Audi A4: both key fobs not working properly...
Discussion
Hi there - I wonder if anyone can shed any light on this for me please:
Audi A4 Avant 68 plate.
It's been a warrior for me, tbh - 250k on the clock.
All well until a few days ago.
Didn't respond to key fob press for opening.
After a few mins it did...
This is for both key fobs
Batteries replaced (no warning red flashes anyway, tbh) - same thing still happening.
I get in after a few mins...car starts ok most of the time with the remote fob - needs a jiggle/movement sometimes.
Same with locking the car. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't..but then does after a few mins (I can lock with physical key anyway, tbh).
Any thoughts/knowledge/experience on what's causing this?
I'm assuming it's the car rather than the key fobs.
Would be great to know your input if poss please.
Many thanks in advance.
Audi A4 Avant 68 plate.
It's been a warrior for me, tbh - 250k on the clock.
All well until a few days ago.
Didn't respond to key fob press for opening.
After a few mins it did...
This is for both key fobs
Batteries replaced (no warning red flashes anyway, tbh) - same thing still happening.
I get in after a few mins...car starts ok most of the time with the remote fob - needs a jiggle/movement sometimes.
Same with locking the car. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't..but then does after a few mins (I can lock with physical key anyway, tbh).
Any thoughts/knowledge/experience on what's causing this?
I'm assuming it's the car rather than the key fobs.
Would be great to know your input if poss please.
Many thanks in advance.
Could be a worn ignition switch - VAG switches known to wear out, it then thinks the key is still in the ignition so car won't lock remotely. Will also do a great job of draining your battery after a while...
When you take the key out of the ignition, do the interior lights come on and trip computer shuts off, or do they stay on?
When you take the key out of the ignition, do the interior lights come on and trip computer shuts off, or do they stay on?
SuperPav said:
Could be a worn ignition switch - VAG switches known to wear out, it then thinks the key is still in the ignition so car won't lock remotely. Will also do a great job of draining your battery after a while...
When you take the key out of the ignition, do the interior lights come on and trip computer shuts off, or do they stay on?
12v car battery?When you take the key out of the ignition, do the interior lights come on and trip computer shuts off, or do they stay on?
If the problem started on both keys at the same time, chances are the issue is at the car end. Not sure where the receiver is on the car, but standing close to this may help a bit.
One other thought is whether the problem only happens at your house or also when you're out and about. If it's only at your house, there could be something locally disrupting the signal. That might not be anything sinister, I had a brief period where the remote key was really temperamental at home on my car, but fine everywhere else. It stopped being an issue the moment the neighbours replaced their faulty washing machine (which was also causing interference on their TV).
On a car of that age, I don't think I'd spend too much money trying to fix it though - using the key isn't a major hassle. The only thing which might be annoying is if it's one of the VAG cars where they hid the lock under a pop-off plastic cover on the door handle. The clips holding that are likely to break pretty quickly if you're using it regularly, and the door handle looks pretty rubbish with that cover permanently removed.
One other thought is whether the problem only happens at your house or also when you're out and about. If it's only at your house, there could be something locally disrupting the signal. That might not be anything sinister, I had a brief period where the remote key was really temperamental at home on my car, but fine everywhere else. It stopped being an issue the moment the neighbours replaced their faulty washing machine (which was also causing interference on their TV).
On a car of that age, I don't think I'd spend too much money trying to fix it though - using the key isn't a major hassle. The only thing which might be annoying is if it's one of the VAG cars where they hid the lock under a pop-off plastic cover on the door handle. The clips holding that are likely to break pretty quickly if you're using it regularly, and the door handle looks pretty rubbish with that cover permanently removed.
Thanks so much for these thoughts, gents...very much appreciated.
So you think the main battery maybe at fault?
There are no other signs of that, tbh - car functioning as it's usual, warrior self.
Am I right in thinking that if I use the key that's inside the fob, the alarm goes off when I open the door? I'm sure I've done that once before when the fob had run out of battery.
There's no actual ignition key hole ofc - there's a starter button. I don't think there's any way to bypass it, is there?
