'96 855R Key Fob Repair

[MrPc]

I've seen the threads that discuss new shells for the later 3 button keyless entry key fobs, and I'm wondering what can be done for the earlier two button ones. I'm talking about the ones for the '96's, with the buttons one above the other, not side by side, like this:

Two button key fob with buttons one above the other.

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I have a such a key fob, where the key ring strap has broken off, and am looking for ideas to repair it.

The shell seems to be fused together. There seems to be a pin or rivet of some sort on the back anchoring the keyring strap into it. I wonder if I could drill that out to remove the remaining piece of the strap, or even all the way through to put a keyring through it. Of course if the circuit board extends all the way to the bottom of the shell, then this would probably ruin it.

Has anybody dismantled one of these things? Any pics? Any advice?

Thanks,
Paul

[jreed]

I have taken a few of these apart. It is pretty straightforward. No need to drill. First, you remove the battery door and batteries. Then you pry open the case with a small flat blade screwdriver. Once the case is open you will be able to lift out the remaining piece of the broken strap.

I wrote up an illustrated sequence here:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=51250

Take a look at that and let me know if I can provide other photos or advice.

Good luck!

[MrPc]

Perfect. Thank you!

Now that it is apart, I can see that the circuit board doesn't extend all the way to the end of the case, so it would be possible to drill all the way through where the peg/rivet is and put a ring through it. That seems kind of inelegant and drastic, so before I do that I would like figure out a way to make something to replace the broken strap.

All I'm trying to do at this point is get it to attach to a key chain!

Ideas welcome!

[MrPc]

Here's what I ended up doing.

I got some 1/4" wide nylon webbing, and folded it over the key ring which I salvaged from the old fob. Then I stitched it together firmly using a needle and nylon thread. I used lots of stitches so the two pieces of webbing would behave as one.

Stitch the nylon webbing firmly together before cutting to length.

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Then I cut the webbing to length, about 3/4", and used a lighter to melt the ends so it wouldn't unravel. I held a nail in the flame to make it hot, and used it to melt a hole in the webbing near the end.

Cut to length, melt edges to prevent fraying, and melt a hole near the end.

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Then, disassembling the key fob, I placed the nylon webbing in the gap in the case, with the plastic stud poking through the hole in the webbing.

Carefully pry apart the key fob.

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Place the webbing in the gap in the case with the plastic stud from the key fob poking through the hole in the webbing.

Small_0004.JPG (68.54 KiB) Viewed 858 times

Then it's just a matter of snapping the case back together, being careful not to get the webbing caught between the case halves.

Snap the case back together.

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I used a drop of glue on the end of the plastic stud to keep things from separating, but I don't think it's really necessary.

This has been holding for 5 months, and isn't showing any signs of letting go at all. Thanks everyone for your ideas!

Paul

[jreed]

Ingenious and well executed! Thanks!