Car keys with buttons and keyless remotes are not waterproof.
Beach visits should be enjoyable.
But how often have you exited your vehicle, plunged into the ocean, and then realized that you neglected to remove your keys from your pocket, resulting in them becoming sopping wet?
then what?
In This Article...
Toyota remote key is water resistant.
Imagine you plunged into the pool without removing your car keys from your bikini pocket, or perhaps they slipped into a puddle on a particularly rainy day. You might be unsure of whether your keys will still function or if you need to replace them right away. Thus, are automobile keys water resistant?
Car keys are not waterproof, just like a lot of devices. While a modern electronic key like a transponder key, smart key, or remote control key might be significantly damaged or even destroyed if immersed, a classic, machine-cut key used in earlier automobiles can survive a contact with water unscathed.
What’s changing?
Previously, a hard key, similar to the one you’d use to unlock your front door, was needed to open the access gates to all of the Cowell Homeowners Association’s (CHOA) swimming pools (main, east, and west) and tennis courts (upper and lower). You will now be able to electronically unlock a gate at the tennis courts and swimming pools during regular business hours by putting a key fob adjacent to a sensor (see image to the left).
Why did the CHOA Board make this change?
In comparison to conventional hard keys, an electronic fob entry system offers far more control over access. For starters, while physical keys may be easily copied and handed to other non-residents or simply used by people after leaving the community, fobs might not be copied by anyone. Additionally, fobs allow user tracking and rapid entrance denial adjustments when necessary (coupled with other equipment enhancements to improve facility and resident security).
How do I get my fob?
When you arrive in the Clubhouse during business hours, show the staff a valid photo ID, and they will check your name against the Official CHOA Registry of homeowners and renters. You will be sent two fobs once you have been validated.
The clubhouse’s hours are:
All pool and tennis court gates have been converted to use electronic fobs as of Sunday, April 1; the previous physical keys are no longer functional.
But up until until notice, you can still access the dog park with the old pool key.
I can’t make it to pickup my fob. Can you mail mine?
Under no circumstances will fobs be shipped. Only the property owner, his/her agent, or the registered tenant may get a fob in person. Keep in mind that a fob can be obtained from the Clubhouse during regular clubhouse hours.
So, what do I need to enter CHOA pools and tennis courts?
As before, your CHOA ID badge and your pass are required at all times. Tennis and swimming access points are:
- Upper Tennis Courts There is a gate for each set of courts on the Greenbelt side; there is no access from the street.
- The gate at the end of Smoke Tree Court is where the Lower Tennis Courts 1 are located (no access at the gate at the end of Blueberry Court)
- Two gates: one on Lawson Ct. and one next to the clubhouse, main pool
- Gate to the East Pool
- Main Gate to West Pool
What is a fob? How does it work?
A fob is a little plastic disc with an individual ID that may be linked to a keychain (see image to the left). The information on the fob is compared to a database of authorized CHOA users when you swipe it by an entry door sensor. If you are a recognized user, the door quickly unlocks and lets you in. It is advised that you record the particular ID of each fob on paper for your records.
How many fobs do I get? Am I allowed to buy additional?
Each home will receive two key fobs, each with a different ID. The two fobs assigned to the dwelling may be used by the homeowner who resides there. The two fobs designated to the house a renter is residing in will be supplied to them in accordance with the CHOA’s rules. For CHOA facility fobs and hard keys, renters are required to provide/maintain a $300 deposit. A further deposit is not required if one has already been made for hard keys.
There can never be more than two active fobs in a house. More than two functional and authorized fobs cannot be obtained through the purchase of additional fobs.
What’s the responsibility of the fob property owner?
Any use of the key fob is subject to full liability on the part of the property owner. Owners of rental properties are in charge of keeping their key fobs in their possession (s). Owners who rent out a property within a CHOA are aware that the tenant has the same access rights to HOA amenities as the resident and that the owner forfeits this entitlement.
