Modern cars sure have their advantages. There are so many cool features that most of us can’t live without these days.
However, if your vehicle comes with a key fob, you might one day find yourself in trouble. But if you can’t start your car because your fob’s batteries run out, do not despair. There is a secret hack you can use to charge that fob in no time.
A drained fob is an inconvenience
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you couldn’t start your car? If it was your key fob that died, you probably got quite mad. I don’t blame you. Nobody wants to get stuck in that situation.
A new fob is usually needed
Now, how do you get a new battery for your key fob on the spot? I hate to tell you it’s not going to happen unless you have somebody on speed dial who can get you one ASAP. In that case, you’re definitely one lucky person.
Usually, it requires going to the dealership and getting a new battery or key fob, though.
You can charge your fob in the car
But did you know that there is a way to charge your key fob right in your car?
OMG! What? Yes, you heard that right. Apparently, people have found secret compartments in their cars with chargers for their key fobs.
Charging is usually in a secret compartment
You can find these secret compartments in different places depending on the make of the car. It could be your glove box, center console, side pockets — you name it. Wow! Isn’t that so good to know?
Could be hidden under the console
In a now-viral video, TikTok user @lovetolaugh93 showed people online how their charger was located on the bottom of the center console, underneath a storage tray. It’s definitely not the most obvious spot!
People didn’t know this was a thing
You’re probably scratching your head going, ‘Why didn’t I know about this?’ Don’t feel too bad. As it turns out, you’re not the only one. There are plenty of people saying they, too, had no idea about this feature in their car.
Some found out the hard way
Others were quite annoyed that they didn’t find out about this until after they bought a new battery for their key fob. It’s usually not pricey, so that’s not a big deal. However, on some cars, it can be an expensive endeavor.
It’s usually written in the manual
Now, if you read your car’s manual, you probably would have known about this, haha! But then again, who actually reads their car’s manual? If that’s you, kudos! I can’t be bothered, to tell you the truth. Oh, well!
The fob has a key inside as well
Some people even wondered how they could get inside their car when the key fob is dead? Well, typically, there is a key in the fob. You can use it to manually unlock your vehicle, and open the glove box.
Some users had questions for the poster
Some folks wondered how the TikTok user opened her car with the key fob being dead. She seems to have used the key inside the fob. However, some warned that this will void the ‘push to start’ feature.
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That might not be entirely true
Perhaps voiding the ‘push to start’ feature by using the key manually depends on the make of the car. So before you do this, make sure you consult your user manual. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry, no?
Many wanted to know the TikToker’s car
Once people learned about this car feature, they started asking the TikToker about the make of their car. But different cars have this hidden in a variety of spots.
One user shared that you can, for example, start a Mercedes manually by removing the ‘start’ button and finding the keyhole there.
Another observation about the fob
Apparently, the extra key in the key fob works just like a real key on some cars. While this may seem a little confusing, now that you know, you can look into it just in case.
When the fob is low on battery
Some people wondered how you could tell if your key fob is running low on battery. That’s a great question indeed. Some cars have a way to check for it. Otherwise, you might notice your fob acting up, so that should be a warning sign.
Secret compartments are usually handy
Well did you know about this secret compartment? Or is this total news to you? I had no idea this even existed, to be honest. Now that I know this trick, I feel a little bit more relieved. It could come in handy one day.
