transceiver, which, through a special code, interacts with the memory of the immobilizer - the electronic unit of the car's anti-theft system. In this regard, a duplicate cannot be made outside the service center of the car dealership, otherwise the locking system will not be canceled and the engine will not be able to start.
Additional - with red insert, training master key.

Add. The mechanical device has the following list of functions:

disarming;
activation of the electronic anti-theft system at the beginning of use;
training 2 new working keys.

There are several features in the use of the main and auxiliary devices in vehicle operation:

While the car enthusiast is starting the car, the key fob ring must not be allowed to come into contact with the key. This will make it impossible to start the engine or stop immediately after starting up.
When starting, contact with devices of similar technological content should be avoided.
If, due to failure to comply with these rules, the car stalls, you must remove the key, take appropriate precautions, and then start the engine again.

Key fob and push button start

Owners of cars with a key fob and a push-button engine start system are a little less lucky. However, they shouldn’t worry too much about the suddenly dead battery in the key. The algorithm of actions differs slightly. The main trouble will come from the push-button engine start system.

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Manufacturers of cars with key fobs, of course, have provided for the possibility of sudden failure of the battery. To get into the car, you need to remove the key blade from the key fob and, in the same way as in the first case, mechanically open the door. Difficulties may arise, perhaps, with finding the lock cylinder (on many modern cars they are carefully hidden). But to start the engine, additional knowledge is required.

It's best to refer to your car's manual. It probably describes the algorithm of actions in the event of an emergency with the key.

The peculiarity of the key fob is that it is constantly connected to the vehicle's electronic security system. When the battery is dead, this connection is disrupted. Even if the door can be opened, the car will not be able to recognize the key: the immobilizer will not give the command to start the engine.

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On most machines this problem is easily solved. It is necessary to insert the key fob into a special connector, which, as a rule, is located in close proximity to the start-stop button. The immobilizer sensor located in the key does not require additional power. It is important to simply bring it to the reading coil.

What battery is used

In the electronic remote control of Toyota Camry V50 and V55, you need to install a battery with number CR 2032. For Toyota Camry V40 and Toyota Corolla E150 you will need CR 2021.

Information about the required CR model is located on the battery itself and on its protective cover.

Analogues by characteristics

CR 2021 and CR 2032 batteries are optimal for many keys due to their size and characteristics. They are used to power systems that require a small element with maximum energy efficiency. They are not batteries and cannot be charged.

number\characteristics	view	diameter	height	weight	capacity	voltage	lifetime
CR 2016	lithium-ion	20 mm	1.6 mm	1.8 g	90 mAh	3 V	1.5 years
CR 2032	lithium	20 mm	3.2 mm	3 g	230 mAh	3 V	2 years

The presented models will be replaced by batteries belonging to the disk category, with a similar diameter.

For CR 2021:

KCR 2016;
BR 2016;
ECR 2016;
LM 2016;
5000 LC.

For CR 2032:

DL 2032;
BR 2032;
EBR 2032;
DL 2032;
5004LC;
SB-T15.

How to revive a battery

Without knowing the code for the valet button, not knowing how to start a car with a start-stop button and not being able to buy a new battery, you can find yourself in a really difficult situation, the only way out of which will be to resuscitate the existing battery.

First you need to remove it from the key or key fob, understand what voltage it should produce, and only then act.

The easiest way to revive a battery is to heat it properly. This can be done in all available ways. The main thing is not to overdo it (with extreme heating, batteries explode).

You can use another “old-fashioned” method: give the battery a good tap to “invigorate” the filler and thereby intensify the chemical reactions.

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Finally, you can try to recharge the battery from another power source with a similar voltage (usually 12, 3, 1.5 or 6 volts). This can be done with a couple of wires and sleight of hand. It is important to remember that when charging from a powerful current source, the battery will heat up. The battery can only be recharged by briefly touching the contacts, and most importantly, by strictly observing the correct polarity.

Finally, if you have an alternative power source with the required voltage, the voltage can be applied directly to the key or key fob, after first removing the battery from it.

However, it is better to prepare for unexpected developments in advance. Make it a rule to carry a new battery for your key or key fob in a protective package in the glove compartment. Modern batteries have a long shelf life and can really help you out many years after purchase.

