Every Chevrolet, GMC and Buick manual listed here calls for a CR2032 in the key, and so do the Cadillac ones except the 2022 CT5’s, which calls for a CR2450. Which way up it goes depends on the key.
The battery it takes
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Batteries and which side up, by model
| Model | Battery | Which way up |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet 2026 Trax | CR2032 | Up in one key style, toward the back cover in the other |
| Chevrolet 2022 Equinox | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| Chevrolet 2022 Traverse | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| Chevrolet 2022 Bolt EV | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| Chevrolet 2022 Malibu | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| Chevrolet 2021 Silverado 1500 | CR2032 | Up in one key style, toward the back cover in the other |
| Chevrolet 2021 Colorado | CR2032 | Positive side facing up |
| Chevrolet 2021 Trax | CR2032 | Up in one key style, toward the back cover in the other |
| Chevrolet 2020 Camaro | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| Chevrolet 2020 Spark | CR2032 | Up in one key style, toward the back cover in the other |
| GMC 2022 Acadia | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| GMC 2022 Terrain | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| GMC 2021 Sierra 1500 | CR2032 | Up in one key style, toward the back cover in the other |
| GMC 2021 Canyon | CR2032 | Positive side facing up |
| Buick 2021 Enclave | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| Buick 2020 Envision | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| Cadillac 2022 CT5 | CR2450 | Negative side facing down |
| Cadillac 2022 XT5 | CR2032 | Positive side facing down, on the back housing |
| Cadillac 2022 XT4 | CR2032 | Positive side facing down, on the back housing |
| Cadillac 2021 Escalade | CR2032 | Positive side toward the back cover |
| Cadillac 2020 CT6 | CR2032 | Positive side facing down, on the back housing |
Each manual says “or equivalent” after the battery.
How to change it, in Chevrolet’s steps
From the 2022 Equinox manual:
- Press the button on the side of the transmitter and pull the key out. Never pull it out without pressing the button.
- Separate the two halves with a flat tool in the gap near the key slot.
- Push on the old battery and slide it toward the bottom of the transmitter to take it out.
- Fit the new battery, positive side toward the back cover, and push it down until it’s held in place.
- Check that the silicone mat sits with no gaps or wrinkles. Set the transmitter button side down on a hard surface and press the other half straight down to close it.
- Put the key back in.
GM says not to touch the circuitry while you work, as static from your body could damage the transmitter. One that isn’t put back together properly can let liquids in and damage the circuitry.
Other keys open differently. The 2021 Silverado 1500 manual separates the back cover with a coin. In the 2022 Cadillac CT5, you lift the battery cover with the mechanical key blade, pull out a seal by its tab and press it back into its groove afterward.
Starting with a weak key battery
If the battery is too weak, the display may say NO REMOTE DETECTED. GM’s manuals then have you put the transmitter in a set place and start the vehicle as usual, in P or N with the brake pressed:
- Cupholder: 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain; the front cupholder in the 2020 Buick Envision and 2022 Cadillac XT4
- Rear cupholder in the center console: 2020 Chevrolet Camaro
- Transmitter pocket in the center console: 2022 Chevrolet Malibu (buttons facing the rear), 2022 GMC Acadia (under the console liner), 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Then replace the battery as soon as possible, the Equinox manual says.
Keep coin batteries away from children
GM’s manuals say never to let children play with the transmitter: its small battery is a choking hazard, and if swallowed it can cause internal burns, severe injury or death. Get medical attention straight away if a battery is swallowed.
The National Capital Poison Center says that if anyone swallows a battery, immediately call the 24-hour National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 1-800-498-8666 or your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Don’t delay. Immediate treatment decreases severity.