I lost my switchblade key and remote and have been using my spare which is just a key and does not have the remote included.

Do I have to go to the stealership ($~300) to get a key and remote or can I get them from eBay reliably? Does anyone have any experience with a good vedor from eBay? I see many uncut keys listed but many say they do not include the electronics. My understanding is that one has to:

1) Get the key blade cut to match the original
2) Program the remote
3) Program the transponder chip to match the vehicle security system which is called the "immobilizer" so the car will start and run

Without paying a few hundred of dollars is there a reasonable solution to doing any of these myself?

Thanks,

C-TT


PS. Found this good post: https://www.audiforums.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=131541

 

Honestly, go to the dealership and order a key.

I've been through this loop. The first thing you will hear is that people have been through this proccess and it's easy. Well this was not my case. I ordered an ebay flip key. Talked to 3 separate audi dealerships...THEY WONT CUT EBAY KEYS ANYMORE! Or any key that you bring in for that matter. There is a risk that the cheaper, harder metal may break their equipment. They will only cut keys that are ordered directly from audi.

I called over 20 locksmiths, none of them could cut this key.

The first thing I would do is call local locksmiths and ask if they can cut the key. If someone gaurantees they can cut it, give it a shot, but you will still have to deal with the programming.

I paid $240 for a new programmed flip key from the dealership. Save yourself the hassel and pull out your checkbook.

 

After a bit of research....

KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM

The keyless entry system also called the switch blade, remote or fob is made up of two main assemblies. 1) the key blade + key blade holder and 2) the wireless remote control unit - see images below.

KEY BLADE & TRANSPONDER CHIP PROGRAMMING

The key blade is a blank and will need to be cut to match your original key. The key blade typically comes with a cover but can also be obtained without the key blade holder cover and actuation button, I have seen them for sale on eBay in both formats. One issue that has been cited is that the blades can be made from different hardness metals. Some lock shops and dealerships refuse to cut blades that were not purchased directly from them because they claim the hard key materials will damage their key cutting machines. Check with local lock shops to see if they will cut or can cut these types of keys.

Not all key blades are the same, some work with transponder chips and some do not. I refer to the latter key blades as 'dumb'. If your vehicle is equipped with an immobilizer option you will need a key blade that is paired with a transponder chip if you want to use the key to start the vehicle. The dumb key blades will only work in the door locks and will not start the vehicle. The transponder chips are located in the upper portion of the remote or if there is no remote, are molded into the plastic portion at the top of the key.

The transponder chips need to be programmed to work with your vehicle and as far as I can tell, this needs to be done at a dealership or at a lock shop that has the equipment to do so. Audi needs to provide a code for the chip that corresponds to the VIN.

WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL UNIT

The wireless remote (sometimes called a fob) comes in many flavors. By that I mean that the remote is programmed with a specific code and that the receiver code must match the vehicle code so the two devices can "talk". The code can be found on the inside cover of the remote unit. If you lost your remote then you can use the VIN to obtain the code from the dealer. eBay auctions typically list the numbers of the remote. An example looks like this:
4D0.837.231.E

For the first generation TT I was informed that the last character of the code is what needs to be matched. The first 9 seem to be common. In this example you would need to have a receiver on the vehicle with an E code. Apparently there are B, D, E, F and M codes but I am not clear if that is a complete list.

Programming of the wireless remotes can be accomplished by yourself quite easily and typically involves either a sequence of steps using the key in the door lock or using the key in the ignition and operating the buttons on the remote. Some eBay vendors typically offer programming instructions for the wireless remote functions of the unit. Do not confuse this with the programming of the transponder chip code which is different.

In summary the costs associated with replacing a lost keyless entry system are:

1) obtaining the wireless remote and blank key blade - ensure the codes match
2) cutting of the blank to match your original key pattern
3) programming of the transponder chip
4) programming of the wireless remote

Best of luck - here are a few links that I found helpful.

www.keylessride.com

www.remotesandkeys.com

www.remotez4less.com

www.vagproduct.com

 

Did you actually call the dealership and ask the price of a new key? I got mine from the dealer, brand new (not a used remote like on ebay) all said and done, cut/programmed, ect for $130.

Just go to the dealership.

 

I called the local dealership, University Audi, Seattle and they quoted $240
the best news however is that by chance I just found my key!