home Fix label Vehicles label_important Cars category Renault

How do I change the battery in a Renault Clio key fob?

How do you open the key fob in order to change to batteries in a Renault Clio keyring?

Damage, March 2007

home Fix label Vehicles label_important Cars category Renaultdone

if you can't separate the two halves of the key using your hands alone, use scissors, it worked for me:
grasp key by its metal blade using your left hand, with the blade side of the fob uppermost, blade pointing to the left.
open the scissors and from below push one scissor blade up through the keyring slot.
gently lever the two halves of the fob apart by turning your right hand, the one holding the scissor handle, in an anticlockwise direction.
this will make the two halves slide apart by a small amount but enough to be able to remove the scissor blade and let you slide them apart completely by hand

dave c, October 2022

Help please!!! have just removed key fob battery from 2001 1.9d clio and forgotten which way up the new battery should face: is it + side up, or down in battery compartment?? Thanku. Alan

Alan, May 2012

I tried every way possible with fingers and thumbs to open my Renault Clio key fob so I could change the battery but failed ... until I found this brilliant 11 second video. http://www.remotekey.co.uk/cars/renault/faq/
It's so effortless when you're shown how.

ctmlondon, March 2012

Ive just bought a clio 2001 and the vice trick works if you need to change the key fob battery. Many thanks

Jacqueline, March 2011

Tried to open for hours and then read all answers -still no joy I think the problem is there is nothing to hold while tring to open Key Fob. So I decided to put key end in a vice to hold it, then gentle tap opposite side of fob upwards and hey presto it opened.

Very annoyingly I found we didnt need a battery in the spare which had never worked , it just was not sitting right in clips. Good luck -- hope it works for you.

Geoff & Eileen, January 2011

the clio key fobs do open but they are really hard to do. my used her teeth

richard, December 2010

Well i've tried all the little tricks for here, and neither of my keys will open up.
1.4 04 plate

anthony, November 2010

pilot light will not stay on baxi bermuda backboiler so no heating\hotwater please help

old bob, November 2010

paul, October 2010

Hey guys,

So will changing the keyfob battery reset the imobilaiser? And any one can advise where might be crank sensor wire located and is it possible to reach without going to the garage, as car is parked on the drive and no go. Thanks

Darius, September 2010

Well, there's enough answers on opening the key, here's a great resource I found on the web - It deals with all possible situations, like a mechanics resource book. I found my situation and followed the process: it fixed my key and my spare key on my Kangoo (similar electronics as Clio)

http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/Espace/vault/JE/IMMOBILISER/RENAULT_IMMO_KEY_MEMENTO.pdf

Hans Josso, August 2010

I have put a new battery in the fob though it is still not working and there is no light coming from the little bit on the fob though I am presuming there is power in it. Also i don't have a little globe thing at my rear view mirror so i haven't tried that so do you think if i just disconnected the negative terminal of the battery for 5 seconds it would do it itself?
Thanks

Callum, August 2010

Your better off taking the key ring off first then hold the key tightly in one hand with the key bit facing you and push up on the pad with gentle force and it should just pop off.
This site is great i have just changed the batteries on my 1999 clio key fob with the help and advice given and it now works great, it still turns on and locks inside and out! its amazing im so impressed!
Thank you

Sarah-Marie, August 2010

Changed the batteries in my keys as neither were working for a Clio 1.5DCI 2004. Still the keys did not work but used the advise about disconnecting the negative on the battery for five seconds and hey presto, both keys now work.

Anne, July 2010

i had a problem with my 02 clio expression. i would put my key in and it would take up to and including 12 turns of the key to get the car to turn off the immobiliser. then more recently when i eventually got the immobiliser to go off the car would cough and splutter and not start. i took it to the garage and of corse it worked fine for them but they said that the immobiliser couldn't be bypassed (i'm not sure if he was honest about that or not) and so i would have to either buy a new key or a new immobiliser, the key being the cheapest of the options i went for a new key. that evening when i got home my key battery died. i changed the battery in the key (didn't have to do the press and hold for 5 secs) and now its as if nothing was ever wrong with it. immobiliser is behaving and the car starts with no problems every time. only trouble is that i am now £200 down for the new key and my old one works fine. The moral of the story is if there is any problems with the immobiliser or starting the car change the key battery first and save yourself £200.

