Last week end my key stopped working and wouldn't open the doors. Just to be sure it was not because of the problem related to the green/white wire joint by the passenger seat, I checked here first and rejoined and soldered them. Had my spare key been working I would have been able to try opening with it, but it's been dead for some time. A check with the multi-tester set to battery showed the battery was dead.

Ordered new key cases and batteries and finally received them today, to end an eternity, or at least that's how long it has felt, of opening the passenger door and and set-to to rebuild both keys as follows.

1. The old key beside new case and battery;



2. Using a flat bladed screw driver, open the old key case and pop open the new one. Hold the keys in place and with the covers off release the spring tension slowly. old and new side by side;



3. Lift out circuit board and turn over to see battery ;




4. Use a soldering iron to remove the old battery and get the locating holes clear. I cleared them by heating the solder and while still fluid blew hard to clear it out (some may have tools to help with this).



5. With the battery off the board remove it from the holder and fit holder to new battery;




6. Carefully fit battery to the board ensuring the tags pass through the holes and solder in place. With the soldering complete the completed board can now be tested by pressing the buttons;



7. Everything working now it can be dropped in to the bottom half of the case;



8. It should be possible to simply swap the old key over to the new case, but you may find, as I did, that there's a very slight difference in the hinge part and it won't fit as it should. I swapped the key blades over by first tapping out the roll pins and pulling out the blade. The roll pin needs a 1.5mm drift, or drill, to get it out it will only pass out through one side as the hole on one side is smaller than the other;



9. Locate the key assembly in the case and wind up the spring by rotating it anti-clockwise 3 rotations. While holding the key in place insert the keyring holder and then fit top half of the case;




The cases I got from ebay are unusual in that the two halves pop together, so you don't have to glue them together. I, however, did use the tip of a fine screw driver to place a small spot of super glue at 4 points around the case before popping it together. I repeated the process for the other key and now have 2 full working keys. (Cases bought from Range Rover Sport Land Rover Discovery 3 button remote key fob case repair | eBay )

P.S. forgot to mention the battery is VL2330.

 

Awesome. Very nice write-up!

 

Great write up. As soon as I get my second key I'm going to change the insides of my deteriorating key to a new case. This will help.

Needs to be pinned to the top of the forum.

 

Great write up! Nice photos with some good details.

Lucky you for finding cases that pop together! If you are so inclined you might want to seal any in the future with plastic epoxy all around. We rover owners often get out and see some weather or like some I know get into hot tubs with fobs in pockets! Helps with the waterproofing.

 

Yes have thought of that, but never been one for water sports , though for those who do get wet sealing the cases would be advised.

 

Adding to the tech section, I glued mine with gorrila super glue

 

The original hinge did not fit into the replacement fob. I took your advice to remove the pin so that the original blade can be used with the new hinge. Thank you. Unfortunately, the original blade does not fit into the new hinge. Any suggestions?

 

I’ll be adding this to the list of things to do. My second key battery is dead, and the housing on my daily use key is getting a little long in the tooth.

 

For all...
I just did this today, had to file down the original key at the fob end (thickness and length) to get it to fit into the knockoff fob hinge, then all was OK. Used solder wick to suck up the solder in the PC board battery mounting holes, only wound the spring up for one revolution...

 

your post was great for my only key update would you have a suggestion for a soare key source?