Replace the Key Fob Battery

When the remote on an Abarth 595 (2008–2022, Fiat 500 “312” platform) only locks the car from arm’s length, needs a second or third press, or stops flashing altogether, the coin cell inside the fob has almost certainly gone flat. The 595 uses the same three-button folding “flip” remote as the Fiat 500 it’s built on — a metal blade that springs out at the press of a button, and a small rotary screw-lock holding the battery cassette inside. That screw-lock is the one detail that trips people up, because it isn’t a normal clip-off cover. Here is exactly how to open it, which cell to fit, and why cutting a brand-new key is the one part you can’t finish at home.

How to Tell the Fob Battery Is Dying

• Shrinking range. You have to stand right next to the 595 — or hold the fob against the door — before it will lock or unlock. This is the first and clearest sign.
• The remote’s LED stops flashing. The little indicator light on the fob won’t blink when you press a button once the cell is too weak to drive the transmitter. If the LED is dead, suspect the battery before the car.
• Buttons respond only now and then. Intermittent locking — worse on cold mornings — is a near-flat lithium cell struggling in low temperatures.
• The blade still works, the buttons don’t. If the metal key flips out and turns the lock but no button does anything, that points squarely at the fob’s own power, not the car.

A coin cell in a 595 remote usually lasts two to four years. If yours is older than that and showing any of the above, fit a fresh cell before you start blaming the receiver or immobiliser.

The Battery You Need

The Abarth 595 flip key takes a single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell — the same one the donor Fiat 500 uses, and the most common fob battery there is. You can buy it in any supermarket, hardware shop or pharmacy. Fit a good-quality branded cell: cheap ones sag under the brief high current the transmitter pulls and can give poor range even straight out of the packet. Keep the old cell to hand while you work so you can copy its orientation exactly.

How to Change the Abarth 595 Key Battery

1. Flip the blade out. Press the release button on the side of the fob so the metal key blade springs open. This is what gives you access to the battery cassette and steadies the fob in your hand.
2. Turn the screw-lock to unlock. On the back of the fob is a small slotted rotary lock. Using a fine flat-blade (slotted) screwdriver, turn it a quarter-turn to the unlock position — the marking points toward the metal blade when it’s free. It is a twist-lock, not a screw you fully remove, so it only needs a light turn.
3. Slide out the battery cassette. With the lock released, ease the little plastic battery holder out of the body of the fob. The CR2032 sits inside this cassette rather than loose in the case.
4. Swap the cell, matching the polarity. Note which way up the old cell sits, lift it out, and drop the new CR2032 in the same orientation — on the Fiat/Abarth cassette the positive (+) face is the one you can see when it’s seated. Don’t force it; it should sit flat under its retaining lip.
5. Refit and lock. Slide the cassette back into the fob, press it fully home, then turn the rotary lock back to the lock position with the screwdriver. Fold the blade away and test every button.

⚠️ Get the polarity right. A coin cell fitted upside-down won’t power the transmitter and, left in that way, can slowly discharge itself — so always copy the orientation of the cell you removed rather than guessing.

Make Sure It Took

Stand back a few metres and lock, then unlock, the 595. Full range should come straight back and the fob’s LED should flash cleanly on every press. If the range is still short with a known-good cell, re-open the cassette and check the cell is sitting flat and the contacts are clean — a cassette that isn’t fully seated, or a lock left half-turned, is a common cause of “new battery, still no better.”

If a Fresh Cell Doesn’t Fix It

• Re-check the cassette and lock. The holder must be pushed all the way in and the rotary lock turned fully back to lock, or the contacts don’t meet the cell properly.
• Clean the contacts. A smear of finger grease or a little corrosion on the terminals is enough to cause dropouts — wipe them with a dry cloth and reseat the cell.
• Check the cell itself. An old or cheap CR2032 can read close to 3 V yet collapse under load. If you have a second fresh cell, try it before condemning the fob.
• Rule out the car. Rarely, a weak 12 V car battery can make central locking behave oddly and mimic a key fault. If the 595 itself is slow to wake or the dash lights dim on cranking, look at the vehicle battery rather than the fob.

New Key or Spare — Why It’s a Dealer Job

Changing the coin cell keeps the fob’s existing coding, so nothing needs reprogramming — the remote works the moment a healthy cell is in. Cutting or coding a new key is a different matter. The 595’s immobiliser has to be accessed with a diagnostic tool, blank flip keys must be ordered and cut to the car’s key code, and the new remote paired to the car electronically. The Abarth flip key is also known for the blade working loose from the plastic body over time, which is another reason people end up needing a fresh key rather than just a battery. Adding a spare or replacing a lost key is therefore a job for an Abarth/Fiat dealer or an auto-locksmith — so keep the battery in your spare fresh too, and you’re never down to one working key.

Frequently Asked Questions

What battery does an Abarth 595 key fob take?

A single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell. It’s the same cell used across the Fiat 500 range the 595 is based on, and it’s sold almost everywhere.

How do I open the Abarth 595 flip key?

Press the button to spring the metal blade out, then turn the small rotary screw-lock on the back to the unlock position with a fine flat-blade screwdriver. That releases the battery cassette, which slides out so you can swap the cell.

Which way up does the battery go?

Match the cell you removed. In the Abarth cassette the positive (+) face is the one visible when it’s seated. Fitting it upside-down leaves the fob dead and can slowly flatten the new cell, so copy the original orientation.

Do I need to reprogram the key after changing the battery?

No. A battery change doesn’t touch the fob’s coding, so it works straight away. Only a brand-new key needs cutting and programming to the car.

How long should an Abarth 595 key battery last?

Typically two to four years. Heavy use of the remote, or a lot of short trips where you lock and unlock constantly, will shorten that.

Can I still drive the 595 if the fob is completely dead?

Yes. Use the metal blade that folds out of the fob to unlock the driver’s door manually, then start the car as normal — a flat remote cell stops the buttons working but doesn’t immobilise the car.

If the remote died suddenly right after the car battery was disconnected or went flat — rather than fading gradually over weeks — the fault is more likely in the pairing or a stored electrical code than in the coin cell. You can look up what a related fault code means on autodtcs.com.