Blissislife, July 2010

My battery is needing replaced for my 2000 Clio Grande. I know how to slide the fob apart but what I'm worried about is that if I take the battery out for when it is getting replaced will the fob be disconnected from the car sort of thing like it won't work. And if so does the hold the central locking inside the car for 5 seconds while pointing the key towards the globe thing work and is that it sorted ? Thanks

Callum, June 2010

Hold the button in the middle yes the open/close for 5 sec and then point the fob at the senser it shoud work find if not take any wire off the battery and then do whot i sed b4 and wollaer it works!!!!!!!

dazzer, June 2010

I have just bought a 1997 clio today. The previous owner showed me that I had to press the fob in a certain way as it was tempremental. Its a single button fob. After trying for about 10 mins to open the car with the fob, I discovered I couldn't. I took the fob apart and as mentioned on here, there is some card in there already.

The internal central locking switch is flashing red (I don't know if this is normal) as i've literally only had the car a few hours, but i can get the fob to show a red light when I press it.

1. Have I inadvertently lost the code from opening the fob for too long?

2. Should the internal switch be flashing red? If not should I disconnect the battery for and try it again? Am assuming this resets the immoboliser?

3. I tried sitting in the car and holding down the internal central locking switch for five seconds, but that didn't seem to work as described on here.

Antony, May 2010

could anyone tell me what battery a 51 reg clio 1.2 immobiliser fob would take? And, if taken apart to replace battery, would it reset the immobiliser? Only got one key and worried if it runs out of power it wont be as simple as just replacing the battery, and I'll have to run to renault for (costly) help.

Cheers

Danny (sheffield), April 2010

Amazingly helpful guys - god bless mobile internet and this forum!! Looks like I might get home tonight haha

TP, April 2010

Hi,

I have bought a 1998 Renault Clio RT last week and I suspect the battery in the key fob might be running down.

In order to lock the car doors, you need to hold the key right by the door or the doors won't lock. This also only seems to work when you are at the drivers door and not the passenger door.

I have done some reading but am worried about changing the battery myself. I have read that if you don't change the battery quick enough, you lose the coding and then need to have it recoded !!

Also having read the below response from this page has got me worried !

(renault clio 1999) i took my fob apart to replace the battery not knowing it deactivates the fob and costs 15 pound to reset it .TWAT.

easty
May 2008

So my question is, will the key fob lose it's coding or deactivate itself and do I need to sit in my car to change the battery and lock / unlock the doors as per the advice given on this page as it all sounds really complicated and I can't afford to break my key and have it recoded etc at a dealer !!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

River_Storm, March 2010

Yep, the same happened to me yesterday on my Clio 1.4 2000. Car had been grumbly for a few days starting 2nd, 3rd attempt then central locking suddenly not working and engine not starting at all either. Called out the aa who confirmed it was an immobiliser issue and even though the red light on the key fob was not flashing red anymore when pressed, it apparently was giving out a good signal (so its not always down to the fob battery or the fob, in this case it was the actual immobiliser). So the guy disconnected the car battery for a few minutes then reconnected which reset the immobiliser. Fob light back on, central locking now working again and engine now starting first time everytime. Job done. Only drawback is it also resets the radio so you will need a code to get that back on from Renault.

Might be one of those intermittant things unfortunately as not caused by anything particular says aa man....

Emma, March 2010

if all else fails and no system works - this is the last failsafe way

locate the remote control module under the dash close to fuse box (may be on it depending on model) and push it in- yep this is 80% of the cause ! just came loose as they do.

you can email me gbovsAThotmail.com

Kevin M, March 2010

Hi,
I have a similar problem with my Clio Initiale (2007). The battery part was easy as, when I removed the emergency key, the battery was there to remove. However, having replaced it, the door lock / unlock mechanism won't work. I assume as I can get to the battery, I should be able to replace it - any thoughts please?

chris, December 2009

Thanks for everyone's help - I've tried all of the suggestions but still no joy. The batteries are new, the reset procedure is working ok on the car but the key still does not respond. Has anyone got any further suggestions that do not involve paying £120 for a new key.

darrenh, December 2009

Use a screwdriver or knife to prise apart the remote by putting it through the keyring hole and levering the cover apart.

