My key fob is worn out for my 2008 HHR. The unlock button no longer works. So I bought a new key fob. I’m told I can switch the chips out in them so I don’t have to take to a dealership to get programmed but I have no idea how to do this.

 

The fob pops apart if you get your fingernail, (or something similar) in the slit around the edge. Work your way around and it will split in two. It pops back together once you put the old board in the new fob.

Before putting it back together clean the contacts on the old board, (q-tip and rubbing alcohol) make sure the battery is new and the battery cage is soldered to the board properly. (The solder can break from being dropped... If it's not loose, it's fine)

 

More than likely it is the rubber keypad that is bad, not the board.

 

Yes, if you use the new board, you will have to reprogram the car.

 

my key fob had a similar problem. I used an unconventional method but I ended up getting it to work perfectly. You can try using a piece of sandpaper and LIGHTLY sanding the contacts until they turn golden and shine. Don't overdo it as if they "break", the pcb may be unfixable. Check if they work after this, if not try gluing foil on the black contacts underside the buttons.
Now for what I did, I basically converted my contact switches into something more efficient.
I fished out two wires, unlock and lock from the tiny ic on the board to the back of the board. The switches work when either of these two wires come into contact with the positive terminal of the battery. Foil glued to the buttons create the contact between the positive wire and the lock/unlock wire and the car responds!


The purple is for lock, while the pink is for unlock, they stay intact by some hot glue.

The yellow and orange wires are both positive terminals of the battery. *Note: I covered the old this side of the board with tape to hide the old contacts underneath.

Foil contacts

 

For 10 bucks you can get a whole new case and contacts.