If your car clicker has stopped responding reliably, try this fix before spending $70+ on a replacement fob and dealing with reprogramming the car.

The symptom

Over time, the fob seemed to degrade in responsiveness. Locking or unlocking required pressing the buttons multiple times and applying increasing force.

Replacing the coin-cell battery with a fresh one did not solve the issue. However, inspecting the old battery revealed dark blemishes on the casing right where the fob’s contact pads meet the battery terminal—likely residue from surface oxidation or galvanic reaction over years of pocket carry.

The fix

1. Clean contact points: Use a small piece of fine steel wool or fine-grit abrasive to clean the battery contacts on the fob’s circuit board and remove any oxidized buildup.
2. Apply conductive paste: Dab a very small amount of conductive paste / contact enhancer onto the metallic contact prongs.
3. Reassemble: Reinstall the battery and snap the plastic enclosure closed.

The fob returned to working like new, registering button clicks effortlessly on the first press.