After putting in the new batteries my remote still did not work - I solved this by disconnecting the negative(-) battery terminal under the bonnet for 5 seconds - once reconnected remote worked again perfectly!

Good luck

David L, December 2009

My key gave up the ghost about a week ago and I had visions of having to go to the dealership and pay silly money for a new key. But my clever old dad found this page and sent me the link, and I have just successfully changed the battery by following the advice left on this page by other people. The battery only cost £1.20p. Brilliant.

Debbie, November 2009

Ive got a 1998 clio grande and the key fob once taken apart recieves CR2016 batteries and ive bought 2 new ones and tried every possible combination to putting the betteries in but the key wont work. why not? :(

Elle, October 2009

Ok, there are several types of 'PLIPS' heres the easy way for the common one which has no screws:
Turn the key towards your body as if you were going to stab yourself with it, the top of the plip (red light end) facing the top. With both thumbs slid the top half away and change the battery, you require NO screwdrivers/knives etc, you will only damage yourself and the plip! Now I worked on renaults for years and have never heard of the 10secs to change the battery story and have even tried left the battery out overnight with no probs but it would'nt hurt to have the new battery to insert right away.

Dave, October 2009

(1999 RXE) A Renault mechanic showed me an easy way - hold the key with the button towards you and the fob at the top. Insert a screwdriver shaft through the keyring hole. lift the screwdriver up to prise the two halves apart.

Guy, December 2008

i have a 98 clio barritz one of the older shape models, anyway you need to take the ring off, unscrew the wee screw, then it splits it two. Under the wee circuit board are 2 x 2016 type flat batteries. Replace them, and then as mentioned by Michelle, "go inside your car, press and hold dopwn the inside central locking button for 5 SECONDS until it locks all the doors and then re-opens them, then point your fob key at the censor inside (little balck globe by sunroof or rear view mirror ) then let the doors lock and quickly open by themsleves."

graham, December 2008

My Clio is a 2001, and as was said above you need to take it of the ring, then if you place the metal part of the key in to the floor and push the half from the top with the pointer faceing down it should start to slide off and its the full side of the plastic, mine was quite stubborn but it did come off, do not try to split.

Geoff from Wigan., October 2008

I have a lcio and once you open the fob to put in two new batteries, go inside your car, press and hold dopwn the inside central locking button for 5 SECONDS until it locks all the doors and then re-opens them, then point your fob key at the censor inside (little balck globe by sunroof or rear view mirror ) then let the doors lock and quickly open by themsleves. job done :-) reset !!

michelle, August 2008

Just used your information, however this went EASY: take off keyring: in back of key plasic there are two small slots.I put a table knife in the slot and gently twisted it a little, THEN did the slide apart with very little resistance Gentle !

Mymphh, July 2008

(renault clio 1999) i took my fob apart to replace the battery not knowing it deactivates the fob and costs 15 pound to reset it .TWAT.craigeasty@hotmail.com

easty, May 2008

I've just taken my 1999 Clio Alize key apart for the first time, here's my input: take the key off any keyring first - the whole of the top side of the key has to slide off the bottom part and if it is still on a ring this will get in the way. The battery inside my one is a 3V CR2016. It really needs replacing now, but not bad considering its nearly 7 years old.

J Champion, October 2007

Hi there i went to renualt garage they changed them £14 it cost for two keys Halfords may do it cheaper or buy the batteries urself

KarenCummins, April 2007

On mine 1999 (T) there is an arrow >>> on one side which you have to push towards the key blade itself, its very tight but it will go given enough encouragement replacement is the direct reversal procedure
This might help
Neil C

neil caunter, April 2007

Here is a diagram for you
http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs113&d=07134&f=key.jpg

jason, March 2007

1.4 Y reg (00)

Damage, March 2007

what year and engine size

jason, March 2007

link Click here to see other fixes for Renault Clio.