What happens if I lose one or both of my fobs?
If you lose even one of your fobs, go to the Clubhouse, show the staff your photo ID, and let them know the fob is lost. You must be listed as the landlord or property owner on the CHOA Registry of Owner/Residents’ official master list. The Owner or Agent must sign each Key Fob that is given to them.
The misplaced fob will then be deactivated and will no longer permit entrance going forward. then make a $10 payment for each additional fob. The new fob(s) will be programmed to your house and turned on. Within a day, the replacement fob should be functional.
What if my fob stops working?
A fob may occasionally stop operating without the user’s fault, however this is extremely uncommon. If so, send the fob back to CHOA for a free replacement. To deactivate the fob that has to be changed, every replacement fob MUST include that fob’s unique number. Key fobs can be replaced for $10 if they are lost, stolen, or damaged.
Is the fob waterproof? Magnetic proof?
Although a fob is waterproof, it is not advisable to bring it into the pool with you. Fobs are magnetically impervious; they won’t demagnetize.
Will a car key fob still function if it rains?
There are many ways to accidently get your key fob wet, including dropping it in the pool, dropping it into a puddle, or leaving it in the washer. However, your key fob’s days are still far from over. You might be able to save your key fob from its watery encounter by using the following advice.
When you find your key fob is damp, you should have it dried out as quickly as you can. Your fob is less likely to survive its close call with death the longer you wait. This is due to the fact that your key fob may experience one or more serious issues as soon as it comes into contact with water:
- Voltage spikes – Because water is such a good conductor, it could quickly short out a portion of the circuit board in the key fob.
- Rust and corrosion will take their toll on the metal traces and other components of a wet circuit board.
- Failure of the key fob battery due to a moist circuit board is another possibility. The best case scenario is a dead battery. At worst, the battery can rupture or leak.
Focus on removing as much water as you can from your key fob before opening it after you’ve fished it out of whatever puddle, pool, or washing machine you happened to be in. First, turn the fob button side down and allow as much water to drain out as you can. Shake out as much water as you can, and then use a fresh cloth to polish the fob dry.
Then, set the fob button side down and give it some time to drain. In addition to catching the water, the cloth should also draw a little amount from any crevices that come into direct touch with it.
There may still be a little quantity of water trapped inside the key fob despite all of this effort. The key fob should now be carefully opened. Small Phillips, Torx, or Allen-head screws hold some fobs together, whereas flat screwdrivers are required to delicately pry apart others.
Once the key fob has been opened, carefully dry out the circuit board and the interior of the case as much as you can. To eliminate any remaining contaminants, carefully wipe the circuit board with a cotton swab dipped in 90 percent isopropyl alcohol, and then let it to dry entirely.
Additionally, verify sure the battery isn’t leaking by carefully inspecting it. If it is, carefully take out the battery and use a cotton swab dipped in distilled white vinegar to rub the trouble spots. By doing this, the acid will be neutralized and cleanup will be safer.
In case the battery was harmed or completely used up after the accidental submerging, it is a good idea to replace it as a preventative measure. Before inserting the new battery, clean the contacts on the circuit board with isopropyl alcohol after removing the old one.
Reassemble the key fob carefully and test it after making sure it is completely dry. If it functions, you are ready to go. You might need to disassemble the key fob and thoroughly clean the impacted contacts once more if just some of the buttons function. Check to see whether the key fob needs to be reprogrammed after being out of action if it doesn’t work at all.
Despite completing all of the aforementioned instructions, your key fob may still not function. Therefore, if your key fob breaks, don’t be upset; instead, consider it a lesson learned. Even though you’ll lose a few hundred bucks or more, at least you’ll be well prepared should the same issue arise again.
Do waterproof keyless fobs exist?
Car keys with buttons and keyless remotes are not waterproof. Beach visits should be enjoyable. But how often have you exited your vehicle, plunged into the ocean, and then realized that you neglected to remove your keys from your pocket, resulting in them becoming sopping wet?
