I have a 52 plate Vectra (1.8 i 16v LS 5dr), have 2 keys and have been having issues with one of the keys for past one year, I tried to sort this out today but what has happened today has left me puzzled:

Here is the situation:

Up until this afternoon:

Key 1: doesn't work, Padlock sign on dashboard, buttons completely worn out
Key 2 : emote locking/unlocking doesn't work, but can open & lock doors manually with the key (alarm goes off), can start the car with this Key (have been using it like this for the past few months)


I decided to do something about it this afternoon, started by changing battery in both the keys - used brand new duracell CR2032 batteries.

Found the paper/cardboard trick online and used that as well.

Now:

Key 1: Works!! Remote locking/unlocking works, Car starts. No padlock icon, button still worn out but key works perfectly
Key 2: Padlock sign - and remote locking.unlocking doesn't work (was not working earlier as well), car doesn't start. This is very strange as this key was working up until this afternoon.

Important Information:

1. The red led lights on Key 2 still glow when I press the buttons. Buttons on Key 2 are in a fairly good condition as compared to Key 1.
2. I ordered replacement key fobs from amazon which arrived today tried swapping key 2 to this fob but gave up as buttons are unusable. will send these back. I tried to handle the key and the chip carefully but am fearing that I have ended up damaging it.

The strange part is that the red Led lights on Key 2 still glow when I press the buttons.

One more thing, when I changed the battery in Key 2 and pressed the inner buttons to test the red led was ON all the time (didn't go off) - not sure if this indicated something