These instructions apply to the Fiat Tipo Mk2 (356) 2016-present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
When the remote on a Fiat Tipo (356, 2016–present) starts working only from an arm’s length, flashes weakly, or stops responding altogether, the coin cell inside the key is almost always the culprit. The Tipo — hatchback, saloon and Station Wagon — is supplied with a folding “flip” key: press the button and a metal blade springs out of the plastic head. Unusually for a small car, the battery on this key does not sit under a snap-off cover; it lives in a small rotating holder that you unlock with a screwdriver, so the swap is slightly different from most fobs. Here is the exact cell it takes, how to tell a dying battery from a real fault, and why cutting a brand-new key is the one part you cannot finish at home.
How to Tell the Fob Battery Is Dying
- Shrinking range. You have to stand right next to the Tipo — or almost touch the door handle with the key — before it locks or unlocks. This is the classic first warning.
- The button LED dims or stops flashing. The little indicator on the key head normally blinks on every press; when the cell is low it goes faint or dark, which is a quick way to confirm the key, not the car, is the problem.
- Intermittent response. The remote works one press and ignores the next, and it is worst first thing on a cold morning, when a near-flat lithium cell struggles to deliver current.
- You find yourself using the blade. Reaching for the fold-out metal key to get into the car is a sign the transmitter no longer has the range it should.
A coin cell in a Tipo key typically lasts two to four years. If yours is around that age and showing any of the above, fit a fresh battery before you suspect the receiver or immobiliser.
The Battery You Need
The Fiat Tipo flip key takes a single CR2032 — a 3-volt lithium coin cell, 20 mm across, the most common fob battery there is and sold in any supermarket or hardware shop. Buy a good-quality branded cell rather than the cheapest multipack; budget cells sag under the brief high current the transmitter draws and can give short range even when technically “new”. If in any doubt, open the key first and read the code stamped on the cell you remove, then match it exactly.
How to Change the Battery — Fiat Tipo Flip Key
- Flip the metal blade out. Press the button on the key head and let the blade spring open. Holding the key with the blade extended makes the holder easier to reach and gives you something firm to grip.
- Find the release slot for the battery holder. On the back of the key head there is a small recess. Rest a fine flat-blade screwdriver in it — you are not prising the whole case apart, you are unlocking the round battery carrier.
- Rotate and lift out the holder. Gentle leverage swings the battery holder out; the arrow moulded on it points toward the metal blade when it releases. Ease the holder clear — the CR2032 sits inside it.
- Note the orientation, then swap the cell. The positive (+) face sits upward in the holder — the writing side you can read. Slide the old cell out and drop the new one in exactly the same way up. Keep fingers off the flat faces so you don’t leave grease on the contacts.
- Refit and lock the holder. Push the holder back into the key head and rotate it home until it seats and locks. Fold the blade away, then test every button.
⚠️ Mind the polarity. A coin cell fitted upside down won’t power the transmitter and can slowly discharge against the contacts, so always match the way the old cell sat — positive side up, writing visible.
Make Sure It Took
Stand back a few metres and lock, then unlock, the Tipo. Full range should return instantly and the button LED should flash brightly and cleanly again. If the blade sits proud or the head feels loose after reassembly, open it once more and make sure the rotating holder has fully locked home — a holder that hasn’t seated can lift the cell off its contact and mimic a flat battery.
If a Fresh Cell Doesn’t Fix It
- Re-check the cell and its holder. Confirm the CR2032 is positive-side up and that the rotating carrier has locked fully home — a cell that isn’t pressed against both contacts behaves exactly like a dead one.
- Wipe the contacts. A smear of finger grease or a trace of corrosion on the terminals is enough to cause dropouts; clean them with a dry cloth or a cotton bud.
- Try another cell. If the remote now works up close but not from a distance, the new battery may be weak — swap in a different known-good branded CR2032.
New Key or Spare — Why It’s a Dealer Job
Changing the coin cell keeps the key’s existing coding, so nothing has to be reprogrammed and the remote works the moment you refit it. Cutting and coding a new key is a different matter: the Tipo’s immobiliser has to be accessed with a diagnostic tool, the blade cut to the car’s key code, and the new transponder married to the vehicle. That makes adding a spare or replacing a lost key a job for a Fiat dealer or an auto-locksmith working against the car’s VIN. The practical takeaway: keep the battery in your spare key fresh too, so you are never down to a single working remote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What battery does a Fiat Tipo key fob take?
A single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell. It is the standard 20 mm size sold everywhere; if you want to be certain, read the code printed on the cell you take out and buy the same.
How do I open the Tipo flip key to reach the battery?
Flip the metal blade out, then use a small flat-blade screwdriver in the recess on the key head to release and rotate the round battery holder out. The cell lifts out of that carrier — you are not splitting the whole case in half.
Which way up does the CR2032 go?
Positive (+) side up — the face with the writing you can read. Fit the new cell the same way the old one sat; upside down it won’t work and can flatten itself against the contacts.
Do I need to reprogram the key after changing the battery?
No. A battery swap does not touch the key’s coding, so the remote works straight away. Only a brand-new key needs cutting and programming.
How long should a Fiat Tipo key battery last?
Usually two to four years. Heavy use of the remote, or a cheap cell that sags under load, shortens that — a quality branded CR2032 lasts longest.
Can I still get into and drive the Tipo if the fob is completely dead?
Yes. Press the button to release the fold-out metal blade and use it to unlock the driver’s door, then start the car as normal — the flat remote battery only affects the buttons, not the ignition.
If the remote stopped responding suddenly — right after the car battery was disconnected or a jump-start, rather than fading gradually — the cause is more likely the pairing or a stored fault than the coin cell. You can look up what any warning-light code means on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Fiat. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.