Key wont open the car but will lock it!

briniuk

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I have a S3 8p 2011 sportback with 1 key - it has been alright until yesterday when I go to open the car from the key but it doesn't work! but it will lock the car and the boot button works too, do I need to sync some how?
 
dodgy button on remote ?? or are you manually opening car with the key in the lock ? broken micro switch maybe
 
it clicks and sounds the same as the lock button. How much are these switches?

I have to manually put the key in the lock to open
 
There's a wee light on my key that flashes when you press the button - dunno if they have that on later ones - you could see if it flashes when you press each button....
 
take it apart,normally the metal contact inside is not connecting when you press the button,open it and bend the metal tabs upwards.
 
The light doesn't flash when I click the open but does with the close and boot.

I shall try opening the key If its that simple id be happy
 
tried to search the web is there a easy way to get in to the key?
 
take battery cover off,remove tiny screws and ya there

bit hard but they do split.
tried to search the web is there a easy way to get in to
 
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Its the battery, I had the same issue not long ago.

Swap out the battery for a new one and you'll be fine!

The Key splits in 2 by inserting a flat head into the slot on the back, then prise it open along the crease which should reveal the battery
 
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Its the battery, I had the same issue not long ago.

Swap out the battery for a new one and you'll be fine!

The Key splits in 2 by inserting a flat head into the slot on the back, then prise it open along the crease which should reveal the battery

surely if the battery was faulty the lock & boot buttons wouldn't work. Also he's got a different style remote to you. To change the battery in the newer style all you do is pop off the rear cover
 
surely if the battery was faulty the lock & boot buttons wouldn't work. Also he's got a different style remote to you. To change the battery in the newer style all you do is pop off the rear cover

I thought that myself, but I think there must be something with the wiring where it reserves enough to lock and open the boot, I had the exact issue with my key, boot opened doors locked but wouldn't open with fob

Had to open with key in door, then if i didn't start the ignition quick enough the alarm would go off.

It may well be something else, but might aswell try the battery as I swapped mine and its fixed it.
 
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I'd start with the battery too, then move on to testing the micro switches and other possible issues (signal tests, pairing etc) if that doesn't resolve it
 
Ok tried the battery so that's my expertise reached, onto the next solution
 
Thanks for the link - my key isn't the 1 in the pic on that eBay link its the a3/s3 key does that matter?

How much do you guys reckon a garage would charge to repair this if I didn't want to repair myself?
 
It is battery .
Been happening same to me for few days , just changed the battery and its working as good as New
 
It’s the battery, oddly enough, the remote uses less power to lock the car and boot release than it does to unlock the car, I’ve just found that out the hard way.
I just discovered this too. Last year I lost some door functions then discovered the driver's door wire loom had wire insulation cracking, that cause circuit breakage or inconsistency. Fixed 2 wires. Then back about 4 months ago, it happened again. One wire I'd "fixed" was just wrapped with electrical tape (not completely separated). That wire required a soldered fix. I did that & everything was fine, but then a few days later, suddenly I can't unlock the car with the key fob! Checked the wires & they looked OK on visual inspection. I asked questions about what wire would be responsible, and got no help. One retailer was passively nudging me towards replacing the whole loom. I was reticent... and sure glad about that, because just last week I finally got a tip from another member here about the battery. Sure enough, that was it! The quick way to prove it was to use my spare key fob (forgot about it at first). That revealed unlock system in car was working perfectly. Replacing the battery in my used key fob restored the function.
 
I have just posted a similar thing to this I did not realse that the aswer was probably here'
I have two unrelated questions but am not sure how to post them:
Are there some instuctions some where on how to replace the bonnet handle
I need to release the scuttle from the windscreen but seems so tight and I am wary of cracking it.
2010 Audi tt soft top
 
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Just had the same problem half an hour ago! Changeing the battery was the solution. Thanks
 
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+1 for the battery, had the exact same issue, tried 2nd key.. same thing, so I thought it can't be the battery if both stopped working, but I reseated it and voila, works again, I will be replacing both tomorrow. I guess 2nd key's battery was also low.
 
+1 for the battery, had the exact same issue, tried 2nd key.. same thing, so I thought it can't be the battery if both stopped working, but I reseated it and voila, works again, I will be replacing both tomorrow. I guess 2nd key's battery was also low.

Nearly 2 years late....... :wtf:
 
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Nearly 2 years late....... :wtf:
Just for the record in case someone else finds this thread, as I did by googling a bit after wasting 1 hour watching videos about re-syncing the keys.
 
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I have a S3 8p 2011 sportback with 1 key - it has been alright until yesterday when I go to open the car from the key but it doesn't work! but it will lock the car and the boot button works too, do I need to sync some how?
I had the same issue recently - replaced the battery and all was good.

**Just seen that this is two years old. My bad.