Remote Entry Problem - Bad Button?, New Battery?

[Sunbeam]

To unlock doors on my 98 ES300 I must press 3-5 times and VERY FIRMLY. Anyone have this problem? Is it the battery (5 years since new), the internal contacts, both? Manual sez go to dealer to replace battery. Anyone know how to do it yourself? (how to open, do you need to reprogram, etc.). Any help would be appreciated

[SW03ES]

I say battery. Really easy to do yourself but I actually took mine to a jeweler that I know and she took care of it for me.

[SKperformance]

if you have to press firmly then

i would say there is electrical corrosion

caused by moisture

it is the green stuff and is highly unconductive

you may have to pull apart the key fob and clean its terminal contacts for each button with a q tip and rubbing alchol to remove the slime

then it should work fine

[Sunbeam]

Thanks guys. I popped open the remote with a dime. Battery is a CR2016. Do you lose the programming when you remove it? What if you do it quickly? (some sort of __ sec memory?).

BTW, The contacts look sealed so they cannot be cleaned.

Thanks!

[steviej]

nope, you don't lose the programming.

Just pop in a new battery and go. This is a common battery and can be found in any camera store, CVS, Walgreens, Rita-Aid, Wal-Mart, Autozone, PepBoys, etc.

just make sure you got the poles right when you put the new one in.

good luck,

steviej

[SpeedRacer959]

Yeah, I replaced mine too w/ no problems. Bought a battery from walmart.

The remote is made to use your car key to open it the remote case. FYI :)

[Sunbeam]

Thanks guys. Of course the manual sez to go to dealer suggesting only they can fix! BTW, if you enter CR2016 on Goggle you can get this as a name brand for only $5/10 (if you could eventually use that many!).