Key Fob Dead? More Than Just a Battery Problem

Had the exact same issue with my 2014 Chevy Malibu last month. As someone with basic car maintenance experience, I first suspected just a dead fob battery like you did. When the new battery didn't fix it, took it to my regular workshop. Turns out the key fob itself had a faulty circuit board, pretty common issue with these units. The low voltage warning on the dash was legit, but it wasn't just about the battery. Got a complete fob replacement and reprogramming done for 37 Euro. Working perfectly since then. The Prisma and Malibu use similar key fob systems, but would need to know: Have you checked if manual key still works? Any other electrical issues happening? Is this the original key fob or a replacement? These details would help narrow down if you're dealing with the same problem I had.

Thanks for the detailed response. My manual key still works fine, that's what I've been using since this started. The original electronic key fob came with the car at 114778 KM and has never been replaced. No other electrical issues at all, everything else works perfectly. Starting to think it might be the circuit board issue you mentioned, especially since the new battery didn't help. Good to know about the reprogramming requirement, hadn't considered that. Was your replacement an OEM auto key or aftermarket? Just want to avoid future issues since I'll likely need to get this sorted soon. The key battery warning on the dash is pretty persistent, even with the fresh battery, which matches what you experienced with your faulty circuit board situation.

Yeah, after seeing your additional details, it's even more similar to what I dealt with. I went with an OEM electronic key because I learned the hard way with a previous aftermarket fob that didn't last. The persistent key battery warning despite a fresh battery is pretty much a telltale sign of the circuit board problem. In my case, the OEM key fob has been rock solid for the past 6 months, no issues at all. The dealership mentioned these circuit board failures are pretty common after about 5-6 years, especially if the fob gets exposed to heat or moisture regularly. When the internal components start failing, they can trigger false low battery warnings even with a brand new battery. Since you're getting the same symptoms I had, working manual key, persistent battery warning, and original fob at high mileage, I'd bet you're looking at the same repair. The reprogramming is crucial though, don't skip that part even if you find a pre-cut OEM fob. That was included in my replacement service and made sure everything synced up properly with the car's systems. The investment in an OEM unit was worth it just for the peace of mind. Plus, the programming process tends to be smoother with original parts.

Thanks for confirming all this detail. You've convinced me to go with an OEM car key fob instead of trying to save money on an aftermarket option. The circuit board failure and programming aspects make total sense, especially given my fob's age and the warning symptoms matching yours exactly. Really helpful to know about the dealership's input on the 5-6 year lifespan too, mine's right in that window. Going to get this sorted next week and make sure they do the full programming. The constant key battery warning despite the new battery was driving me nuts, but at least now I understand why that's happening with the faulty circuit board. Just glad the manual key's still working while I get this fixed. Will probably pick up a spare fob while I'm at it since I'm already at the 6-year mark with the original. Better to have a backup ready than deal with this again!