HOW TO CLEAN REMOTE KEY FOB SWITCHES.

HOW TO CLEAN REMOTE KEY FOB SWITCHES.

Things you'll need: Flat screwdriver, switch cleaner, cotton buds, replacement CR2032 battery.

1. Find a tool slim enough to fit between the 2 halves of the fob. A slim, flat screw driver is ideas or, as I used, a butter knife!



2. Rotate the screwdriver enough to split the 2 halves of the fob.



3. You should now be able to remove the PCB. Don't force it, slight leverage with a blunt instrument or even your fingernails should be sufficient.



4. Remove the 2 rubberised button covers, these just pull off.



5. Slide the battery from the holder on the back of the PCB, making a not of which way it goes.
6. Now the fun part! Spray a small amount of switch cleaner directly on to a cotton bud and gently clean around the 2 yellow micro switches




7. Using the straw attachment of the cleaner directly squirt a tiny amount of cleaner into each micro switch and repeatedly press the button to work the cleaner into the switch.
8. Leave the PCB to air off for around an hour and then reassemble.


In my case as I re assembled the fob I noticed that one of the raided, rubber micro switches in my fob had snapped off. Not being able to re-attach it I decided to, in finest British Army tradition, bodge it back together:



I cut several small, roughly circular, pieces of plastic and wedged them in the rubber button cover, meaning that less pressure would be needed to engage the switch:





There we go, one fully working key fob. While I'm on the subject if anyone in the North East needs a new fob programmed I can thoroughly recommend “Marina Brian”. He's heavily into BL/ARG/MG-Rover products and is fully kitted out with testbook etc. If anyone wants to contact him I suggest you either Google his username and he should pop up on just about every MGR forum there is or PM me here and I'll send you his mobile no. Right I'm now off to find the only spot of the house that isn't thick with builders dust (We're having an extension put up) and tuck into a crate of Magners while SWMBO watches Gash-Factor!

Neil.

:omg: Neil, 5 posts and already 2 how tos! :thumbsup:

Added to the A-Z list. :yesnod:
Brilliant!

Superb. Thx.

I think you can also get a Fob refurbish kit, will see if i can find it and post details. Great "How To" as well :thumbsup:

Over the years, I've have found the most common faults with these remotes are.... 1) batteries replaced with incorrect discharge of remote, 2) faulty/broken microwitches (as shown). 3) poor/dry joints on the solders. (these can sometimes be cured by a TV/electrical specialist.

bryan young wrote: I think you can also get a Fob refurbish kit, will see if i can find it and post details. Great "How To" as well :thumbsup:

A refurbish kit can be bought from MG ROVER CODES for £15.00 inc VAT it is only the two halves of the shell, the rubber buttons and a Maxell CR2032 battery. :yesnod:

bryan young wrote:

bryan young wrote: I think you can also get a Fob refurbish kit, will see if i can find it and post details. Great "How To" as well :thumbsup:

A refurbish kit can be bought from MG ROVER CODES for £15.00 inc VAT it is only the two halves of the shell, the rubber buttons and a Maxell CR2032 battery. :yesnod:

UPDATE :woohoo: Found a refurb kit on Ebay from Express Key Fobs for £11.99 for case, battery and two micro switches. they reckon its an easy fit. :thumbsup:

Me thinks if you call a good MG Rover specialist, you'll buy one for a lot less !

Seem to remember that we've often been able to salvage the yellow rubber switches by glueing them back on with superglue!