When your car remote stops working, you may find yourself stuck unable to use the car without setting off the alarm with no way of disengaging it---even if you have a manual key. To avoid a dead clicker, always keep an extra battery on hand and heed the signs of a weak battery, such as the inability to unlock the car unless you're closer than usual, and check the unit for wear and tear that can lead to dirt entering the case. If changing the battery doesn't fix the problem, you may need to clean the circuit pads inside the unit.
Check the back of the unit to determine whether it has an easy-to-remove battery cover; if not, open the unit by placing the tip of the screwdriver against the seam on the side of the unit and gently prying it open. Remove the battery, and replace it with a fresh one in the same position.
Try the remote. If it doesn't work, remove the battery. Open the unit with a screwdriver if it has a battery cover.
Look at the tiny circuit boards where the bottoms of the buttons make contact. If the metal-colored circuitry isn't clearly visible and the areas are gray or black, they are too dirty to work properly.
Moisten a cotton swab with the lubricant, or use a lubricant pen. Rub the tip gently on the circuit boards until you have removed the dirt. Let it dry.
Replace the battery, and close the unit. Chances are, if the pads were dirty, the unit will now work.
