These instructions apply to the DS 5 Mk1 (K) 2011-2018.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If the key fob on your DS 5 (2011–2018) — the flagship K-platform hatch that started life as the Citroën DS5 and later carried the DS badge — has lost its range or the central locking has gone intermittent, the coin cell inside is almost certainly flat. It’s a quick swap with a CR2032, and there’s a simple owner re-sync afterwards if the remote needs it. Before you worry that the car has a locking fault, rule out the fob: a fading cell is the usual reason a DS 5 stops locking cleanly.
How to Tell the Fob Battery Is Dying
A coin cell rarely fails outright — it fades, and the warning signs build up over a week or two:
- Shrinking range — you have to be almost at the door, or aim the fob directly at the car, for it to respond.
- Works on the second or third press — the button that used to be instant now feels unreliable.
- Intermittent central locking — sometimes every door, sometimes nothing, with no obvious pattern.
- Worse in the cold — a tired cell sags in voltage on a frosty morning and picks up once it warms.
A DS 5 remote cell usually lasts a few years of daily use. If yours is playing up and the fob is a few years old, changing the cell is the first and cheapest thing to try.
The Battery You Need
The DS 5 remote takes a single CR2032 — the common 3 V lithium coin cell, 20 mm across and 3.2 mm thick. Fit a branded cell from a reputable seller; bargain multipacks can arrive below voltage and give poor range or a short life. Never drop in a thinner cell (a CR2025 or CR2016 will rattle and make weak contact). The foolproof check is to read the code printed on the old cell as it comes out and match it exactly.
You’ll also need: a coin or a small flat-blade screwdriver to open the case. Nothing else.
Replacing the Cell
- Pull out the metal key blade. Release and withdraw the emergency blade from the body of the fob — this frees the seam of the case.
- Press and hold the fob button and remove the button-cell cover where fitted.
- Insert a coin at the ring/seam and gently twist to separate the two halves. Work around the join rather than levering hard on one point.
- Note which way up the old cell sits — the printed “+” face is normally visible — then lift it out. Hold the new cell by its edges to keep grease off the faces.
- Fit the new CR2032 the same way up, positive side matching, pressed fully under its clip.
- Clip the case shut, refit the cover, and slide the metal blade back until it locks.
⚠️ Polarity matters. A CR2032 fitted upside down won’t power the remote, and forcing it under the clip can distort the contact. Match the printed “+” to the face it came out on.
Re-syncing the Remote (If Needed)
The DS 5’s key still works mechanically with a dead fob, so you can always get in; the cell only powers the remote locking. If the remote won’t lock/unlock straight after the swap, re-synchronise it:
- Turn the ignition off, then turn the ignition on.
- Press the lock button on the fob once.
- Turn the ignition off and remove the key — the remote is synchronised.
Did It Work?
Stand a normal distance away and lock, then unlock, watching for the indicator flash and the mirrors folding if your car is set to do so. Then walk to the far side of a car park and try again — full range confirms a healthy cell. If it only responds up close, re-open the fob and check the cell is flat, clean and the right way up.
If a Fresh Cell Doesn’t Help
- Re-check polarity and seating — an upside-down or half-seated cell is the most common cause.
- Confirm it really is a CR2032 and that the new one isn’t a dud — measure it or swap in another.
- Wipe the contacts with a dry cloth or cotton bud; grease or corrosion weakens the connection.
- Use the key blade to lock and unlock meanwhile — you’re never locked out.
- Still intermittent? A receiver or body-control fault can store a code — look it up on autodtcs.com.
Lost Key or Adding a Spare — Why It’s a Dealer Job
A cell swap (and the re-sync above) keeps the existing key fully coded to the car — nothing is lost. A new or replacement key is different: a blank must be cut to the car and coded to its immobiliser with diagnostic equipment, which means a DS / Citroën dealer or an auto locksmith. There’s no owner sequence that pairs a brand-new key. If you keep a spare, change its cell too — the spare that only appears once a year is usually the one that’s flat when you finally need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What battery does the DS 5 key use?
A single CR2032 3 V lithium coin cell — the common 20 mm type. Buy a branded one and match the code stamped on the cell you remove rather than guessing; avoid the thinner CR2025 or CR2016, which won’t seat properly.
Which way up does the cell go?
Positive (+) side matching the face that was showing when you opened the fob — on the DS 5 that’s usually the printed “+” upward. Note the orientation before removing the old cell, and fit the new CR2032 identically so it sits flat under its clip.
Do I need to reprogram the key after the swap?
No. Changing the cell never erases the coding. At most the remote needs the quick owner re-sync — ignition off, on, press lock once, ignition off — and it’s locking again. Reprogramming is only ever needed for a brand-new key.
How long should a new battery last?
A CR2032 in the DS 5 remote typically gives a few years of daily use. Heavy locking/unlocking, cold storage and cheap cells shorten it. If a fresh branded cell fades within months, suspect a dud battery or a poor contact rather than the car.
It’s still dead after a new battery — now what?
Re-check polarity and that the cell is fully seated, confirm it’s genuinely a CR2032, and clean the contacts. If the remote still won’t work while the blade opens the doors fine, the fault may sit in the receiver — have it read for a stored code.
The fob is dead — can I still get in and drive?
Yes. Pull the metal blade from the fob and it unlocks the driver’s door, so you’re never locked out. The car starts normally on the ignition once you’re inside; the coin cell only powers the remote locking, not the immobiliser transponder.
For the service reminder, see our DS 5 service reset guide. For any stored locking or body-control fault code, look it up on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with DS. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.