Technique to separate key fob halves to replace battery

[Capri to ST]

I'm having trouble getting the two plastic halves of the fob to separate at the point shown in the picture below, after you have taken out the physical key, and when you first start pressing a screwdriver in to try to separate the plastic halves of the fob. The plastic seems very soft, and instead of separating, it just starts to disintegrate and I'm afraid I'm damaging it. I may be using too small a screwdriver, and that may be why it's not separating. I'm going to try a bigger screwdriver and see if that gets in there and pops them apart more effectively.
Unfortunately I am the opposite of mechanically gifted, and this seems to be in play here even in this seemingly simple task. If anyone has any advice or techniques that have worked for them, I would be grateful.

 

[Gone in 60]

I was able to work a fingernail into the crack between the two halves and just slowly work them apart.

 

[dhminer]

I just fuck up the plastic

 

[Capri to ST]

I just fuck up the plastic

Well I just changed the batteries, and I sure did that too. Also broke off both thumbnails and bled behind one of them. It seems like a really cheaply made poorly designed key fob, the plastic just starts to deteriorate when you try to twist the screwdriver in it to get it open.

 

[dhminer]

Well I just changed the batteries, and I sure did that too. Also broke off both thumbnails and bled behind one of them. It seems like a really cheaply made poorly designed key fob, the plastic just starts to deteriorate when you try to twist the screwdriver in it to get it open.

Ouch. I just stick a flat head screwdriver in the little square notch on the side and turn it to pry the sides apart. It doesn’t mess it up too bad.

 

[Capri to ST]

Ouch. I just stick a flat head screwdriver in the little square notch on the side and turn it to pry the sides apart. It doesn’t mess it up too bad.

Thanks, I think that may have been part of my mistake, not starting there. I tried to follow the instructions and start separating it in that inside spot that's shown in the page of the manual that I posted above, but there's nowhere in there to get any leverage on. That's where the plastic just kind of crumbled away and deteriorated. Maybe next time I'll just start in that little square notch on the side as you suggested.

 

[dhminer]

Thanks, I think that may have been part of my mistake, not starting there. I tried to follow the instructions and start separating it in that inside spot that's shown in the page of the manual that I posted above, but there's nowhere in there to get any leverage on. That's where the plastic just kind of crumbled away and deteriorated. Maybe next time I'll just start in that little square notch on the side as you suggested.

I’ve never read that part of the manual so I had no idea that existed. I’ll have to look

 

[haste]

Good pocket screwdriver does the trick in the location mentioned by dhminer