What is the emergency backup plan for getting your Dodge home when...

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metalchewy

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I have had a key fob for my wife's challenger that the proximity function quit working completely with that fob 450 miles from home. Even trying to start by pushing with the fob didn't work. Damaged key message on the dash.

I ended up prying the push button unit out and used the fob in the keyhole just fine without the push button.

Pushed the button back in after we got home and use the other fob now.
 

Docwagon1776

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Your key fob quits working when you are miles from home?

What in the fob could fail to strand you? There's a metal key inside to get you in the truck and there's an RFID chip inside to start it if the battery in the fob is dead. Just push the start button with the fob. Take the battery out and try it as a proof of concept.
 

crash68

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I have the second fob along with an extra battery hidden in my Ram.
Other than remotely unlocking/locking the door, either style remote will function to start the vehicle with a dead or removed battery.
 

MikeDCop

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I do the same thing I’ve done with on every trip, even when my vehicles had a key. I give my spare key/fob to my wife. Both keys travel with us and if she needs in or move the vehicle, she doesn’t have to bother me.
 

RamDiver

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I do the same thing I’ve done with on every trip, even when my vehicles had a key. I give my spare key/fob to my wife. Both keys travel with us and if she needs in or move the vehicle, she doesn’t have to bother me.

I've always used the same practice during any extended road trips. My travel companion always gets a spare FOB and/or a full set of keys (Roll'N'Lock cover & locking gas cap).

I've been using this practice for decades because I enjoy the secure feeling I get with redundancy.

.
 

GTyankee

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When i am going to be 200 miles from home, i have my spare FOB & a Battery that is not in the FOB.

I could also buy a Transponder Key, because i do not have a Smart FOB

1735800748119.png
My FOB

1735800028472.png

I also have AAA Premium
 
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Ken226

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When i am going to be 200 miles from home, i have my spare FOB & a Battery that is not in the FOB.

I could also buy a Transponder Key, because i do not have a Smart FOB

View attachment 557694
My FOB

I've been using one of those for 5 years. I cut off the metal part, sanded it flat and programmed it to my truck with AlfaOBD.
 

dpinvidic

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I have had a key fob for my wife's challenger that the proximity function quit working completely with that fob 450 miles from home. Even trying to start by pushing with the fob didn't work. Damaged key message on the dash.

I ended up prying the push button unit out and used the fob in the keyhole just fine without the push button.

Pushed the button back in after we got home and use the other fob now.
What is behind the button?? My understanding is the chip in the key "enables" the starting circuit...but the button actually makes the starter run.
You make it sound like there is a slot for the key behind the button....is that true?
 

Trashy2121

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Push the start button with the tip of the key fob and it will start with a dead fob battery
 

MrFigs

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I always have both keys on me, since I'm fobnik, I start it with one and when I get out to do roadside assistance type stuff I use the other one in my pocket to lock it. When my starter died I was a few blocks from home, I just had the wife come with her Durango and pull my truck home.

I just had to replace the WIN module, I just learned how to get it to play nice and work for a few weeks until it started shutting off whilst driving, I could get it to run again fairly quick, but the time it died mid turn sucked as I lost power steering and power assist brakes.

Longer distances, I have an 18' flat deck trailer I can either get my wife (yes yes 8000lbs is technically too much weight for behind a 3rd gen Durango, but I could do it in a pinch) or get my bro-in-law to grab my trailer and come out with his truck.
 

metalchewy

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What is behind the button?? My understanding is the chip in the key "enables" the starting circuit...but the button actually makes the starter run.
You make it sound like there is a slot for the key behind the button....is that true?
The button is used for proximity starting.
20250106_121246.jpg
Behind it is a keyhole for keyed starting.

With a damaged fob, pushing the button with a key won't work, because the proximity chip is damaged. Next thing to try would be starting with a key end of the fob, which uses a different chip.

Edit. If you have a non keyed new style fob, I honestly dont know if the keyhole is still in the wins module or not.

Keyed fob -->
20250106_122953.jpg
 
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