These instructions apply to the Peugeot 2008 Mk2 (P24) 2019-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
When the remote on a Peugeot 2008 Mk2 (P24, 2019–present) starts making you stand right next to the car before it will lock or unlock — or the hands-free doors stop letting you in on approach — the culprit is almost always the coin cell inside the key. This second-generation 2008 sits on Stellantis’ CMP platform and ships with the modern one-piece smart (keyless) fob: a fixed plastic case, three buttons, a pull-out emergency blade and no folding action. It takes a single, cheap, widely sold battery, and swapping it is a five-minute driveway job. Here is exactly which cell you need, how to open the case without cracking it, and why a genuinely new key is the one part of this you can’t finish yourself.
How to Tell the Fob Battery Is Dying
- Shrinking range. You have to be almost touching the car for the buttons to work, or the keyless handles only respond when the fob is held right against them. This is the first and clearest sign.
- Hands-free entry gets unreliable. On keyless-equipped 2008s the car normally unlocks as you grip the handle; a weak cell makes that intermittent, so you find yourself pressing the button instead.
- A key-battery warning. The 2008 shows a low-key-battery message in the instrument display when the fob voltage drops, often the first time you press START.
- Cold-morning dropouts. A cell that is nearly flat struggles in the cold, so the fob may work in the afternoon but not first thing.
A CR2032 in a 2008 fob typically lasts two to three years. Leaving the key near the car so the hands-free system keeps waking it up shortens that noticeably. If yours is a couple of years old and showing any of the above, fit a fresh cell before you start suspecting the car.
The Battery You Need
The Peugeot 2008 Mk2 smart fob uses a single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell — the most common fob battery there is, on the shelf in any supermarket, hardware shop or petrol station. Buy a good-quality branded cell rather than the cheapest multipack; budget cells sag under the short burst of current the transmitter draws and can give poor range even when brand new. If in any doubt, match the code printed on the cell you take out — it will read CR2032.
How to Change the Battery
- Release the emergency blade. Slide the small catch on the side or back of the fob and pull the metal key blade straight out of the body. This blade also unlocks the driver’s door by hand if you ever need it.
- Split the case at the seam. With the blade removed you will see a slot or a fine seam running around the fob. Insert a flat plastic tool — or the emergency blade itself — into the gap and gently twist to pop the two halves apart. Work slowly around the joint rather than forcing one spot; the plastic clips are easy to snap in a hurry.
- Note how the old cell sits, then lift it out. Take a quick photo first if you are unsure. The circuit board is usually marked with the polarity.
- Fit the new CR2032 positive (+) side up — the printed face with the CR2032 marking facing you — so it matches the orientation of the cell you removed. Press it home under its retaining clip.
- Click the case back together around the whole seam until it is fully closed, then slide the emergency blade back in until it latches. Test every button.
⚠️ Get the polarity right. A coin cell fitted upside down makes no contact and can quietly discharge against the terminals, so the key stays dead even with a “new” battery in it. Always copy the way the old cell was sitting — positive face up on this fob.
Confirm It Worked
Stand back a few metres and lock, then unlock, the car with the buttons; full range should return straight away. If the 2008 has hands-free entry, walk up and try the handle without pressing anything — it should unlock on grip again. Any low-key-battery message in the cluster clears once the car next reads a healthy fob, which may take a drive cycle rather than clearing instantly.
If a Fresh Cell Doesn’t Fix It
- Re-check the polarity and seating. Positive side up, sitting flat and firm under its clip against clean contacts — an upside-down or loose cell is the single most common reason a “new” battery changes nothing.
- 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 reassembling.
- Try the hands-free handle and the button separately. If one works and the other doesn’t, that points to the fob rather than a flat cell.
- Still nothing? Confirm you can still start the car by holding the fob against the START area — the transponder inside works even with a dead battery. See our guide on how to start the 2008 with a dead key fob if you get caught out before the new cell is in.
New Key or Spare — Why It’s a Dealer Job
Changing the coin cell keeps the fob’s existing coding, so nothing needs reprogramming and the key works the moment the case clicks shut. Cutting and coding a new key is a different matter: the 2008’s immobiliser has to be accessed with Peugeot diagnostic equipment, and a blank smart fob must be ordered against the car’s VIN before it can be paired. That makes adding a spare or replacing a lost key a job for a Peugeot dealer or an auto-locksmith — so keep the battery in your spare fresh too, and you’re never down to a single working key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What battery does a Peugeot 2008 Mk2 key fob take?
A single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell. It is the standard, easy-to-find size sold everywhere; the code is printed on the cell you remove if you want to double-check before buying.
Which way up does the battery go?
Positive (+) side up — the marked face pointing towards you as you fit it. Always match the orientation of the old cell, because an upside-down battery makes no contact and can flatten itself against the terminals.
Do I need to reprogram the key after changing the battery?
No. A battery swap doesn’t touch the fob’s coding, so it works immediately. Only a brand-new key needs pairing to the car.
How long should the fob battery last?
Typically two to three years. Heavy use of the remote, or leaving the keyless fob sitting close to the car so the hands-free system keeps waking it, shortens that.
Can I still drive the 2008 if the fob battery 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 start area by the steering column so the car can read the transponder, and press START. The passive chip works without any battery, so a flat cell won’t strand you.
If the remote stopped working suddenly — for example right after the car’s 12 V battery was disconnected — rather than fading over weeks, the cause is more likely the electronics than the coin cell, and a stored fault code can point you at it. You can look one up on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Peugeot. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.