Why Florida Heat Destroys Key Fobs & Car Remotes

Why Florida Heat Destroys Key Fobs & Car Remotes

Living in Florida comes with sunshine, beaches, and beautiful weather — but the heat and humidity can also be brutal on your car key fob. Many drivers in West Palm Beach don’t realize how quickly extreme temperatures can damage electronic keys. At A Lenny Locksmith West Palm Beach, we see this problem every week, especially during the hottest months.

So why does Florida heat destroy key fobs and car remotes? Let’s break it down.

Heat Damages Internal Circuits

Modern car keys are tiny computers. Inside every fob are delicate chips and circuits that send encrypted signals to your vehicle. When your key is sitting in a car that reaches 120°+ inside — which happens fast in Palm Beach County — those components can overheat and fail.

Heat can cause:

• Circuit board warping

• Soldered connections melting or weakening

• Microchips cracking or malfunctioning

Once that happens, the fob may stop unlocking the doors, the push-start might not work, or the car may not recognize the key at all.

Battery Life Drops Fast in High Heat

Florida heat drains remote batteries much faster than normal conditions. High temperatures cause battery fluid to evaporate or leak, leading to weak signals and sudden failure. If your key fob starts working only when you’re close to the car, or sometimes doesn’t work at all, heat-related battery wear may be the cause.

Moisture + Heat = Electronic Damage

Heat isn’t the only problem — humidity and sweat also play a huge role. When you combine Florida humidity, ocean air, and heat, corrosion inside the key fob accelerates. Many customers bring in keys that got wet from sweat in a pocket or from a beach day. That moisture mixes with heat and quickly destroys internal components.

Signs Your Key Fob Has Heat Damage

Watch out for these symptoms:

• Weak or delayed signal

• Car won’t detect the key

• Buttons sticking or not clicking

• Intermittent remote start function

• Key fob swelling or getting warm

The sooner you catch the symptoms, the better the chance of saving your key before it completely fails.