Is your 2016 Chevy Cruze Key Fob cracked, broken, or malfunctioning? Don’t worry, you don’t necessarily need to rush to a dealership and spend a fortune on a replacement. If the blade of your key is still in good shape, you can easily replace the key fob casing yourself. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to replace your broken 2016 Chevy Cruze key fob, saving you time and money. You’ll be back to easily locking, unlocking, and starting your Cruze in no time!
Tools Required:
- Small hammer
- 1/16″ punch (A gunsmithing punch set works great, but any small hammer and 1/16″ punch will do. You can find a 1/16″ punch easily online.)
Parts Required:
- Replacement 4-Button OEM Cruze Key Fob (Check availability on Amazon.com) or
- Replacement 5-Button OEM Cruze Key Fob (Check availability on Amazon.com)
Important Note: To perform this replacement, you will need at least one functioning key fob for your 2016 Chevy Cruze. If you only have one key and it’s broken, please refer to the special note at the end of this tutorial for an alternative procedure to get your new fob programmed.
Step-by-Step Key Fob Replacement Procedure:
Many Chevy Cruze owners experience cracks or damage to their key fobs, particularly where the key blade connects to the swing mechanism. This is a common issue, but thankfully, it’s a straightforward fix.
Whether your 2016 Chevy Cruze key fob is cracked, buttons are broken, or the casing is simply worn out, the replacement process remains the same. The key is to carefully remove the retaining pin that secures the key blade to the fob.
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Prepare Your Workspace: Place your broken 2016 Chevy Cruze key fob on a firm, stable surface. This will give you the leverage needed to tap out the retaining pin.
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Remove the Retaining Pin (Broken Fob): Using your 1/16″ punch and small hammer, gently tap the retaining pin on your broken key fob. Position the punch on the pin and strike it firmly but carefully with the hammer. The pin should begin to move outwards. Continue tapping until the pin is completely removed and you can detach the key blade from the broken fob.
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Remove the Retaining Pin (Replacement Fob): Repeat the process on your new, replacement 2016 Chevy Cruze key fob. You may find that the pin on the new fob is tighter. If needed, rest the edge of the key fob on a hard surface to provide more resistance while tapping the pin out. Be patient and apply firm, controlled taps with the punch and hammer until the pin is removed.
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Install Your Original Key Blade: Take the key blade from your old, broken 2016 Chevy Cruze key fob and carefully insert it into the new key fob body. Align the pin holes.
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Re-insert the Retaining Pin: Take the retaining pin (from either the old or new fob) and push it back through the holes to secure the key blade in the new fob. You should be able to push the pin back in using just your hammer, without needing the punch. Tap gently until the pin is flush with the surface of the key fob.
Programming Your New 2016 Chevy Cruze Key Fob:
Programming the new key fob to your 2016 Chevy Cruze is surprisingly simple and only takes a couple of steps, provided you have a working key already:
- Start Car with Existing Key: Start your Chevy Cruze using your existing, functioning key fob and let the engine run for a few seconds.
- Switch to New Key Fob: Turn off your car and remove the working key. Within 5 seconds of turning the ignition off, insert your new key fob (with your original blade) into the ignition and start the car again.
That’s it! Turn off your car and test the buttons on your new 2016 Chevy Cruze key fob to ensure they are working correctly. In most cases, the key fob will program on the first try.
Special Note: Programming with Only One Key
If you only have one key for your 2016 Chevy Cruze and it’s broken, you can still program your new fob. Here’s how:
- Remove the retaining pin from your broken fob and the new fob as described earlier.
- Carefully detach the blade from your broken key fob.
- Insert just the blade of your original key into the ignition of your Chevy Cruze.
- Hit the “open” or “unlock” button on both your old (broken fob) and new key fob so that the swing mechanisms are in the open position.
- Use the old, broken key fob (hold it close to the ignition) and the inserted blade to start your car.
- Turn off the car.
- Quickly remove the old key fob from the blade.
- Immediately attach the new key fob to the blade in the ignition.
- Start the car again.
After programming, remove the key blade. If it’s stuck, use pliers to gently pull it out. Finally, reassemble your original blade into your new key fob housing and secure it with the retaining pin as outlined in the replacement procedure.
By following these instructions, you can easily replace your broken 2016 Chevy Cruze key fob and regain full functionality without the expense of dealership service. Enjoy the convenience of your fully working key once again!