Probably, every driver has had to find himself in a situation where attempts to open the car using a key fob ended in failure. As a rule, the low battery charge of the Toyota Camry key is to blame. And here many car enthusiasts fall into a stupor, not knowing what to do in such a situation.

Someone even starts calling the nearest service station to call specialists and pay them a substantial amount. And this despite the fact that even a person who does not have special technical knowledge can perform the operation of replacing the battery. To do this, you just need to know some nuances, which will be discussed in our article.

When is it time to change the CR 2016 battery?

With regular use, the service life of the CR 2016 button battery is an average of one and a half years. The device does not turn off unexpectedly; until the battery charge is completely depleted, the device shows signs of the need to replace it, for example:

The car stops responding to a one-time signal, you have to press the desired button again.
Increases the force when pressing the button.
The operating range between the car and the owner for the remote control to operate is reduced - you have to come close.
The security alarm is triggered after an attempt to unlock the doors with the device.

What to do if there is a low battery message on your dashboard

Sometimes a similar inscription appears on the dashboard:

You must understand that we are talking here about the need to replace the battery in the key fob, and not about replacing the central battery. If you ignore the system alert, then at the most inopportune moment you may find yourself next to a closed car that does not “want” to let you inside. This means you should urgently go to the nearest store and purchase the necessary battery.

Does the generation and model of Camry matter?

Depending on the model and year of your vehicle, your remote control may require different types of batteries. In some models, it is possible to replace the CR 2016 with a new CR 2032, if the capacity of the device allows its thickness. Thanks to this, the car owner will change the battery less often, because CR 2032 holds a charge longer.

In previous generations of Toyota Camry, a key was included in the package, to disassemble it you need to unscrew the bolts in the body.

In newer cars of the brand, disassembling the device to replace the battery occurs without these manipulations.

Instructions

So, how do you replace the battery in your key?

To carry out the procedure, you will need a car ignition key, a new battery, a screwdriver, and a paper clip.

At the very beginning, you should open the key using a suitable screwdriver. It is best to choose the right size, as otherwise the plastic key may become deformed.
The key fob is best opened carefully, moving clockwise. With the right approach, the case will definitely open.
Another building will be visible inside. This is where the battery is hidden. After the housing is opened, the main replacement stage can be carried out. In this case, the fastening of the two parts of the second body is held on by two latches, so they need to be opened using a paper clip or fingernails.
Now you need to pry the battery up and pull it out. A spring mechanism is used to secure it. Now the battery can be changed.
The assembly process is carried out in reverse order.

General instructions for changing the battery in the key

To prevent negative consequences when working with the remote control device, the following rules should be observed:

Hands must be dry. Moisture will cause corrosion of metal elements.
Do not move or touch other components inside the device.
Do not bend the contacts leading to the battery.

With electronic chip

Cars with push button start function:

Unlock the latch and remove the metal key.
Insert it into the special groove, turn clockwise until a characteristic click is heard, and remove the housing cover.
Use a screwdriver to lift one edge of the protective cover for the battery, then the other.
Use a coin or paper clip to remove the dead battery.
Insert the new one, observing the polarity: + should point up.
Install the parts in reverse order.
Make sure that the device is working properly by pressing the buttons to lock and unlock the doors.

Without smart electronics

Vehicles without push-button start:

Remove the housing cover, taking precautions to avoid deformation of the plastic - cover the end of the screwdriver with a soft cloth.
Separate the battery from the protective case.
Remove the discharged battery. Insert the new one so that the “+” contact points upward.
Install the battery cover with the protrusion facing up. Press into grooves.
Bury the housing tightly until you hear a characteristic click.
When pressing the buttons, make sure that the car door locks respond to the signal from the remote control.

Sometimes replacing the battery in electronic device modules completely clears their memory.

Reprogramming may be required for the instrument to perform its intended functions effectively.

Useful video

For a more detailed understanding of the technology for replacing the battery in a Toyota Camry key, watch videos made by service center specialists and car enthusiasts.

Replacing the key battery on a Camry

A Camry key fob is not only useful, but also a necessary addition to the car.
With its help, access to the car is facilitated, protection against unauthorized persons entering the interior; in its absence, it is impossible to start the power unit of the car. The key fob has a built-in electronic device that requires a power source, which is provided by a battery. The service life of a power supply cannot be infinite; the time comes when it will have to be replaced. Many owners turn to specialists. But the operation is quite simple, which you can easily do yourself.

