Life has a myriad of ways to keep one humble ands once again I learned this lesson due to a car mishap.  For those who are interested, back in 2014 I had my first lesson when a previous car, whose disintegrating tire opened up my mind to the wonder of “wheel locks.” You can read about it here:

This time, a image  on my dashboard

indicated that the battery on my remote key fob needed to be replaced. Full disclosure –  I knew that the fob contained an actual key for my car in case the remote failed to work; however my brain never made the obvious connection that the failure might be caused by an actual battery’s full drainage.  Since my previous car never had this issue, I was lulled into a false sense of security.

But no worries (?).  I knew from previous warning messages on my dashboard that I had a bit of time before the remote went fully dead. Upon returning home I of course went on the internet to look up how to replace the battery.  The first DIY video made it appear simple.  All I needed to do was press the two buttons on either side at the top of the fob:

Pull out the key:

Press the side button again, remove the battery tray and replace the  battery:

f

Last photo from internet

Sounds simple right?  However the voiceover on the video caveated that it MIGHT be a bit tough to pull the battery tray out – and a number of subsequent videos I watched in a panic said the same.. There was no way I could get a sufficient grip on the tray and one thing i WASN’T going to do was as one video suggested,  use the key to pry it open.  That was a recipe for disaster.

What to do?  Sometimes you just have to ask a friend  and, without shame I did just that  at dinner.  Et Voila!  Thanks Dom!!!!!!!

Suffice it to say, I have no future as a car mechanic.

#