Saab 9-3 key fob battery
3 of the 4 model years listed for the Saab 9-3 have a proven battery. The most common answer is CR2032. Rows below run oldest to newest; a year can appear twice when the car came with more than one kind of key.
- 1999-2000Key-head remote
CR2032
Owner's manual: manualowl.com and saabwisonline.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Manual text: “Battery type: Panasonic CR 2032, 3V lithium.”
Find CR2032 on Amazon - 2001Key-head remote
CR1632
Two sites agree: saabparts.com and saabnet.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR1632 on Amazon - 2002Key-head remote
Not confirmed yet
Changing the battery
Key with remote in the head
- The remote electronics sit in the plastic head of the key itself, so there is no separate fob to open.
- Many key heads split along the side seam. Start at the small notch and pry a little at a time.
- The coin cell is usually under or on the back of a small board. Keep the rubber button pad in place while you swap the cell.
- Press the head together until it clicks and test the buttons. The transponder chip that lets the car start is separate from the battery, so starting should not change.
A CR1632 is 16 mm across and 3.2 mm thick. It is easy to confuse with the 20 mm CR20xx sizes, which will not fit.
A CR2032 is 20 mm across and 3.2 mm thick. CR2032, CR2025 and CR2016 share the same width but not the same thickness, so a swap between them can leave a loose contact or a case that will not close.
Coin cells are a choking and burn hazard for children. Store the spares in their original pack, out of reach.