My son has a 1996 A4 Quattro. I looks to be almost fully loaded and was wondering if it maybe had keyless entry. We never got a remote but that doesn't mean that it may not have it. Is there any way to tell if it has that feature? Any help would be appriecated.I searched the forum but found no one with the same question or that answer. Thanks in advance!!!!

 

I'm pretty sure they all have it, you probably got screwed likt I did and the owver before you guys only had e valet key and not switchblade one with the controls. A new keys from the stealership will be aoruond $400 between cutting and programming. Just do what I did. Live with the key you have and drop the $ on a 3rd party alarm. For $600 I got a premium python alarm with keyless entry, remote start, and lcd remote. Plus I got this cool little led light bar in the corner of my windshield and when I arm my car it scrolls back and forth saying don't F*CK with me. You'll be way bettr off doing that. For the remote start you may need a second key cut to be put into your system to trick your car into thinking the key is in but for mine I did not need the second key.

 

+1 on the Auto-start - you can get one installed - basic - for $200 around here. that would hook-up into your key-less entry. I doubt you would want to spend $600 on an alarm system for 96'. And you wont need an extra key - you isn't that new. Newer car's have chips in the keys that need to be fooled.

or...buy a switchblade off of ebay - but they you still have to pay the dealer to cut a key and program it

 

I was thinking of getting the switchblade off of eBay but I'm still not sure if the vechile came with keyless entry. I'd hate to spend money on something I can't use.

 

Don't waste your money on the switchblade. Unless you have the same idea that I did... my '96 A4 had everything but the keyless entry. You can tell for sure by looking for the keyless entry receiver under the rear seat (search for a picture of it). I didn't want to spend the hundreds of dollars to get the receiver and the remote fobs (it is a seperate fob and the switchblade remotes do not work), so I bought a DEI Valet 712t keyless entry system and installed it. It was very easy to install - all it took was the wiring diagram (see AudiWorld tech articles) and some tap-ins (no soldering). $60 for the receiver and two fobs, maybe $5 in tap-ins, tape, diodes, etc. The range isn't much to speak of (10 ft) but I wouldn't want it to be any further.

Now for my idea about the switchblade. If you search, you will find several people that have installed the guts of a 3rd-party remote fob into the body of a switchblade remote. I haven't done it yet but I have all the pieces. Additionally, the $1.50 key I had made at Lowe's is the right size to be cut up and installed where the key portion of the switchblade remote goes. It's a lot of work to get a fully-functional switchblade remote key but it's SO slick.

 

This is the contorller you will be looking for under your seat. I have a 96 with the same problem and have bought multiple key FOB's off of ebay. The ones without switchblades that were designed for the 96-97s. They have not worked, so I dont know if its a problem with my controller or the FOB's. I'm pretty sure you have to make sure the FCC#s match exactly...

 

THANKS to everyone who responded to my post. I'm going to check it out over the weekend and update everyone. Thanks again!

 

Had same issue with 96 A4. Got a keyless lock\unlock unit on ebay from England with BMW style key fob (they also offered switchblade).
Wired it inplace of the OEM unit pictured. Works great, they even offered Audi emblem for the Fob. Got the supplied blanks cut $10. Now have wireless with 2 attached keys for less than $100. Way cheaper than $300 just for one key fob unit & programming from dealer.

 

any were is cheaper than the dealers it just a pity they are not listening