My key fob went through the washing machine.
I put it into a container with rice but didn't think to actually open it up until the next day when I got home. There was still water in the casing so I took it apart and put the electronics back into the rice for another day. Today I put the battery back in and saw a little red light go on so I thought all was well. Nope it didn't work at all. Took the battery out again and put it back in and the little red light again came on but the fob doesn't work. The rubber part doesn't appear to be worn. Is there anything else I can do or is the fob shot and I should just get a new one? This one is only about 6 months old and I really hate to pay the dealer to reprogram another one again.

 

Sorry LadyBee, you may be sunk. Try using a hair dryer on low setting to dry out the parts inside as best as you can. It won't hurt since the thing is probably a goner anyway. If that doesn't work then at least it was worth a try.

 

If it is really toast any idea why the little red light comes on when I put the battery back in?

 

magic? short? Did it ever come on before?

 

Unfortunately if it is broken, it doesn't necessarily mean the red light will not work. It's an electronics thing. If it still doesn't work after the rice treatment and a couple days of drying out, I am afraid it is dead (even if the red light comes on).

 

donbrew. the little red light is right on the circuit board so it can only be seen when the remote is taken apart.

 

The little red light is most likely just an indicator signal. Just lets you know that there is voltage to the circuitry.
It's not an indicator to tell you the fob is working correctly.

 

If the people that have posted about that are right, that is a "non-GM" semi-compatible remote to start with. The real GM remotes do not have the hidden light, IIRC.

Water will cause corrosion that you cannot see in micro-circuit boards, corrosion causes shorts, shorts cause trash.

 

Oh well I was really hoping that it wasn't a piece of trash. At least it is clean though.....

My car only came with one key and no fob so I picked up a set online. I thought it was OEM but I guess I was led astray. It will be really nice when I can put the key back on my keychain too.

 

I have one of those ones with the red light at home. I seem to remember that it lit up only when you hit a button. I could be remembering wrong though so don't quote me on that. I only saw the red light when I swapped cases and that was a while ago. When I get home in a few hours I will try to rember to check it and report back. But if it is a case of only lighting up when you press a button then that would indicate a short in yours. Although a water drop, itself can act like a jumper so it could be that too.