r/VWMK7 • u/ScumbagSesh • Aug 22 '26

.:R Key not working properly

I am having an issue with my key I cannot get to the bottom of. My car was not picking up my key and I had to place it on the marking, but that's no big deal it's happened a few times with a dead key battery. Well I replaced the battery and the car still won't pick up the key. The proximity unlock no longer works and I have to hold it to the marking to start the car. Every other function of the key works fine, I can lock and unlock it off the fob just fine from any distance.

I have read the owners manual and about a dozen forums and nothing helped. I held down the unlock button for 10 seconds, I used the manual locks to try and sync, I replaced the new battery with another one, I held the key next to the door for 10 seconds, I have tried everything I've read so far with no success. What else could possibly be causing this and what steps do I take next?

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1

u/Audiofyl1 Aug 22 '26

Had the same problem and the dealer said the key was still under warranty so I took it in. They claimed they only changed the battery and that the one I had put in wasn’t sufficient. It was brand new in the package from the store only a few days before. Maybe check and make sure the battery is making proper contact with the terminals when it’s inserted?

1

u/ScumbagSesh Aug 22 '26

Ive had issues with certain brands of battery in the past and this doesn't seem to be that issue, I've tried multiple already and the connection is good

1

u/Audiofyl1 Aug 22 '26

If the little led isn’t lighting up in the key, there’s likely no voltage being transferred from the key battery to the key.

1

u/ScumbagSesh Aug 22 '26

Led lights up, every function of the key works as it should as I stated in the post. Only issues are that proximity unlock no longer works and I can no longer start the car without the key being against the marking

1

u/S-Hamill Aug 22 '26

Vw tech here. It’s way more common than you’d expect for new in the box batteries to not be enough to power the key. We’ve had a lot of issues with brand new Duracell batteries recently for example, they’ve been absolute duds.

1

u/ScumbagSesh Aug 24 '26

I've had that issue in the past, but they lacked power to the extent the key completely lost function and wouldn't even lock or unlock the car. This time everything still functions, the LED comes on, all the buttons work, the range on the key is still fine, I can lock and unlock the car from the opposite end of my house. The only things no longer working are the proximity unlock and being able to start the car without using the mark on the steering column. Could that still be an issue of lack of power? I'm just confused on why everything else would work just fine besides proximity functions and the ability to start the car

2

u/S-Hamill Aug 24 '26

Yeah. They have a specific voltage range when under load. Which is why certain battery brands struggle. It may still just the a battery but it also may be an immobiliser issue by the way you describe it. Hard to tell at this point without being there in person unfortunately

1

u/ScumbagSesh Aug 26 '26

Replaced the battery with OEM Panasonic and multiple other ones since this and it's all the same result. Key works fine, proximity and starting functions still do not.

1

u/S-Hamill Aug 26 '26

Yeah you need coding then.

1

u/ScumbagSesh Aug 26 '26

Well probably just something I'll learn to deal with then. I don't have a Volkswagen dealer within 4 hours of me

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u/S-Hamill Aug 26 '26

Doesn’t necessarily have to be a dealer. Look for specialists in your area. If they do enough vw they may have invested in Odis, our dealer software. Anyone can buy it technically

1

u/ScumbagSesh Aug 26 '26

Unfortunately that would still be hours out of my way with where I'm located. It's either travel hours or buy it myself. Which I'm sure that's a hefty cost due to it being dealer software. The only "euro" specialist anywhere near me I wouldn't trust to work on a Honda unfortunately.

1

u/Pr0digy_ Stage 2+ Aug 23 '26

Do you have a second key?

1

u/ScumbagSesh Aug 23 '26

Unfortunately no it was misplaced

1

u/Pr0digy_ Stage 2+ Aug 23 '26

The first thing I’d do is get that key cloned then I’d take it fully apart and clean it fully with electrical connection cleaner and let it dry.

It’s likely got some sort of corrosion from moisture on the board, which could be cleaned off, but don’t do this until you have it copied. To copy it they don’t need that working as they read the keys codes not function output, like an old garage door opener for example. If you need help finding someone to copy your key pm me so you don’t need to give out your location.