My 2006 Chrysler 300 key fobs have recently stopped working, and I’m looking for advice on what might be the issue and how to fix it. About a year ago, I bought the car, and it came with two key fobs, both functional. I primarily used one of them, and it suddenly quit working about two months ago. Assuming it was just a dead battery, I switched to the second, almost brand-new key fob. However, about two weeks ago, that one also stopped responding.
Again, suspecting the batteries, I bought new ones, spending a surprising $13 for a pack of three. Unfortunately, replacing the batteries didn’t solve the problem. That’s when I remembered reading about soldering issues in key fobs. I disassembled both remotes and resoldered the connections, even though I didn’t see any obvious problems. Still, no luck.
Next, I went to a hardware store with an RF tester, and it indicated that both key fobs are transmitting a signal. This led me to believe that perhaps the key fobs needed reprogramming. So, I went to the Chrysler dealership, hoping for a quick fix. They quoted me $50 for reprogramming, which I reluctantly agreed to. During my visit, they also tried to upsell me nitrogen tire fills for $60 per tire, which I declined, pointing out that air is already mostly nitrogen.
After the reprogramming attempt, the dealership informed me that it didn’t work and suggested the issue was likely a faulty receiver in the car. When I asked about testing another key fob to rule out my keys, they refused, stating keys are non-returnable and cost $160. To diagnose the receiver, they wanted to charge me $175 for a diagnostic service. Frustrated with their approach, especially since a new key was cheaper than their diagnostic, I decided to leave.
So, here are my main questions:
Is a bad receiver the most probable cause, even though both key fobs stopped working around the same time? Wouldn’t a receiver issue typically affect both simultaneously from the start?
Is it possible for both key fobs to be faulty even though they are transmitting a signal?
If the receiver is indeed the problem, should I consider replacing it with an aftermarket receiver instead of a dealership part?
I’m looking for opinions and potential solutions from anyone who has experienced similar Key Fob And Receiver issues.
