2016 Ram Key Fob Not Working? Battery Checks & Diagnosis

When a 2016 Ram key fob stops locking and unlocking the truck, check the battery before you buy a new remote. The official owner’s manual lists one CR2032 for the illustrated fob. Replace it carefully, reassemble, and test again.

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Inside: signs your fob is dying, battery swap basics, spare-key tips, what to do if you lose a key, and when to call a pro.

Car key, remote or lockout?

This guide covers a 2016 Ram remote-button problem. It does not diagnose every vehicle or replace model-specific instructions.

If you are locked out, use an authorized spare or contact roadside assistance or a locksmith. If a person or animal is in immediate danger, call emergency services.

Continue with the Ram fob checksAsk about local vehicle service

First identify what “not working” means

Write down exactly which symptom you have. A technician can choose the right test much faster.

• Lock and unlock buttons do nothing. Note whether every button fails or only one, and whether it started gradually or right after a drop, water exposure or a battery change.
• The truck starts, but the remote buttons fail. Treat these as two separate observations. A starting problem and a remote-button problem don’t always need the same repair.
• The truck won’t recognize the key or won’t start. Record the exact dashboard message and whether a known working spare behaves differently. Use your owner’s manual backup procedure; the battery demo below is not a universal no-start fix.
• The metal key won’t turn. A battery won’t fix a bent blade or a mechanical cylinder problem. See why keys stop working.

Watch the battery-first diagnosis

In this Locksmith Blueprint service call, Bill checks the remote with a frequency tester and sees no response. He opens the fob carefully, replaces the battery, reassembles it and checks the buttons again. After the battery service, the remote responds.

• 0:09–0:30: the complaint and first signal check.
• 0:37–1:47: opening, battery replacement and careful reassembly.
• 1:49–2:25: re-checking the remote before assuming it needs replacement.

If the player above does not load, watch the Ram key-fob demonstration on YouTube. Not comfortable opening it? Bill suggests letting a battery shop do it. His comments on service and replacement costs describe this example, not a guaranteed price for your truck.

Which battery does a 2016 Ram key fob use?

The official 2016 Ram 1500/2500/3500 owner’s manual (printed pages 31–34) specifies one CR2032 for the illustrated RKE fob. Check the manual and the battery markings for your own fob; don’t assume it applies to every Ram or Dodge key.

1. Remove the emergency key, and the case screw if your fob has one.
2. Separate the case gently so you don’t damage the seal.
3. Match the battery’s positive (+) side to the holder’s positive marking.
4. Don’t touch the circuit board or the battery terminals.
5. Close the case without forcing it, then test the buttons at the truck.

This guide follows a video labeled for a 2016 Dodge Ram and that year’s manual. Other years, replacement shells, remote-head keys, FOBIK keys and proximity fobs can open differently, so match your actual fob before you start.

Battery changed, but the fob still doesn’t work?

Before you buy another part, make a short record:

1. Confirm what you installed. Keep the packaging or note the battery code, and check orientation against the holder. A new battery doesn’t prove the type, contact or installation is right.
2. Check the reassembly. The case should close normally. Bill warns against forcing it and points out a small spring in his example. Stop if a part is loose, a contact is damaged or the case won’t close.
3. Re-test the original complaint. Try the buttons that failed, with the truck nearby and another way into it available. Note which functions came back.
4. Compare a known working spare. Tell the technician whether one fob fails or both do. It’s useful evidence, not proof of which part is bad.
5. Ask for diagnosis before programming or replacement. A lost, damaged, unrecognized or newly bought fob is a different job from maintaining one that already worked.

What does a frequency tester actually confirm?

The tester shows whether the remote transmits before and after battery service. It does not replace testing the buttons at the truck or confirming the vehicle recognizes the key. No response on a first test is a reason to investigate, not proof the whole remote must be replaced.

For service, bring the year and model, the problem fob, any working spare and a clear account of the symptom, including any water exposure, impact, shell swap or battery work. Don’t buy a replacement just because its case looks similar.

Learn the diagnosis before buying more tools

The lesson: test the suspected cause, then verify the repair. Locked out instead? Read vehicle lockout tools explained. For mechanical key symptoms, continue with why keys stop working and why keys wear out. For a structured introduction to tools, lock mechanisms and common problems, follow the free Beginner Locksmith Path, which also explains optional training when you’re ready.

Before you buy parts or book a locksmith

Use the free lock-check checklist to record your symptom, hardware and measurements. Keep it beside the matching repair guide so you buy for the problem you actually have.

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Parts and tools for this problem

Start with the matching checks in Bill’s field guides. Buy only after you identify your hardware and the cause.

CR2032 battery — verify your fob

The 2016 Ram guide documents a battery-first repair. Match the battery code and the manual for your actual fob; this is not a universal Ram battery recommendation.

Review the battery checks →

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