Remote Central Locking not working

ION08

Guys i'm really hoping somebody can help me out here.

Last month I lost the keys to my 02 Audi A4 ... I enlisted the help of a local locksmith who cut & programmed a new key for me but was unable to get the remote central locking working. (I have to open and close doors manually)

This has been an on-going saga for the past month now and it seems like after me paying him €200, he is trying to fob me off with the job half done. (wont answer phone calls, always making excuses etc)

AUDI are quoting €120 to "take a look at it for me" which I don't fancy paying not knowing if they will be able to sort it or not especially after having already paid that cowboy locksmith €200 for a job half-done.

Does anybody have any recommendations of anywhere or anything else I could try?

Or even any idea as to why the locksmith can't seem to do it? ... could it be down to it being the wrong key? (wrong frequency maybe?) or him having the inadequate software?? or maybe he is just incompetent ?

Cheers for any input.

Mossess

Have you tried the original dealer? They can usually program the key or order it in based on you car reg.
I'm guessing you may have to take a hit on the 200 you already spent.

ION08

Mossess wrote: »

Have you tried the original dealer? They can usually program the key or order it in based on you car reg.
I'm guessing you may have to take a hit on the 200 you already spent.

The dealer said a new key costs around the 300 euro mark and takes around 5 working days after showing them my log book.

I went with the independent locksmith as he was a bit cheaper and said he could do the job from start to finish in 1 day :rolleyes:

If I could turn back time I would have gone with the dealer but if I goto the dealer now and take a hit on the 200 , the key will cost me over 500 :eek:

Also what concerns me is that the locksmith reprogrammed my ECU code to work with the new key he cut.

So if I were to go to Audi now, they might issue me with the key based on my chassis number with the old ECU code and I dont want to risk paying 300 quid for a Dud key ... I think I would lose my mind if that were to happen!!

Tallon

ION08 wrote: »

The dealer said a new key costs around the 300 euro mark and takes around 5 working days after showing them my log book.

I went with the independent locksmith as he was a bit cheaper and said he could do the job from start to finish in 1 day :rolleyes:

If I could turn back time I would have gone with the dealer but if I goto the dealer now and take a hit on the 200 , the key will cost me over 500 :eek:

Also what concerns me is that the locksmith reprogrammed my ECU code to work with the new key he cut.

So if I were to go to Audi now, they might issue me with the key based on my chassis number with the old ECU code and I dont want to risk paying 300 quid for a Dud key ... I think I would lose my mind if that were to happen!!

If he hasn't completed the job, then ask for some money back or threaten him with legal action

ION08

Tallon wrote: »

If he hasn't completed the job, then ask for some money back or threaten him with legal action

I really think it will have to come down to this.

Tallon

ION08 wrote: »

I really think it will have to come down to this.

Threatening him might be enough for him to either finish the job, or give you a % of money back for not completing it!

ION08

Tallon wrote: »

Threatening him might be enough for him to either finish the job, or give you a % of money back for not completing it!

I'm gonna go down to him tomorrow morning, park my car behind his van and refuse to leave until either the remote central locking works or until I have 100 euro in my hand. :mad:

If they don't play ball it'll be going through the small claims court.

carefull now!

The coding for your central locking is completely separate from your imobilisor code, that's why the lock smith couldn't do it, its a 15 minute job if you have the software but you won't have a leg to stand on if you threaten legal action, any Audi specialist should do it for about €30

ION08

carefull now! wrote: »

The coding for your central locking is completely separate from your imobilisor code, that's why the lock smith couldn't do it, its a 15 minute job if you have the software but you won't have a leg to stand on if you threaten legal action, any Audi specialist should do it for about €30

How do you mean I won't have a leg to stand on if i threaten legal action??

The Audi Dealers said they can book me in an "have a look" at it for me, which didn't really fill me with a lot of confidence. I asked how much, they said 1-1.5hrs labour so around 120 euros - which I'd be reluctant to pay them just so they can "have a look" at it to see if they can or can't sort it if you know what I mean.

pippip

carefull now! wrote: »

The coding for your central locking is completely separate from your imobilisor code, that's why the lock smith couldn't do it, its a 15 minute job if you have the software but you won't have a leg to stand on if you threaten legal action, any Audi specialist should do it for about €30

Why wouldn't they have a leg to stand on?

The guy took 200euro to do a job and has failed to complete the job.

If he cant do the job then that should of been explained prior to the work. The fact that the op is being fobbed off (no pun intended) means this clarification never happened.

Tallon

carefull now! wrote: »

The coding for your central locking is completely separate from your imobilisor code, that's why the lock smith couldn't do it, its a 15 minute job if you have the software but you won't have a leg to stand on if you threaten legal action, any Audi specialist should do it for about €30

You haven't a clue what you're on about

If he paid for a service, and they chap couldn't provide it, then he's perfectly entitled to take legal action!

