These instructions apply to the SsangYong Korando Mk4 (C300) 2019-2022.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The keyless smart fob for a SsangYong Korando (C300, 2019–2022) — the fourth-generation Korando built on SsangYong’s C300 platform — is a proximity key with a hidden mechanical blade: you keep it in your pocket, press the handle button to unlock, and start the car with the dash button. When its range shrinks to almost nothing, or the car stops recognising it as you approach, the coin cell inside has usually gone flat. The good news is that it is a five-minute fix with a battery you can buy anywhere. Here is how to tell a dying cell from a genuine fault, the exact battery the Korando smart key takes, and how to open the fob without snapping the case.
How to Tell the Fob Battery Is Dying
- Shrinking range. You have to be right next to the car — or hold the fob against the door handle — before it will unlock. On a proximity key this loss of range is the classic first warning.
- The car stops sensing the key. Passive entry and one-touch start rely on the fob answering a low-power signal; a weak cell can’t reply, so the handle won’t unlock and the start button may not wake the car.
- A low-key-battery warning. The Korando’s instrument cluster shows a key-battery alert when the smart fob is running low — treat it as your cue to swap the cell before it dies completely.
- Cold-weather dropouts. A cell that is nearly flat sags further in the cold, so buttons that worked in the afternoon may fail on a frosty morning.
A CR2032 in a Korando smart key typically lasts two to four years. If yours is around that age and doing any of the above, fit a fresh cell before you suspect the car’s receiver or the immobiliser.
The Battery You Need
The Korando smart key uses a single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell — the most common key-fob battery there is, sold in any supermarket, hardware shop or petrol station. Buy a good-quality branded cell (Varta, Duracell, Panasonic, Sony): cheap or old-stock cells sag under the brief high current the transmitter draws and can give short range even when they read as “new”. If in doubt, match the code printed on the cell you take out — it will read CR2032.
How to Open the Korando Smart Key and Swap the Cell
- Release the emergency blade. Slide or press the small catch on the side of the fob and pull the mechanical key blade straight out of its slot. This is the same blade you would use to unlock the driver’s door if the fob were completely dead.
- Split the case. With the blade removed you expose a slot in the seam. Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver (or the emergency blade itself) into that gap and gently twist to pop the two halves of the housing apart. Work around the seam rather than forcing one spot — the case is clipped, not glued.
- Lift out the old cell. Note which way it sits before you disturb it. The circuit board may lift slightly to reach the battery; handle it by the edges and keep it clean and dry.
- Fit the new CR2032 positive (+) side up, matching the orientation of the cell you removed. Press it fully home under its retaining clip so it can’t rattle loose.
- Reassemble. Line up the two halves and squeeze them together until every clip clicks, then slide the mechanical blade back in until it latches. Test all the buttons and the passive unlock before you finish.
⚠️ Get the polarity right. SsangYong’s own guidance warns that fitting the coin cell the wrong way round can stop the smart key working and drain the new battery — so always copy the orientation of the cell you removed, positive face up.
Check It Worked
Step back a few metres, then lock and unlock the car with the fob buttons and check that passive entry senses the key as you touch the handle. Full range should return immediately. The low-key-battery message in the cluster clears once the car reads a healthy fob — sometimes instantly, occasionally after one short drive cycle.
If a Fresh Cell Doesn’t Fix It
- Re-check polarity and seating. A cell fitted upside down, or one not pressed fully under its clip, is the single most common reason a “new” battery seems dead. Make sure the positive face is up and the cell is firm against clean contacts.
- Wipe the contacts. Finger grease or a little corrosion on the terminals is enough to cause dropouts — clean them with a dry cloth before reassembly.
- Try the backup start. If the car won’t recognise the fob at all, hold the smart key against the start button as you press it; the Korando can read the key by close proximity even with a very weak cell, which confirms the fob electronics are fine and only the battery was flat.
- Rule out the car’s 12 V battery. A weak vehicle battery can mimic key faults by leaving the car slow to wake. If the Korando itself is sluggish to respond, the problem may be under the bonnet, not in your hand.
New Key or Spare — Why It’s a Dealer Job
Changing the cell keeps the fob’s existing coding, so nothing needs reprogramming and the key works straight away. Cutting or coding a new smart key is a different matter: the Korando’s immobiliser must be accessed with a diagnostic tool, and a blank fob has to be ordered and matched to the car’s VIN. That makes adding a spare or replacing a lost key a job for a SsangYong dealer or an auto-locksmith — so keep the battery in your spare fresh too, and you’ll never be down to a single working key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What battery does a SsangYong Korando (2019–2022) key take?
A single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell. It is the standard cell for the Korando smart key and is widely available — if unsure, match the CR2032 code printed on the old cell.
Which way does the coin cell go in?
Positive (+) side facing up, the same way the old cell sat. Fitting it the wrong way round can stop the key working and flatten the new battery, so always copy the orientation you removed.
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 programming to the car.
How do I open the Korando smart key?
Pull out the mechanical emergency blade first, then insert a small flat-blade screwdriver into the slot it leaves and gently twist to separate the two halves of the case. It clips apart — no glue, no hidden screw.
How long should the fob battery last?
Usually two to four years. Leaving the fob near the car so it constantly wakes to proximity signals, or heavy use of the buttons, will shorten that.
Can I still drive the Korando if the fob battery is completely dead?
Yes. Use the mechanical blade hidden in the fob to unlock the driver’s door, then hold the smart key against the start button as you press it — the car can read the key by close contact and start even with a flat cell, so a dead battery won’t strand you.
If the fob stopped responding suddenly rather than fading over weeks — especially right after the car battery was disconnected — the cause is more likely a lost pairing or a stored fault than the coin cell. You can check what a logged code means on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with SsangYong. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.