Start the Car With a Dead Key Fob Battery

Last updated: June 12, 2026

The SsangYong Korando (C300, 2019–2022) uses a Smart Key with keyless entry and a push-button start, managed by the car’s Smart Key Module. When the coin cell goes flat the long-range radio drops out and the dash warns that the key is not detected — but the car can still read the chip up close, so you are not stranded. Here is the full fallback.

Start the Car With a Dead Smart Key

The transponder inside the Korando fob is passive — the car powers and reads it through a short-range antenna behind the START/STOP button, so a flat coin cell does not block it:

1. Get in first (mechanical-key steps below) and sit in the driver’s seat with the door shut.
2. Press the brake pedal fully and hold it.
3. Hold the Smart Key flat against the START/STOP button, badge face to the button.
4. With the brake still down, press START. The Korando cranks and starts.

If nothing happens, square the fob over the button or flip it to the other face — the read coil only reaches a centimetre or two. You may need a couple of tries to find the sweet spot.

Unlock With the Emergency Key

A dead fob will not unlock by radio, so use the blade hidden inside it.

1. Slide the release catch on the Smart Key and pull the mechanical blade out.
2. At the driver’s door, lever off the small cover on the handle to reveal the keyhole.
3. Insert and turn to unlock. The alarm may sound until you start the car.

About the Immobiliser

The Korando’s Smart Key Module runs the immobiliser. The close-range handshake at the start button is the official SsangYong fallback for a flat key battery — it is separate from the radio that handles hands-free unlocking, which is why holding the fob to the button still authorises a start. A crank-but-no-run or a persistent key warning after a fresh cell points at the key or SKM, not the coin cell.

Replace the Coin Cell

The Korando Smart Key uses a single 3V lithium CR2032.

1. Pull the mechanical blade out to expose the case seam.
2. Twist a coin or small flat screwdriver in the slot to part the halves.
3. Lift out the old CR2032 and fit the new one positive (+) side the same way, handling it by the rim.
4. Click the case shut and test lock/unlock standing by the car.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start my Korando if the smart key is dead? Hold the fob against the START/STOP button with the brake pressed, then push START.

Which battery does the Korando smart key take? A CR2032 3V lithium coin cell.

Where is the door keyhole? Behind a small cover on the driver’s door handle; pop the cover with the emergency blade.

Do I need to reprogram the key after a battery swap? No. Changing the coin cell does not erase the key; remote functions return once the new cell is fitted.

The dash says “key not detected” even with a new battery — what now? Check the 12V battery first; a weak main battery can mimic a key fault. If it persists, the key or Smart Key Module needs attention.

If a warning light stayed on after you drove away, you can decode the exact fault on our sister site autodtcs.com to see whether it relates to the smart-key system.