If it's a 15 minute job and all that's needed is software, then the locksmith should have done it

ION08

I took 1 hour off work this evening to go down to the locksmith and hopefully try and get things sorted once and for all.

Their opening hours are 9-6. I got there a 5:40pm and the place was shut. :mad:

This was the third time i had to take time off work so that I could go down in person because he wouldn't answer the phone to me (or call me back like he said he would)

I rang another branch of the same company and spoke to the main locksmith there, I told him the entire story, he listened to me and to be fair to him, even though it didnt really involve him, he was very curteous and let me have my rant without aggravating me.

I told him I will be taking legal action against the company if this doesn't get resolved. He said he will speak to the locksmith I was dealing with and get back to me tomorrow no matter what. (something the first locksmith always promised but never did)

I hope to hear something conclusive tomorrow.

carefull now!

Your initial problem was that you lost your keys and could not get into or start your car, that's what you paid him for and now you can, that's what I mean by you don't have a leg to stand on. Central locking is completely separate to your immobilisor. Thanks for your input TALLON but the locksmith doesn't need to have the software because that's not his job. Now some locksmiths do have the software and do code the Locking but not all. He could have told you this before doing the job but that's just his level of customer service!

ION08

carefull now! wrote: »

Your initial problem was that you lost your keys and could not get into or start your car, that's what you paid him for and now you can, that's what I mean by you don't have a leg to stand on. Central locking is completely separate to your immobilisor. Thanks for your input TALLON but the locksmith doesn't need to have the software because that's not his job. Now some locksmiths do have the software and do code the Locking but not all. He could have told you this before doing the job but that's just his level of customer service!

So what you're saying is that as far as you're concerned his job is done and he should have no further involvment and has no further obligations to me as a customer?

Before we agreed for him to go ahead, I said to him I wanted the 3 button REMOTE central locking key replaced and we agreed the price from Start to FINISH. - I dont think his job is finished just because I can get into my car and start it, which is what your implying.

Sure If that's the case I could have gotten a simple no-button key done for 80 euro instead of the 200 hundred euro which I paid him for the 3 button Remote Key!

Tallon

carefull now! wrote: »

Your initial problem was that you lost your keys and could not get into or start your car, that's what you paid him for and now you can, that's what I mean by you don't have a leg to stand on. Central locking is completely separate to your immobilisor. Thanks for your input TALLON but the locksmith doesn't need to have the software because that's not his job. Now some locksmiths do have the software and do code the Locking but not all. He could have told you this before doing the job but that's just his level of customer service!

Again, no idea what you're talking about

Are you under the impression that a locksmith ONLY cuts keys and that's all he's able to do?

They can, and should be able to programme them. If not, they should have said that to the OP before agreeing to replace the keys

For €200 I would expect him to be doing this, otherwise a key cut is only €15

carefull now!

Again, as I have already said and you both quoted me, most locksmiths can and do code the remote fob, but not all, he should have made this clear to you. Like I said, poor customer service. I'm just trying to stop you taking legal actions that you will lose and have to pay all costs for. Next time I won't bother if this is the response to friendly advice.

enviro

carefull now! wrote: »

I'm just trying to stop you taking legal actions that you will lose and have to pay all costs for.

Legal costs will be very low as it is the small claims court. AFAIK about €20 or €30

Tallon

carefull now! wrote: »

Again, as I have already said and you both quoted me, most locksmiths can and do code the remote fob, but not all, he should have made this clear to you. Like I said, poor customer service. I'm just trying to stop you taking legal actions that you will lose and have to pay all costs for. Next time I won't bother if this is the response to friendly advice.

Why will he lose?

sean1141

You still only have one key?

The fob inside the key for the remote locking needs to be Programed. You can do this yourself if you have a second key that works the remote locking but if not and you lost your only key the locksmith may not be able to program it. You will need someone with vcds to do this afaik

carefull now!

Tallon wrote: »

Why will he lose?

Locksmiths cut and program keys, that's usually all they can, or are willing to do, which he did. Legally that's his job done. The central locking is done through a different ecu so he may not be able to work on it, same as if you asked him to look at your ABS, his computers just not able. Sean is right, if you had the second key you can usually do it your self.

ION08

Well still no call backs as promised.

Went to AUTOKEY on the naas road this morning to see if they could program it.

It turns out it's the incorrect key.

They opened it up and checked the serial number and it turns out the key is for an Audi A3 not A4. (the keys look the same but operate on different frequencies) :mad:

sean1141

What type of key did you get? Flip or normal

ION08

sean1141 wrote: »

What type of key did you get? Flip or normal

3 button Flip key!

sean1141

What had you before?

ION08

sean1141 wrote: »

What had you before?

Same!

sean1141

Is the one you got 433 mhz

ION08

sean1141 wrote: »

Is the one you got 433 mhz

I just opened it there and checked. It says 433,92 mhz

I just googled the part number and it turns out its for an Audi A6 / TT. - which it actually says inside the key!

Its EXACTLY the same as this here