My Key Fob’s Trunk Release Button Is Too Sensitive. Can I Disable It?
Four solutions to prevent the trunk release button from accidentally triggering
Photo: The News Wheel
Do you walk out to your car to typically find the trunk popped open? Chances are you put your keys in your pocket or purse, where the key fob’s trunk release button was accidentally pressed. A sensitive trunk release button is a common problem on many remote keys and can be disastrous if you have valuables stored in the trunk. Here are couple ways you might be able to prevent this from happening.
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Don’t carry the key fob
It’s an obvious solution, but it’s also the quickest and cheapest. Remove the key fob from your key ring and just use the old-fashioned physical key to unlock the car. If you need to access the trunk, pop it open via the trunk release lever by the driver’s seat. It’s a hassle to lose that convenience, but it’s the quickest way to solve your problem.
Get a key fob cover
You can put extra padding around the buttons to reduce the chance that they’ll receive enough pressure to accidentally compress. Purchase a specially fit, aftermarket silicone sleeve for your key fob (available for most models on Amazon). Look specifically for one that has holes for the buttons, leaving them exposed and inset from the rest of the rubber casing.
Look for a trunk release lock switch
Some cars have a switch that prohibits the trunk from being opened by the digital key or the trunk release switch. Look for this in the glove box, the center console, or the trunk itself. This is usually present in nicer models to lack out nosy valets, but simply flipping this switch will also stop the key fob button from triggering.
Inspect and disable the inner workings
It’s actually easy to open and inspect the inside of a key fob. In fact, that’s how you reach the battery inside when you need to change it (following these steps). Use a screwdriver to pop open the fob and examine the buttons, looking for how pressure on the trunk release button triggers it. If there’s a way to disable them by removing what point of contact triggers the circuit board, you might be able to deactivate the trunk release button from functioning entirely.
Hopefully, one of these solutions work for you and you won’t have to worry about finding the trunk open in the pouring rain the next time you leave a restaurant.
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Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.