These instructions apply to the Lynk & Co 01 (2017-2024).
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Lynk & Co 01 (2017–2024) is built on the Geely–Volvo CMA platform it shares with the Volvo XC40, but it ships with its own Geely-designed smart keyless-entry fob — a slim card-style remote with a hidden mechanical blade rather than a folding “flip” key. When that fob starts working only from arm’s length, needs a second press, or dies without warning, the cause is nearly always the flat coin cell inside it, not the car. Here is the exact battery the 01 takes, how to open the case without cracking it, and why cutting a brand-new key is the one job you can’t finish at home.
How to Tell the Fob Battery Is Dying
- Shrinking range. You have to stand right beside the 01 — or hold the fob against the door handle — for lock or unlock to register. This is almost always the first sign.
- Keyless start hesitates. The car no longer detects the fob in your pocket, so you have to hold it near the start button or the marked spot in the cabin for it to recognise the key.
- A low-key-battery warning. The 01’s driver display shows a key-battery message when the cell is running down — a clear prompt to change it before you get locked into a workaround.
- Cold-weather dropouts. A near-flat lithium cell sags at low temperature, so the remote may work in the afternoon but fail on a frosty morning.
A coin cell in the 01’s fob typically lasts two to four years. If yours is older than that and doing any of the above, fit a fresh cell before you suspect the receiver or the immobiliser.
The Battery You Need
The Lynk & Co 01 smart fob uses a single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell — the most common fob battery there is, sold in any supermarket, hardware shop or petrol station. Although the 01 rides on the same CMA architecture as some Volvo models, its key is a Geely part and takes the ordinary CR2032, not the larger CR2450 that a few other cars use, so don’t assume the Volvo relationship carries over to the battery. Buy a good-quality branded cell; cheap cells sag under the brief high current the transmitter draws and can give short range even when “new”. If the code printed on the cell you take out reads anything other than CR2032, match that code instead — the marking on the old cell is always the final word.
How to Open the Fob and Change the Cell
- Slide out the emergency blade. Release the mechanical key blade concealed in the fob body — press its catch and pull it straight out. This exposes the seam and stops you levering against the electronics.
- Find the seam or notch. Look along the edge of the case for the small notch left where the blade sat, or the join between the two halves of the shell.
- Split the case gently. Insert a flat plastic tool — a guitar pick or the edge of the emergency blade works well — into the seam and twist slowly to pop the halves apart. Work around the join rather than forcing one spot, so the plastic clips don’t snap.
- Note the orientation, then lift the cell out. Before you touch it, look at which face of the coin cell is visible. On the 01 the positive (+) side faces the bottom cover — the half you just lifted off — so the writing sits against that cover, not up towards you.
- Fit the new CR2032 the same way. Seat it with the + face towards the cover, matching exactly how the old one sat. Press it fully under its retaining clip against clean contacts.
- Close it up. Line up the two halves and squeeze until every clip clicks home, then slide the emergency blade back in until it latches.
⚠️ Get the polarity right. A CR2032 fitted upside down bridges the contacts the wrong way and can quietly discharge, leaving the key dead even though the cell is brand new — so always copy the orientation of the cell you removed rather than guessing.
Did It Work?
Stand back a few metres and lock, then unlock, the 01. Full range should return at once. The keyless-start detection should pick the fob up from your pocket again without you holding it to the button. Any key-battery message in the driver display usually clears the next time the car reads a healthy fob — sometimes after one short drive rather than the instant you fit the cell.
If a Fresh Cell Doesn’t Fix It
- Re-check polarity and seating. A cell fitted the wrong way up, or not pressed fully under its clip, is by far the most common reason a “new” battery doesn’t help. Pop the case and confirm the + face sits towards the cover.
- Wipe the contacts. A smear of finger grease or light corrosion on the terminals is enough to cause dropouts — clean them with a dry cloth before you refit.
- Try a different cell. A CR2032 that has sat in a drawer for years, or a weak budget cell, can read fine on a meter yet fail under load. Swap in a fresh branded one.
- Rule out the car’s 12 V battery. If the 01 itself is slow to wake or throwing unrelated electrical warnings, a weak vehicle battery can mimic key faults — that is a separate problem from the fob cell.
New Key or Spare — Why It’s a Dealer Job
Changing the coin cell leaves the fob’s existing coding untouched, so the remote keeps working immediately with no reprogramming. Adding a spare or replacing a lost key is a different matter: a blank Lynk & Co fob has to be ordered against the car’s VIN, the mechanical blade cut to the lock, and the new key married to the 01’s immobiliser with diagnostic equipment before it will start the car. That makes it a job for a Lynk & Co service point or an auto-locksmith — so keep the battery in your spare fob fresh too, and you’re never down to a single working key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What battery does a Lynk & Co 01 key fob take?
A single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell. It’s a common size stocked almost everywhere; despite the 01 sharing its CMA platform with Volvo, the fob does not use the larger CR2450.
Which way up does the battery go?
The positive (+) face sits towards the bottom cover of the fob — writing down, not up. Always match the orientation of the cell you removed, because fitting a coin cell upside down can flatten it and leave the key dead.
Do I need to reprogram the fob after changing the battery?
No. A battery swap doesn’t affect the fob’s coding, so it works straight away. Only a brand-new or replacement key needs programming to the car.
How long should the key battery last?
Usually two to four years. Leaving the fob sitting close to the car, so the keyless system keeps waking it, drains the cell faster than occasional use.
My 01’s key still won’t work after a new battery — what now?
Re-check the cell’s polarity and seating first, then clean the contacts and try a second fresh cell. If it still won’t respond with a known-good battery, the fob’s transmitter may have failed and need replacing — but that’s rare next to a simple flat or upside-down cell.
Can I still get into and start the car if the fob is completely dead?
Yes. Use the emergency blade hidden in the fob to unlock the driver’s door, then hold the fob against the marked keyless-start spot in the cabin — the system is designed to read a fob with a flat battery this way, so a dead cell won’t strand you.
If your 01’s remote stopped responding suddenly — right after the car battery was disconnected, say, rather than fading gradually — the cause is more likely the pairing or a stored electrical fault than the coin cell. You can look up what a logged fault code means on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Lynk & Co. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.