View Full Version : Coding new keys
toasty
January 9th, 2003, 11:21
Hi,
I've had an ongoing saga with my Audi dealer concerning spare keys for my Audi.
They've finally (after 6 months) cut me one, but are now saying that they'll need the car for at most a day to code it into the immobilser.
Apparently the delay is in getting some code back from Germany via fax???
Last time I had a key coded they read the block code from the immobiliser, and I was told that they needed to send it to Germany (via fax) and then they'd get back a code which they'd use to code in the new key.
Apparently the 'getting the code back' takes the time.
I asked them if they could get the code the previous day, so that I wouldn't have to wait, but the service manager told me that the code was 'time sensitive' and expired after a half-hour.
I find this all very hard to beleive, my car is only a 1998 S4, not a McClaren F1!!! (so I very much doubt that it has the ability to syncronise itself with Audi headquarters in Germany!!!)
Anyway, my question is, can I code the new key into the alarm and immobiliser myself using my shareware VAG.COM??
I guess this part of the ECU would be passcode protected? How would I get around that??
Thanks in advance.
-Dan
Ram
January 9th, 2003, 13:15
Hi Dan,
What you've been told is correct. The code on your car is Thatcham Category 2 based which means that the car uses a rolling code.
You'll need to let the Dealer take details of the instrument cluster and they'll fax it to VAG HQ in the UK who will send them a code which is valid for the day (This is generated by keying your details into an algorithm generator specially designed for VAG (so far - this is not available publically).
Click here (http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/key-matching.html) for the procedure.
If you need it, I have a copy of the official form you need to request this.
Here's a tip - don't take your car in on a Saturday to get this done! The HQ is not operational outside Mon-Fri so the dealer would keep your car until the following Monday at least!
Best wishes,
RamŽ
toasty
January 9th, 2003, 13:18
Wow I'm amazed!!
How on earth does my car know what day it is?
Thanks for the info.
-Dan
Ram
January 9th, 2003, 13:21
Because it has an RTC running. The RTC is also used for determining service intervals!
RamŽ
danksy
January 9th, 2003, 15:42
just to decrypt some TLA's
RTC = Real time clock
biturbo
January 12th, 2003, 18:19
Whats a TLA?
DavidR
January 13th, 2003, 00:41
Hehe - I had the same debate with the dealer about time sensitive key codes thinking they were spinning a yarn to get me to piss off and leave the car with them. As it happened, the manifold fell off the next day so they had the car for 4 days to remove the gearbox and fix it as well as the code.
Good to hear this may actually be true...
danksy
January 13th, 2003, 09:42
[ QUOTE ]
Whats a TLA?
[/ QUOTE ]
Three Letter Abbreviation
Ram
January 13th, 2003, 10:13
Wrong Danksy - It's "Three Letter Acronym"
RamŽ
nhenty
October 28th, 2003, 16:27
I've just had a new key coded for my A6. Having asked me for the car for the day ( Not Saturdays as the link isn't available) I questioned the time needed and said I was considering cancelling the order.
Lo and behold they fixed a time for the work to be done while I waited. They said approx 1 hour as long as there wasn't a problem with the link.
Took about 1hr 10m @ Ridgeway Newbury
Pressure the dealer to provide a service, and show them not all their customers are muppets who can be fobbed off to make life convenient for themselves
chiyuenli
November 20th, 2003, 14:29
Thanks nobby for that. Shall have to cough up now!!!
mastertech
April 6th, 2004, 22:52
THE CAR DOES NOT KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS.THE DAYS DATE IS USED BY THE 5051 DIAG MACHINE.
Anito
April 7th, 2004, 10:16
I could be missing something here so please don't abuse me if i'm wrong
If you have a key which fits and all you need to do is code the key for operation then you can re-programme the system for yourself. Someone else on the forum asked the same question and I posted them a reply. I found the answer on my CD for the car. Here's the post Keyless Entry (http://www.audi-sport.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=1,10,15,105,200,900,1000&Board=a4 forum&Number=59810&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&f part=1)
Coding the part of the key that locks and unlock the doors is easy, no need to go to audi for that.
Its the immobiliser part that you can't do yourself....well not most people.
You need the "secret key code" SKC from audi. this number is actually on your plastic key fob from the dealer (blanked out obviously) and is the doorway to accessing the immobiliser part of the ECU.
Anyways, the code (as already stated) is generated for your specific car and is valid for one day only.
Some dealers will let you know the code (like mine) and then if you remember the date it was produced you can regenerate your own codes using a keygen that is floating round the net.
ImolaS4
June 7th, 2004, 06:17
[ QUOTE ]
HTC said:
Coding the part of the key that locks and unlock the doors is easy, no need to go to audi for that.
Its the immobiliser part that you can't do yourself....well not most people.
You need the "secret key code" SKC from audi. this number is actually on your plastic key fob from the dealer (blanked out obviously) and is the doorway to accessing the immobiliser part of the ECU.
Anyways, the code (as already stated) is generated for your specific car and is valid for one day only.
Some dealers will let you know the code (like mine) and then if you remember the date it was produced you can regenerate your own codes using a keygen that is floating round the net.
[/ QUOTE ]
This whole post sounds so CRAZY!!!
If this is for the newer "switchblade" type keys, then....
Re-coding your keys are done here in the states all the time - YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF!
All you need is one key that is already coded. The procedure calls for both keys and it takes two or three minutes.
Here's a tech article that describes the procedure:
AW Tech - reprogramming keys (http://www.audiworld.com/tech/misc13.shtml)
cbass
June 8th, 2004, 17:33
[ QUOTE ]
ImolaS4 said:
This whole post sounds so CRAZY!!!
If this is for the newer "switchblade" type keys, then....
Re-coding your keys are done here in the states all the time - YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF!
All you need is one key that is already coded. The procedure calls for both keys and it takes two or three minutes.
Here's a tech article that describes the procedure:
AW Tech - reprogramming keys (http://www.audiworld.com/tech/misc13.shtml)
[/ QUOTE ]
Imola, There are two parts to a switchblade key that can be 'programmed.' If you look at the key, it can be taken apart to replace the battery, when you do take it apart, you will end up with the key end and the end with the buttons. The key end is the part with the immobiliser chip in it. To program the immobiliser, you do need to get the 'secret' code from the dealer, yada, yada, yada.
For just the part with the buttons you can follow the instructions on the website you gave. The buttons will only lock/unlock the car. If the immobiliser is not programmed properly, you will be able to start the car, but it will immediately die because the chip in the key does not match the immobiliser in the car.
Notice that HTC did mention how easy it is to code the buttons, he said, "Coding the part of the key that locks and unlock the doors is easy, no need to go to audi for that."
The immobiliser is there to prevent Joe Shmo (who has a key cutter) from just obtaining a copy of your key and driving off with your car. The SKC code on the chip INSIDE of the key has to match too.
Hope that cleared it up a bit.
HTC
June 27th, 2004, 19:24
Just to add, the SKC can be valid for ever, you just use the date you got the code when you chuck it on VAG-COM.