What happens if the push button start fails?

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Most cars have backup plans for when the battery on your key fob fails. Mine is you just push the start button with the key fob. When it gets in close proximity it uses short distance communications that doesn’t require the key fob to have juice. Fobs usually have backup physical keys to allow you to get into the car when the battery dies too.

Either backup method can be tough to find so make sure you look up how to do these things before you find yourself in a lurch when your fob stops working.

Bonus advice, learned the hard way. Once you do this once, make darn sure you replace the battery on your fob as soon as possible. Most ones I’ve seen take CR2032 batteries, which are cheap, just buy a whole pack of them. Normally when your battery is good, the car can sense when the key is inside the car, and it will unlock for you if you happen to lock your keys inside. If the battery is dead, then the key won’t be able to tell the car it’s inside the car.

When it happened to me, it was New Years day and my apartment’s leasing office was closed, so I couldn’t get them to get me my spare key to get in my apartment to get my spare car key. I wound up calling a locksmith to drill my apartment door because I didn’t want him touching my car. That sucked. Those batteries are way cheaper than a locksmith. Do yourself a solid and keep a stash.

The other reason your push button start might not work is all the other reasons a car won’t start. Just get Triple A down there to figure it out for you or tow your car to a mechanic if needed.