2nd key fob wont work??

**drjekl** · 27-01-2016, 08:08 PM

Hey guys

I bought a 2011 125 tdi highline a few weeks ago, and the spare key didnt work.

I had guessed it had only needed a new battery, as the fob had signs of someone trying to pry the case apart with no luck damaging it. So I had guessed they gave up, but when I dissassembled it today (with no damage on my behalf!) I noticed the battery was a panasonic (had assumed vw would use say a varta) and I replaced it with a fresh battery and reassembled the case and the bloody thing still doesn't work...

Any idea's on whats wrong with the key, will it involve an expensive trip to a stealership for repair?

**Domatron** · 27-01-2016, 08:25 PM

It's probably not coded. The dealer should be able to fix it. I had the same issue when I bought my '07 Polo a few years back. Cost about $100 think.

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**drjekl** · 27-01-2016, 08:54 PM

Any idea why do they need coding?

You would assume both keys worked when the car was new in 2011, if the battery goes flat surely it wouldnt need recoding?

**Domatron** · 27-01-2016, 09:08 PM

Sorry no idea. Did you buy the car from a dealer or private sale? If it was from a dealer then there is the chance that they replaced a missing spare key without coding it to save money. When I bought my passat wagon the 1st thing I did was check that both keys worked.

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**AALocksmiths** · 27-01-2016, 09:09 PM

They shouldn't drop coding from not being used or a flat battery, it is very possible that it is damaged and wont work. If you know anyone with VCDS they will be able to program it for you.

**drjekl** · 27-01-2016, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by Domatron

Sorry no idea. Did you buy the car from a dealer or private sale? If it was from a dealer then there is the chance that they replaced a missing spare key without coding it to save money. When I bought my passat wagon the 1st thing I did was check that both keys worked.

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Nah it was a private sale, and I got the car for a great price. So there would have been no negotiation with a spare key that didnt work unfortunately

Originally Posted by AALocksmiths

They shouldn't drop coding from not being used or a flat battery, it is very possible that it is damaged and wont work. If you know anyone with VCDS they will be able to program it for you.

OK thanks for your reply! I'll attempt to see if there is someone in newcastle who has VCDS

**guile** · 28-01-2016, 07:33 AM

my car only came with one key and i have just purchased and coded another from ebay at very little cost...

i already had a vcds cable though which would be your main expense, if you can borrow a vcds cable off someone and buy a vag tacho cable (about $16), you could do the same thing for around $100 all up. you then have the cable for future use if required, i'm guessing the dealer might be around 4x the price also...

**drjekl** · 28-01-2016, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by guile

my car only came with one key and i have just purchased and coded another from ebay at very little cost...

i already had a vcds cable though which would be your main expense, if you can borrow a vcds cable off someone and buy a vag tacho cable (about $16), you could do the same thing for around $100 all up. you then have the cable for future use if required, i'm guessing the dealer might be around 4x the price also...

Ahh good to hear man that you managed a new key for $100, well done

I posted up on the VAG tuners FB page, and one of the guys in newcastle said he has VCDS, but no idea how to program the key. Do you know if there is an online tutorial on how to perform the programming of a key?