A CR1616 is the small coin cell in many older Honda remotes. It is about 16 millimeters across and 1.6 millimeters thick, and it is 3 volts. If your Honda still uses a metal key in an ignition, or the buttons live in a flip-out head, start here instead of with a CR2032.
The famous CR2032 is too wide for this cup. People force it, crack the cover, and then blame the car.
The battery, stated plainly
| What this page covers | honda key fob battery cr1616 |
|---|---|
| Battery to buy | CR1616 |
| Fob you are likely holding | Flip key or remote head |
| Cell type | 3-volt lithium coin cell. Do not use a rechargeable LIR cell. |
| Programming after the swap | Not required when you only change the battery. |
You will see CR1616 remotes on a lot of Civics from the mid-2000s into the early 2010s, on Accords before proximity entry was widespread, on the Element, on the first-generation Ridgeline, and on early Odyssey remote heads. Some of those years also offered a smart key on a high trim. The presence of a start button is the fork in the road. A start button usually means the later CR2032 shell. A key you turn usually means the smaller remote.
The cover is almost never a coin-twist. Look for a Phillips screw, sometimes hidden under a tiny door or sitting next to the key ring, or a battery lid that slides. The screw is small enough to vanish into a floor mat. Work over a tray.
Polarity is marked and easy to miss because the cell is thin. Photograph it. A backward CR1616 sits flush and does nothing, which feels like a dead part. Turn it over before you buy another.
CR1616 and CR1620 are not the same thickness. CR2016 is not the same diameter. Read all four digits. Shops sometimes hand you a CR2032 because it is the drawer they open most. Show them the old cell.
These older remotes do not control proximity unlock. Range was never huge. After a fresh cell you should get consistent lock and unlock from beside the car and from a short distance down a driveway. You should not expect the walk-up behavior of a 2020 smart key. If someone sold you that expectation with a used Element, the battery is not the missing feature.
Moisture is the other killer of CR1616 remotes. The seal is a small ring, and once the cover has been pried with a knife the ring never sits again. If the buttons weep or the green or red LED looks cloudy, dry the board before you close it. A new cell on a wet board dies quickly and corrodes the traces.
Changing the cell
Back the screw out with a correctly sized screwdriver. Do not use a knife. Lift the cell with a plastic pick. Fit the new CR1616 plus-side as marked. Replace the seal if it fell out. Snug the screw. Test lock and unlock beside the car.
If there is no screw, the lid slides. Do not twist a coin in a flip key. The plastic was not designed for that, and the repair becomes a new remote.
If the fob still misbehaves
A CR1616 remote that still fails after a correct cell often has a cracked solder joint from being dropped, or a pad eaten by a leaking cell that sat in the cup for years. Look for white crust. If you see it, a new battery will not resurrect the board. That is a replacement remote, and on these older cars a locksmith or dealer has to match the immobilizer, which is a different bill from a coin cell.
Do not put a CR2032 in “just to try.” You will damage the cover.
What to spend, and what not to buy
CR1616 cells cost about the same as a CR2032 when you buy a name brand, and they are slightly harder to find at a grocery checkout. An auto-parts store or a pharmacy with a watch-battery rack usually has them. Buy the brand with a readable expiration date.
Related guides
- Honda Key Fob CR2032 Battery
- Honda Key Fob CR2025 Battery
- Honda Smart Key vs Flip Key Battery
- How to Open a Honda Key Fob
Questions people ask
What Honda models use a CR1616 key fob battery?
Many flip keys and remote heads from the 2000s and early 2010s, including lots of Civics, Accords, Elements, and first-generation Ridgelines. Confirm the stamp.
Can I use a CR2032 in a CR1616 Honda fob?
No. It is too large. You can crack the cover trying to close it.
Does a CR1616 Honda remote need programming after a battery change?
No. The code stays in the remote. Programming is only for a replacement remote the car has never learned.
Honda is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Honda Key Fob Battery is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Honda. The code printed on the cell already in your fob overrides any chart. A fob bought later, or a car sold in another country, can use a different shell.