While I placed an order on Amazon for a replacement key/casing, decided to try out a local car remote key repair guy.
BHPian avinash_m recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Remote Key Pad fix
So the Storme has 2 remote keys – one is a flip key and the other isn’t. While the keypad on the Flipkey had disintegrated about a year or two back, thankfully it is available separately on Amazon; was able to order a pair and DIYed the replacement.
But the one on the other key isn’t; in fact, it is somehow fused into the casing. Post replacing the pad on the Flipkey I’d put both the keys into a silicone casing, for additional protection, from the elements, but somehow two buttons on the other key just disintegrated. It is working fine, just that it’d to be pressed hard, to reach the button on the circuit board.
Opened it up to find a circuit board and a transponder, and would need to be transplanted into a new casing as the keypad wasn’t replaceable.
The catch is the metal key is also fused into the casing, so a replacement would have to be cut as per the original. Thankfully, being old school, it doesn’t have the inbuilt immobilizer. While I placed an order on Amazon for a replacement key/casing, decided to try out a local remote key repair guy. Turns out, he had new pieces (had a good collection in fact of many models/cars); took him all of 15 mins to transfer the board and cut the key. Total damage 950/- but works like a charm!
The keypad on the new one isn’t as tactile feeling as the original but that’s ok. He reused the old back cover of the key, having the transponder, instead of wrestling it out. The emblem comes separately on the new casing, to be glued.
Here’s what BHPian zadoom had to say about the matter:
That’s a good one and something that interests me. Looks like the later Stormes used to get a flippy key, mine is a 2014 one and used to have both non-flippy ones. The problem is I got 2 flippy keys from the TASC, and the quality seems to be pretty flimsy, on one of the keys the Lock and Unlock button area, the plastic material has completely worn off and now it is almost impossible to reach the circuit. This is even after using the silicone cover.
You mentioned you used Amazon to replace the flippy key, would you please share the link to the product or some info so that I can look it up as well?
Keyword: Fixed Tata Safari Storme remote key pad for just Rs 950