Have had better luck with Wd-40 in regards to cleaning the chip and pad.

Open the fobs and see if you can find any areas on the circuit board that appear to have corrosion. It will appear probably as a darker yellowish brown color and look like maybe a drop of something was spilled on it. Hard to describe but it would be covering a couple of the solder joints most likely. If so, spray contact cleaner on the circuit board with the battery removed and then brush it with an old toothbrush. If it doesn't lift and come loose, try a gentle touch with a sharp pick to scratch it loose. Don't use any other type cleaner or liquids. This type corrosion can cause a drain and can be found on items such as fobs that are battery powered, exposed to moisture such as humidity or have been wet for any reason. If they ever do get damp or wet, throw them in a ziploc bag with dry rice in it for 24 hours.

PS. Same thing for TV remotes and the like that possibly get drink or fluids spilled on them and quick working or kill batteries.

contact cleaner and alcohol are good but wd40 leaves a residue.

I personally wouldn't used a pick to clean the contacts. Too much of a risk to scratch the surface and damaging the chip. An eraser on a pencil works really well for cleaning. Have better luck cleaning the chip and pad with wd- 40 wiping away with a clean paper towel, it also helps draw out moisture.

After 10 years of running a computer store/repair center and 16 years working on fighter jets and their computers, I always assume some things are understood so let me clarify. NEVER use sharp metal objects around PCBs and the like - use hardened plastic or composite picks. If you must use anything metal, the utmost care should be taken because yes, they can cause damage in the untrained hand. NEVER use ANY flammable liquid, such as WD40, on or around any electronics or electrical components. DO NOT use ANY cleaner or liquid on electronics that leaves an oily residue - it attracts every particle of dust, lint, etc within a bazillion miles. These particles are actually quite abrasive to the fine circuit surfaces in pots and micro-switches. This means, no paper towels, rags, rubber, erasers, feather dusters, etc. Lower pressure air or small vacuum attachments remove those particles just fine. Contact cleaner cleans and leaves no residue whereas WH40 doesn't really clean corrosion but merely makes it shiny.

Well said, some of that particulate matter can actually be a bit conductive of electricity, and can help cause electro static discharges, which is why I clean out my PC thoroughly every two weeks.
The only thing on a pencil that can be used on circuit boards by those inexperienced working on circuit boards without harm is the lead, I can remember the ole "pencil trick" used to unlock multipliers on old Duron ,and Thunderbird CPU'*..

Damn, you must be an old fart like me to remember the Durons!!!! LOL Those were the good ole days of tweaking things to the very edge and then getting pissed when they rolled smoke! If I hadn't had a computer store, I'd have been dead in the water. I actually still have a badd azz little system running a freaking Slot A 1Ghz with Golden Fingers overclocking it.....

I am only 37, but when I was little my uncle bought me my first PC from a yard sale, its CPU was a MOS 6502..



And you cannot forget the good old tape drive.

Just merely stating what we do in our shop for key remote repairs. Customers are happy to at least save 40 bucks or whatever on a new fob. We have around a 90% percent success rate until they drop the remote and break the solder holding the battery bracket or the remote gets wet again. Utmost care should be taken on electronics while cleaning.

[QUOTE=WilliamE;1599553]
The only thing on a pencil that can be used on circuit boards by those inexperienced working on circuit boards without harm is the lead.]



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