Other than that - my spare fob has been in the kitchen draw for 5 years..battery's fine, so it should work, shouldn't it?
Just an intermittent fault atm, as I say, but one day it'll go completely - probably when I'm in a rush to work, or on a late finish somewhere...then I'll eb totally knackered, so would like to get to the bottom of it before that happens, obviously.
A new battery wouldn't be a disaster, tbh...but I'm not sure that's the issue. Maybe the receiver...wherever/whatever that may be...I'll look into it.
Thanks again - any other thoughts would be very welcome ofc.
So you think the main battery maybe at fault?
There are no other signs of that, tbh - car functioning as it's usual, warrior self.
Am I right in thinking that if I use the key that's inside the fob, the alarm goes off when I open the door? I'm sure I've done that once before when the fob had run out of battery.
There's no actual ignition key hole ofc - there's a starter button. I don't think there's any way to bypass it, is there?
Other than that - my spare fob has been in the kitchen draw for 5 years..battery's fine, so it should work, shouldn't it?
Just an intermittent fault atm, as I say, but one day it'll go completely - probably when I'm in a rush to work, or on a late finish somewhere...then I'll eb totally knackered, so would like to get to the bottom of it before that happens, obviously.
A new battery wouldn't be a disaster, tbh...but I'm not sure that's the issue. Maybe the receiver...wherever/whatever that may be...I'll look into it.
Thanks again - any other thoughts would be very welcome ofc.
If you use the metal key in the door lock, and open the door, then the alarm will go off, and you would normally insert the key and start the car or turn the key past ACC but not start it. With some Audi's you would insert the keyfob into the slot if it is that kind of key, or on a start button on the car, start the car or hold the fob against the start button.
If the spare fob has been in a drawer for 5 years unused then it definitely needs a new battery.
If the spare fob has been in a drawer for 5 years unused then it definitely needs a new battery.
There's a place to hold the key so the car will recognise the immobiliser chip in the key even without a battery. The place is normally where ignition switches used to be but may vary. There's a bit of a knack to getting the key in the exactly the right place.
Which battery size is it? VAG fobs with CR2025's are very sensitive to having good quality batteries - we've found even Duracells can be iffy.
Which battery size is it? VAG fobs with CR2025's are very sensitive to having good quality batteries - we've found even Duracells can be iffy.
then issue I described affects VAG cars with key ignition, not button start/stopSheepshanks said:
There's a place to hold the key so the car will recognise the immobiliser chip in the key even without a battery. The place is normally where ignition switches used to be but may vary. There's a bit of a knack to getting the key in the exactly the right place.
Which battery size is it? VAG fobs with CR2025's are very sensitive to having good quality batteries - we've found even Duracells can be iffy.
Inside the arm rest at the front of it on the a4 is the place where you put the key in the event the battery runs low. Which battery size is it? VAG fobs with CR2025's are very sensitive to having good quality batteries - we've found even Duracells can be iffy.
Thanks again for the replies, all.
It's a bit of a mystery this...
Both keys are fine, but they don't work...until they do.
I've given up standing at the car for a few mins waiting for it to open...I don't bother locking it now - it should be fine, nothing valuable in it, ofc.
It then takes a little while to get the car started - ie it takes a bit for the car to sense the keys are present.
I presume it's a car sensor issue - we'll see how we go.
I've just spent a few quid on the brakes so I'm not in the mood to spend if I don't need to .
If anyone could suggest the exact problem, or a fix for it...I'm still looking
It's a bit of a mystery this...
Both keys are fine, but they don't work...until they do.
I've given up standing at the car for a few mins waiting for it to open...I don't bother locking it now - it should be fine, nothing valuable in it, ofc.
It then takes a little while to get the car started - ie it takes a bit for the car to sense the keys are present.
I presume it's a car sensor issue - we'll see how we go.
I've just spent a few quid on the brakes so I'm not in the mood to spend if I don't need to .
If anyone could suggest the exact problem, or a fix for it...I'm still looking
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