Spare keys

[Adrian E]

I've done this on a '98 Passat and an '05 Leon using second hand parts - sorted the central locking bit myself and had key blanks cut by a specialist. Quick Saturday morning visit to local dealer had all immobilisers coded in 5 mins

[RanjS8]

My experience of getting a key cut for my VW Caddy, which is a 57 plate was pretty awkward to be honest. I went to the car locksmith and he tried to supply me with a complete key.

He had the kit to get the immobiliser code, and he could erase the keys and program them in. He also had this machine to read/write the immobiliser chip on the key.

When he tried to add his own key for some reason the immobiliser wouldnt except it. He told me that the newer keys were fitted with some sort of extra chip or coding, which meant that only dealers could supply the spare key.

So this meant, I had to order this part of the key from the dealer first...which took about 10 days to come....and then he did the rest for me for less than what the dealer wasnt going to charge.

In the case of my prefacelift A8, i wanted to get a second key made up and so ordered one for ebay. I took it along to this chap and when he placed the key in his immobiliser chip read/write machine he told me that the chip had already been coded for another car. Hence, I wouldnt be able to use it.

I thought the immobiliser code was needed to add and delete keys, and the immobiliser transponder chips in the individual keys was coded the same using the immobiliser transponder chip read/write machine...but it seems I have some more reading to do on this matter.

[Night Train]

I've got to learn how to do that too as I only have 1 working key....
I bought one off the auction site, and ordered another from the main dealer at about £150.
When I went to have the car & keys matched, they couldn't get the one from auction to work at all, and only could get either the new key or my original key to work, but not both.
Ended up with Audi giving me the new key foc, and my original key only opens the car, & if started will only run for about 3 seconds....

I'm wondering if the 'guru's' have any ideas on a solution to this, & if there's any 'iffy' info (for potential thieves) if a procedure could be PM'ed to me rather than be posted publicalyy. I have vagcom & a genuine lead... Its a '98 PF S8.

[AusA8]

Just replaced both of my keys from an EBay seller.

Both work 100% and took all of 5mins to get it sorted.

BigladUK also bought a key and works too.

Cheers

[SyncroS8]

AFAIK, you can match keys to the ECU.

The process depends on which Immob system is being used on the car.

VW/Audi didn't stick to a cut off date for all vehicles...

My bosses Audi TT 2002 uses Immob II where as my Audi S8 2001 car uses Immob III.

mmob II

Immob III

Immob IIII

For all of these, you'll need a 4 digit code from the Immobiliser ECU in order to log in and code in new keys.

Note, when you're doing this you need all the keys with you as the old keys get wiped off in the process and need to be re-entered.

MG

[oldnick]

question is , how to get the code ?
looked at buying tacho VAG , but it seems it doesn't work on my 2000 A8 sport , says the cut off year is 1999 , then ok for later models

is there anything else which will do the job ?

having only one remote I have acquired a new key with the correct new transponder from Ebay ; also a correctly numbered used remote

if all else fails will [ when car is back on the road , maybe the spring ] will see what the audi dealer can do about

coding the Ebay key
coding the transponder in the head of the used remote ...presuming I can get that working with the central locking etc ; the two ideas about not being able to re-code the transponder and taking all the keys so they are all re-coded seems to me to be mutually exclusive

[ainarssems]

I am pretty sure it will work just make sure you get the latest version. Otherwise you might look at VAG Commander.


As far as the dealer goes they cannot code used immobiliser transponder as their software logs on VW servers when coding keys and will not allow to use transponder that has been registered on another car before. Not sure about remote control, they might be able to do that but definitely not the immobilizer.

Anyway e-bay cable will be cheaper then going to dealers, can be used many times and resold when you are finished with it even if it does not work on your car so give it a try first before going to dealers.