Passat remote key not unlocking car

Passat remote key not unlocking car

Author
Discussion

RicksAlfas

Original Poster:

13,654 posts

251 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
Can anyone help?
It's a Passat Tdi 07 plate (current shape).
The remote keys won't unlock the doors, but will open the boot. They start the car fine.

The manual mentions something about synchronising. Is this a dealer only thing?
Anyone else experienced this?

Dr G

15,400 posts

249 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
You can usually get away with putting the key in the ignition, turning the ignition on (not starting) then bashing the lock/unlock buttons a few times.

However I don't know how you go about this with a blade type key :s

stumpage

2,134 posts

233 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
I'm sure details of how to sync it are also in the owners handbook. I know I have done it before and it was easy, you just removed the cover but the door handle, use the plastic key to open the door and press the button on the fob a certain way.

I don't have my Passat with me so I can't check the manual at the moment but I'm sure it was in there.

Edited by stumpage on Thursday 25th March 10:04

RicksAlfas

Original Poster:

13,654 posts

251 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
Thanks! Will relay the message to the driver to study his manual in a bit more detail...
rolleyes
hehe

Kevin VRs

12,287 posts

287 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
I am no expert but, if the boot operates from the remote I would think it is not the synching. Try a new battery?

stumpage

2,134 posts

233 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
I,ve now checked the owners maunal.

Booklet 3.1 page 41. It's all there.

Tame Technician

2,467 posts

211 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
Kevin VRs said:
I am no expert but, if the boot operates from the remote I would think it is not the synching. Try a new battery?
Thats right, if the boot opens on the remote button, the remote is coded and synced to the car. Its either a flat battery (i dont know why but the lock/unlock stop working first) or a duff remote.

RicksAlfas

Original Poster:

13,654 posts

251 months

Friday 26th March 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies. There seems to be a bit more to it than first thought as the doors are now unlocking OK, except for the passenger side front so I suspect we've got a loose wire/sticky motor somewhere.

As an aside as I understand it the remotes charge when they are in use? i.e. when they are inserted in the dash. Can anyone confirm this?

Tame Technician

2,467 posts

211 months

Friday 26th March 2010
quotequote all
RicksAlfas said:
As an aside as I understand it the remotes charge when they are in use? i.e. when they are inserted in the dash. Can anyone confirm this?
NO they have a 3 volt battery, they go flat and need replacing periodically.

chadwickian

1 posts

107 months

Saturday 26th December 2015
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I have got two keys on my vw passat 2006 both start the car but only 1 opens and locks it I have put a new battery in but it still doesn't unlock or lock I haven't got a manual so does it just need syncing?

Chrismawa

565 posts

107 months

Friday 31st May 2019
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Can anyone confirm the correct way to re-sync the key on an 08 Passat? The fob will lock and start the car but won't unlock it.

soyent

1 posts

65 months

Friday 21st June 2019
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This only works for the unlock issue and i hope helps you as it did me....
Gonna seem strange however, that it's cycling helped me with this one. I use a garmin heart rate monitor when training and every so often need to do a reset on the chest strap.
I've scoured all the motoring and mechanic info and couldn't find anything that helped with the passat remote key unlocking issue.
Tried the usual battery change, clean all contacts, open car with the key thing and insert fob as if going to start car within a min but don't start car and so on.
My boot opens and the car locks and starts but when trying to unlock nothing happens......
So only option was a manual reset as i do for the heart rate monitor.
Open the key fob and remove the battery as if you are going to replace the battery. There are the two different -ve and +ve contact points..one for the side of the battery and one for the base of the battery.
You need to connect these two together at the same time with a single piece of metal such as a coin and hold it for a few seconds.
The important part is that the -ve and +ve points are joined. Then put battery back in and put rest of fob back together.
All buttons should now be working.
Hope it helps everyone.

Vlad004

1 posts

58 months

Monday 6th January 2020
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Wow, thanks a lot for the response, I have a lot and had a lot of cars and i'm always looking on forums but never reply since the answer is always found out and the helper is being thanked to. It's the first time I register an account for forums like this only to say a big Thanks for the solution !

From a happy B6 owner

KJRolleston

1 posts

47 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
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Thanks Soyent. This worked a treat, and is not something I would have discovered myself.

calvingreg

1 posts

45 months

Thursday 4th February 2021
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soyent said:
This only works for the unlock issue and i hope helps you as it did me....
Gonna seem strange however, that it's cycling helped me with this one. I use a garmin heart rate monitor when training and every so often need to do a reset on the chest strap.
I've scoured all the motoring and mechanic info and couldn't find anything that helped with the passat remote key unlocking issue.
Tried the usual battery change, clean all contacts, open car with the key thing and insert fob as if going to start car within a min but don't start car and so on.
My boot opens and the car locks and starts but when trying to unlock nothing happens......
So only option was a manual reset as i do for the heart rate monitor.
Open the key fob and remove the battery as if you are going to replace the battery. There are the two different -ve and +ve contact points..one for the side of the battery and one for the base of the battery.
You need to connect these two together at the same time with a single piece of metal such as a coin and hold it for a few seconds.
The important part is that the -ve and +ve points are joined. Then put battery back in and put rest of fob back together.
All buttons should now be working.
Hope it helps everyone.
Just tried this on my 2011 Passat - boot would unlock but not doors. Had to use key. This has fixed it! Stuck a 1p in there to connect -ve and +ve for a few seconds, battery back in and BOOM! Don't have to mess with the key any more. Thanks

jpdivercop

1 posts

43 months

Monday 19th April 2021
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My car just had the same issue of opening the trunk and locking but not working for unlocking. Took key apart and battery out. Touched the leads with a paperclip. Put it back together and it's working like a charm. Thanks!!

Sticks.

9,016 posts

258 months

Monday 19th April 2021
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I went into a shoe repairer/key cutter for a watch strap today. I saw he had some sort of diagnostic tool for remote keys and could make replacements. I don't know if this is widely available.

dr.grim

1 posts

3 months

Saturday 3rd August
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Just to say thanks to posters - same issue with my remote, popped battery, touched contacts with paperclip, battery back in - working again as if nothing was ever wrong!