Key Fob Not Working Nissan Altima: Let’s Find Out the Causes and Solutions

If you are experiencing any issues with your Nissan Altima key fob not working, there are a few possible causes and solutions to try. 

Getting your key fob working properly again as soon as possible is essential for accessing and operating your vehicle conveniently.

Common Causes of the Issue

Low or Dead Key Fob Battery

The most common or the basic cause of a key fob not working issue is a low or a dead battery. 

Key fobs use small batteries with limited lifespans. Over time, through the normal use, the battery will eventually drain out and leads you to replace it. 

Symptoms include:

• Shorter operating range

• Intermittent function

• Complete failure to work

To overcome this issue replacing the battery with a fresh CR2032 battery will often get the key fob working again.

Nissan No Key Detected After Battery Replacement

If your Nissan displays a warning message indicating “No Key Detected” even after recently replacing the battery, there are steps that owners can take to troubleshoot and resolve this issue.

What Causes the No Key Detected Issue in Nissans?

Low Battery/Power Issue

• Sometimes an apparently new battery may still be providing insufficient power for proper key fob operation and communication. 

• Cold weather, in particular, can exacerbate a low-voltage situation.

Interference and Connection Problems

• Even with adequate power, the key fob signal may not be properly communicating with the vehicle receiver due to some kind of interference or sync issues that prevents the connection between two paired devices.

Faulty Replacement Battery

• While rare, occasionally replacement batteries are themselves defective right out of the package by rendering them unable to maintain a charge or a voltage. 

• Trying multiple fresh batteries from different packages can help you to rule out or identify this possibility.

Other Underlying Issues

Error Codes in Vehicle Receiver

• Problems with the key fob receiver that is built into the vehicle can also cause operation issues. 

• The receiver may malfunction or fail due to age, damage, or a dead battery, if applicable. 

• This will prevent the Altima from detecting and responding to signals from the fob.

Key Fob Failure

• While less common than battery or receiver issues, it is possible for a Nissan smart key fob to completely fail or malfunction. 

• Dropping or damaging the fob, water damage, age, and other factors can lead to device failure by requiring the replacement of the entire unit.

Solutions For a Non-Working Key Fob

Here are solutions to try for a non-working Nissan Altima smart key fob:

Verify the Correct Battery Orientation

• Carefully check that your replacement key fob battery is properly oriented with positive and negative contacts which are matched to their correct corresponding points of contact.

Try a Different Battery

• Install a fresh battery from a totally different package to determine if the initial replacement you installed was faulty or still too low on charge to work correctly.

Check for Damage or Moisture

• Closely inspect your key fob casing and internals for any signs of moisture, corrosion, cracks, or physical damage that could be impairing normal function and communication.

Attempt the Key Resync Procedure

• Many Nissans require resynchronizing or reprogramming the key fob with the vehicle’s computer system after a battery replacement. 

• Consult your owner’s resources for the proper resyncing process for your specific model.

Frequently Asked Questions About Key Fob Not Working Nissan Altima

Q: How do I get into my Altima if the key fob isn’t responding?

A: Use your physical keyblade to unlock the driver’s door. Nissan has included a backup slot where the blade can be inserted to open the vehicle in case of a key fob issue or a dead battery.