How to get a new key and how much it will cost

In order to obtain a Camry unlocking device, the owner should contact a Toyota dealer or a service center offering a car key restoration service, where they will help make and program the device correctly.

The car owner must decide, based on the technical equipment of his car, which type of key will be suitable: smart, transponder or without a chip. Many of them are similar, but have different characteristics in terms of the list of capabilities and structure.

Information that should be provided to the technician when recreating the car key:

Year, make and model of the vehicle, for example: 2012 Toyota Camry.
VIN number of 17 characters to determine the type of device being requested.
Documents on car ownership.

The price for making a key at a service center depends on its type and year of manufacture of the Toyota Camry. The average cost of restoration is between $90 and $400.

How to reprogram a new key so it fits your car

To enter the electronic transceiver code into the immobilizer unit, you must use the original chip - an additional red master key.

Reasons why reprogramming is needed:

wear or damage to the part;
duplicate required;
The vehicle's engine control unit or ignition module is technically faulty.

The car owner can contact a service center, where the procedure will be carried out by professionals. The call is mandatory if the vehicle is under warranty. In other cases, you can try to solve the problem yourself using a chip key. Having previously read the vehicle manual, you should make sure that there is enough fuel in the tank (at least 10 liters).

Algorithm for remembering a new key:

Close all car doors.
Insert the chip key into the ignition switch, turn it on and wait 10 seconds.
Turn off the ignition. The correct progress of the operation is indicated by flashing icons on the dashboard.
Have time to change the master key to a new one for programming within 5 seconds. The signaling device will confirm the correctness of the actions by sounding (3 times).
Pause for 6 seconds, wait for 2 more buzzer signals.
Turn off the ignition and remove the key.
Place the chip key in its place again, make sure the signal sounds 3 times, watch for a pause of 6 seconds, record 2 more signals.
Remove the chip key and wait 10 seconds.
Start the car with the new programmed key.

For the convenience of performing the above operations, it is recommended to purchase a key programmer - a portable device for recording and programming opening devices, as well as a special scanner - a universal vehicle diagnostic device.

An emergency alarm has been installed

Non-standard alarms allow you to open and close doors, as well as start the engine using its own key fob, which, of course, also needs power. It is these devices that can cause much more mischief than standard keys.

After installing a non-standard alarm system, this system also begins to control the standard immobilizer. In other words, you can open the car with a regular, standard key, which remains operational, but you still won’t be able to turn off the alarm and start the car with it. Exactly until you install a new battery in the emergency signaling key fob or unlock the start using the valet button.

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There is a secret valet button on all alarms. It is important to know its location and the algorithm for disabling your particular alarm. Usually the button is located in close proximity to the interior fuse block, or even placed on the dashboard or console. In order not to listen to the heart-rending sounds of the siren, the first thing you can do is open the hood and cut off its power wires, which, as a rule, are connected directly to the battery terminals.

What to do

The most unpleasant moment is the complete discharge of the battery. If the battery is completely discharged, remote control of the Toyota Camry is no longer possible. Using the key fob you will not be able to open the doors or the tailgate in a timely manner. In addition, there will be serious problems with starting the car, because the anti-theft system will still work. It is not surprising that replacing the batteries in the Toyota Camry key becomes an important and urgent task. To replace it, a small flat screwdriver is traditionally used, with which you can complete the task in the shortest possible time.

You need to be prepared for the fact that replacing the battery in the Toyota Camry key will not lead to a quick solution to the problem.

If the vehicle key fob still does not work successfully, it will need to be re-programmed to suit the vehicle's requirements.

This is due to the fact that when replacing the battery, the memory of electronic devices may be completely cleared, after which they are temporarily unable to successfully perform their tasks. For further successful use of the key fob, it is advisable to contact the car service employees, because they will be the ones who will be able to re-program it in order to resume the previous functions.

It should be noted that many Toyota Camry owners try to replace all batteries when cold weather sets in, so a new battery is also selected for the key fob. At the same time, contacting the service center employees to install a new battery is an impractical step, because the payment for their services promises to be excessively high. It is best to carry out the planned event yourself, because it does not involve particularly complex processes.