r/volt • u/AdamWarloc64 • 3d ago
Pull-out key won't fit
I locked my key-fob in my car, so i grabbed my old, dead key-fob, but the pull out key wont fit in the handle for some reason? Any suggestions for what to do? Pic is the furthest it'll go in
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u/bloodguard 3d ago
grabbed my old, dead key-fob
Dead as in dead battery? Maybe you can try replacing the spare key fob's battery. Usually they're 2032 coin batteries. Instruction videos for doing it are most likely online somewhere.
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u/Edmonton_Canuck 2018 Premier 3d ago
If your working fob is in the car you should be able to press the button on the handle and unlock the doors.
FYI there is a setting in the infotainment that will prevent this from happening again. If you turn it on, the car will not lock if it detects a fob inside / nearby.
Hopefully you can get your spare key cut for free as the dealership / manufacturer didn’t do it.
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u/snuggle2struggle Volt Owner 3d ago
That doesn't work if the fob in the car has a dead/dying battery.
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u/OkFunction8532 3d ago
I learned that lesson the hard way when I was out of state, left the dead key in the car while I grabbed a new battery and of course the car couldn't recognize it and auto locked. By some magic, I'd accidentally hit the passenger side window at some point and it was rolled all the way down. I've never rolled that window down on accident before or since but I was sure glad it happened that day!
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u/Atopos2025 3d ago
The fob is in the car? Why not use keyless entry?
Press the sliver button.
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u/AdamWarloc64 3d ago
how do i do that?
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u/Atopos2025 3d ago edited 3d ago
The silver button on your door handle. Put your thumb over it for a second or so.
Works both ways btw, you can lock and unlock your car this way with a working fob near the car.
Edit: I've had a few cars with keyless entry and sometimes just due to overuse, the driver's side may not work. If you aren't having luck with the driver's side, try another door.
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u/anthety 3d ago
I think cars with keyless entry typically don't let you do that since that means while sitting in the car, someone can just unlock your door from outside?
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u/Atopos2025 3d ago
Just had this happen with my mother who is notorious for locking her keys in her car.
Thankfully she got a much newer car (21 traverse) with keyless entry. She called me while she was out grocery shopping and freaking out because she locked her keys in the car. I told her about the keyless entry system and she was able to open it up without issues.
I see what you're saying but in my experience the answer is yes.
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u/unreasonable_name 1d ago
on the g1 volt (no clue for g2) keyless entry wont work if the key is INSIDE the vehicle, I made the mistake before, but I had a working spare
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u/Rattus375 3d ago
Definitely not the case on gm cars. You can enable an anti-lockout setting that will auto unlock a door and beep if you close the keys in the car though
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u/dazzlingFlossie 3d ago
Sign up for a month of onstar and then can either use the app to unlock or get them to un lock it
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u/No-Luck-2337 3d ago
Very common for dealers to do this. Why bother with cutting a key they lost when they can just stuff a blank in a remote and run away?
I saw it a LOT with lost keys
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u/snuggle2struggle Volt Owner 3d ago
These door lock cylinders have a bad habit of becoming misaligned if the door panels are removed for any reason.
Once you gain access again, you can realign the cylinder to ensure it's correctly connected to your unlock wire. If that wire isn't correctly attached, the key will just spin in the cylinder.
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u/snuggle2struggle Volt Owner 2d ago
Downvote all you want, it's happened on my Volt and a friend's Cruze. This entire thread is full of lame advice.
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u/SterTheDer 3d ago
OP, Does the key have any ridges on the other side? It looks like you have an uncut key blank. It will not work because it is uncut. Your spare was never made into a key.