Start the Car With a Dead Key Fob Battery

Last updated: June 10, 2026

The Škoda Superb (Mk3, 2015–Present) is the brand’s flagship, and on most examples that means KESSY keyless entry and a START/STOP button rather than a turn key. So when the fob battery dies and the car ignores every button press, the fix is the contact-start procedure: hold the dead fob against the start button and let the immobiliser read the chip inside it. Getting into the cabin first relies on the emergency blade hidden in the fob.

This generation covers the Superb liftback and Combi estate, including the plug-in hybrid iV (which runs the same KESSY hardware). The procedure is identical across the range; only entry-spec cars might have the basic turn-key ignition.

Start the Keyless Superb With a Dead Fob

The immobiliser reads a passive transponder in the fob that needs no battery. To start on a flat coin cell:

1. Unlock and get in with the emergency blade first (next section) — a flat fob will not work the door buttons.
2. Sit in the driver’s seat with your foot pressing the brake pedal.
3. Hold the fob flat against the START/STOP button so the back of the fob touches it. The reader coil sits directly behind the button.
4. Press the button while the fob is held against it. The car powers the transponder by induction, verifies the key, and starts.
5. If it does not start the first time, reposition the fob slightly and press again — the read field is only a centimetre or so deep.

On the plug-in hybrid iV the same procedure brings the car to “Ready” — you may hear no engine, which is normal for a PHEV.

Unlock the Superb Mk3 With the Emergency Key Blade

1. Slide the catch on the fob and draw out the metal emergency blade.
2. The driver’s door lock is hidden under a plastic cap on the handle. Slip the blade into the slot at the cap’s rear edge and prise the cover off.
3. Insert the blade and turn to unlock. Opening manually can set off the alarm; pressing START with the fob in the cabin cancels it.
4. If your Superb has the basic turn-key ignition rather than KESSY, use the same blade in the ignition barrel to start it; no contact-start step is needed.

Why the Immobiliser Still Trusts the Key

The Superb’s fob contains a passive immobiliser chip powered wirelessly by the car’s reader coil, just like a contactless card. The dead coin cell only disables the long-range radio for remote locking and keyless approach. Hold the fob to the START button and the short-range coil powers the chip directly, so the immobiliser authenticates it and frees the engine. A battery-free spare blade key starts the car the same way.

Replace the Key Fob Battery

1. Remove the emergency blade to release the case.
2. Carefully split the fob halves with a plastic pry tool along the seam.
3. Take out the old cell — the Superb Mk3 fob uses a CR2032 3V coin cell.
4. Fit the new battery + side facing the same way as the original, holding it by the edges.
5. Click the case together, reinsert the blade, and test the buttons. A fresh cell lasts roughly 2–3 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Superb Mk3 have keyless start? Most do — KESSY is standard or near-standard across the range, so the START/STOP button and contact-start method apply to the majority of cars.

Where do I hold the fob to start it? Flat against the START/STOP button on the dash; the emergency reader is right behind it.

Does the Superb iV plug-in hybrid use the same method? Yes. The KESSY hardware is identical; the car simply goes to “Ready” rather than firing an engine.

What battery does the Superb Mk3 fob take? A single CR2032 coin cell.

The car only starts when I press the fob to the button — should I worry? That points to a weak or flat coin cell. Replace it; if it continues afterwards, the key transmitter may be failing.

If a warning light stayed on after starting, you can decode it on our sister site autodtcs.com.