Electronic keys on last legs; worried about opening boot

Hi! I hope you can help. I've just bought an 03 C3 (because I previously had a Saxo and loved it) - everything seems great with the C3 except for a worry over the keys. It came with two - on one, the buttons were missing so it won't unlock remotely, but it still works to open the door manually. The other has the buttons and works remotely, but it looks as though it's on its last legs (buttons depressed and not bouncing back). This wouldn't be an issue, as I don't find it at all onerous to use a manual key - except for the fact that the boot only seems to unlock via the remote central locking, so I'm concerned that if the key conks out completely I won't be able to open the boot other than by taking out the parcel shelf and doing it from the inside, which would be a bit of a rigmarole for weekly shopping etc!

I wondered if anyone could tell me -

- is there another way to open the boot besides using the remote central locking or unlocking it from the inside
- if not, what's the likely cost of obtaining a replacement remote key

Any advice would be appreciated!

- Heloyse

Hello Heloyse

I'd try to refurbish your existing keys starting with the one that you say has no buttons. You can buy new cases on ebay and transplant your workings. It is also possible to replace the switches on the circuit inside the key but you may not need to do this. Try a new case first.

When you get one key done you can refurb the other.

The alternative is to replace the keys, it can be done but it is a lot more expensive and requires programming of the car.

Missing Lincs wrote:You can buy new cases on ebay and transplant your workings. It is also possible to replace the switches on the circuit inside the key but you may not need to do this.

There is a topic with pictures showing the replacing the cover and replacing the electrical switches which may help you or may help someone else help you with your key.

https://citroenc3owners.com/citroen-c3-t ... -t449.html

- is there another way to open the boot besides using the remote central locking or unlocking it from the inside

Nothing practical

Thank you for the advice - yes, I can see the replacement cases are on eBay for about £2.50 so I'll give that a try for the one where the buttons are completely missing. The circuit board is visible underneath and looks OK to my untrained eye, so fingers crossed!

Heloyse wrote:so fingers crossed!

Keep us updated please