So, i leave work to-day press button to unlock car,,,,,and nothing, try to open boot.....nothing..oh dear me thinks!!!!!!any way resort to old fashioned way and unlocked with key .....so the alarm works fine.... into the ignition and cancel the alarm, engine starts ok....panic over!!! Arrive home ,find 2nd key and car locks and opens fine , recheck later with 1st key, still nothing, i change the keys around monthly as i'm aware they need to be kept charged, so my question is can i replace the battery or is it a replacement key..............need advice !!!!!
KEY PROBLEM
- Thread starter daviddi
- Start date
Don't want to spread panic but I had EXACTLY the same problem yesterday. Noticed when in and out of the boot a few times, just refused to open with the key press. Car wasn't opening but then was (if that makes sense?) but this morning it was fine...I remember reading about jamming in built up areas at operating requencies ( they key had been in ignition on a reasonable run beforehand).
Both my keys just quit working. I checked the two fuses. There OK. Sounds expensive.
Half Colin
Senior member
Good thread here with regard to charging the battery:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33557&p=454900
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33557&p=454900
The key and car do a fairly elaborate security handshake before the car executes the key's command. If just one bit gets corrupted, the key will not work. If you have sudden unexplained key problems, 1st confirm all your keys had a reasonable chance to charge, then perform the key initialisation outlined in half collin's link with all your keys. This essentially reboots the security data.
If that fails, there is a defect in the key, unless all keys do not work, in which case the either the initialisation failed or there is a defect in the car. There are no parts in the key intended to be individually replaced.
If that fails, there is a defect in the key, unless all keys do not work, in which case the either the initialisation failed or there is a defect in the car. There are no parts in the key intended to be individually replaced.
The spare I got with mine doesn't work. I've tried charging on a toothbrush charger and all the reset steps but no luck. ( on one step it seemed to work for a brief second?) I think it may just need a charge but haven't been on a long journey to give it a go :/
thefmister
Member
Same here. Will try it on our journey to austria in the summer. 9 hour drive should charge enough I would think.
I have 3 keys, one of which wouldn't start the car. The other 2 worked fine, remotely and in the ignition.
For no obvious reasons the 2 good keys stopped working remotely. I then had to carry 2 keys around. 1 to open remotely and the other to start the car.
I used method 3 from the link in this thread to re-program and now my two previously good keys are good again.
Oddly, when the 2 keys weren't working as they should, the boot would pop randomly open.
For no obvious reasons the 2 good keys stopped working remotely. I then had to carry 2 keys around. 1 to open remotely and the other to start the car.
I used method 3 from the link in this thread to re-program and now my two previously good keys are good again.
Oddly, when the 2 keys weren't working as they should, the boot would pop randomly open.
I tried method one and two, both didnt work. Tried method three and then the working key stopped working too 
Luckily method one got the working one working again. Still no luck with my spare, but as I said when I next do a long journey I'll use it, hopefully ensuring its got a decent charge then try those methods again. Just hope in the mean time I don't need it 
Luckily method one got the working one working again. Still no luck with my spare, but as I said when I next do a long journey I'll use it, hopefully ensuring its got a decent charge then try those methods again. Just hope in the mean time I don't need it 
Well, after about 30 days, both keys suddenly work fine. :roll: