Key in washing machine!

Winco · Mar 7, 2025

I left my XF key in a pocket of trousers that ended up in the washing machine. I managed to retrieve it early on in the wash cycle, but of course it was wet.

I took it apart, removed the battery and dried it out. It will lock and unlock the car, but I get the key not found error message if I try to start the car with it.

Have I lost or damaged an immobiliser chip, or has the getting wet experience lost its coding to the car? If the buttons on the pcb work, this assumes the pcb is OK? Does the key need recoding to the car? I have SDD.

If I get a second hand key can that be recoded to my car using SDD?

Thankfully I have a spare key that works.

sportbrake_phil · Mar 8, 2025

You could try taking the battery out, press the button a few times to remove any remaining charge, then give it a good rinse with distilled water to remove any deposits before drying it again.

Assuming it's the 2013 sportbrake in your signature I imagine it's a key with the chrome trim on one side, in which case you should be fine using a second hand key.

johnw777 · Mar 8, 2025

There is an RF chip in the key to start the car. The battery powers up the board to open the car etc. Sounds like the rf part of the key has a fault.

Winco · Mar 23, 2025

I bought a second hand genuine key and then fired up the SDD. To cut a long story short, the key that had been in the wash could be programmed but it would not verify. The second hand key and my remaining original key are now the only keys linked and programmed to the car.

Key in washing machine!

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