Transponder keys are waterproof, right?
What happens if your transponder keys get wet by accident? as when you unexpectedly jump into the pool or are in the bathroom? Can you still start your vehicle? They’re water-resistant. Here is what the experts have to say after we asked them.
The waterproofness of transponder keys isn’t 100 percent. Even if they have a cover to protect them, water can still enter via the tiny openings and harm the microchip within. There is a chance that the microchip in your transponder keys will be harmed if they are soaked in water, which will prevent you from using your automobile.
Continue reading to learn more about what transpires to your transponder keys when they become wet. Let’s also discuss what these keys are for, if you can program them at Walmart, how much a new key will cost you, and other relevant topics. Let’s get going!
How can a wet remote control be fixed?
Once the batteries are out, let the Roku remote air dry for a time. Use a soft toothbrush to maybe go over the remote’s surface once more and absorb any liquid that is still inside.
Utilizing a blow dryer is an additional choice. To prevent overheating the remote’s plastic, set it to a low temperature and try your best to properly dry it.
Step 4. Should You Try the Rice Method?
The Rice Method is currently causing some “controversy,” as people either adore it or dismiss it as the most absurd concept imaginable. It means that any equipment that has come into contact with liquid, including your Roku remote, should be immersed in uncooked rice. It might be a zip-top bag or container with rice inside. After that, leave the remote there for between 24 and 36 hours.
Uncooked rice is said to have a mystical ability to absorb fluids from any object. And while this may very well be the case, it does not necessarily follow that the remote will function once all of the liquid has been drained from it. The remote may be permanently damaged.
Why won’t my key fob function?
The most frequent cause of a keyless entry system failing to send signals is a faulty battery in the key fob. Use the extra key fob to unlock the car and turn on the ignition if one is available.
Use the key that is included in the spare fob if it is not available to unlock the door. Check your owner’s manual for information on how to start your automobile when the key fob malfunctions.
What occurs if an automobile key gets wet?
It’s critical that you act fast to retrieve your keys if they accidentally fall out of your pocket and into a body of water. Waiting could further worsen the situation. It is imperative that you dry out the key fob as quickly as you can. Drying out your car key remote has the following benefits:
- It’s a technological apparatus. Electricity and water shouldn’t typically be mixed. You can wind up with a key that is completely useless due to corrosion and rust if it is left wet.
- The battery can possibly fail. Additionally, a dead battery, a battery that leaks, or a battery that explodes will render your key useless.
At the beach, what do you do with a key fob?
You’ve arrived at the beach in your car, parked, put on your swimsuit, and are getting ready to go for a swim while keeping all your belongings secure in the vehicle.
Where can it go because you can’t swim with it (have you ever wondered how much they cost to replace!)?
You could just leave it on the beach, hidden under a towel or in the end of a shoe (thieves never check inside the ends of shoes). You could leave it on the left-back tire’s top, but nobody ever looks there.
The best security item you can have as an ocean swimmer is a key safe if you want to ensure that your key is securely stored and will be present when you return.
This crucial piece of gear is fastened to the handle of your door or towbar, and the key is stored within a chamber with a combination lock.
You can buy different kinds of key safes at your neighborhood surf shopprobably there’s one close to your local beachor at home improvement centers like Bunnings or Mitre 10 (they’re also well-liked by people who rent out their homes on AirBnB).
OceanFit tip
A key safe with a rubber or plastic cover over the combination lock is the best option. This will keep it from being damaged by the salt air and extend its life. Most key safe types will gradually rust from exposure to salt air, becoming sticky and difficult to open. Regular use of WD40/CRC will keep the moving parts lubricated and operating efficiently.
Alternatives
You could alternatively use the following alternatives to protect your key:
- Put the key inside a tow float in a zipped bag.
- To drive to the beach (it won’t work with cars that need the electronic key to be nearby to start), make a replica of the key without the electronic component and attach it to your swimsuit.