2260 Coastal Lane West Melbourne, FL 32904
AudiMelbourne.com
You press unlock and nothing happens, so you press again, then take a few steps closer and try a third time. If you’re doing that with your Audi key fob, the battery in the key is the first thing to check.
A key fob battery replacement is a job you can usually do at home on current Audis, with one small coin battery. If a new battery doesn’t fix it, or you’d rather not open the key yourself, reach out to our service center.
Most current Audi keys take a CR2032 battery. Press the release buttons on the key and pull out the battery holder, put the new battery in facing the same way as the old one, and slide the holder back in. If your key doesn’t open this way, don’t force it.
A weak battery usually shows up as a key that takes longer to unlock the car, doesn’t respond to the first press, or only works when you’re close to the car. Many Audis also show a key battery warning on the dashboard display, and if you see one, replace the battery before the key stops responding altogether.
Yes. On most current keys the holder comes out with the release buttons, so the battery is the only thing you need to buy. Check the number printed on the old battery before you buy a new one, since the battery type can differ between Audi keys.
If the holder won’t come out, don’t pry at the case. Contact our service center to ask what your options are for your key.
Most current keys open the same way, and the steps for replacing the battery are:
Keep both the old and the new battery out of reach of children while you work.
Start with your second key, if you have one. Use it to unlock the car, then swap the batteries between the two keys. That shows whether the problem is the battery or the first key. If the second key stops working with the new battery, the battery is the problem. If the first key still doesn’t work with a battery that works in the other, the key itself is the problem.
Water, interference from other devices, a weak car battery, and a key that needs to be reprogrammed or replaced can all look like a dead key battery.
| What you notice | What it can suggest | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| The key went in the ocean, a pool, or heavy rain, for example on a beach day at Indialantic or Satellite Beach | Water inside the key, which can damage its circuits and keep it from working | A new battery may not fix it. Ask our service center about having the key looked at. |
| The key only misbehaves next to your phone or wireless headphones | Interference from a nearby transmitter, which can temporarily disable key functions | Carry the key apart from other devices. If that clears it up, the battery wasn’t the cause. |
| The key stopped responding after the car sat for several weeks, for example during a long trip or a summer away | On Audis with the advanced key, which is Audi’s name for keyless entry and push-button start, a car battery that has run down while parked can keep the key from working | Have the car battery tested. We can run Audi Melbourne battery testing on the car. |
| The doors unlock but the car won’t start, and the display shows a message to hold the key against a designated spot | Most often a weak key battery, with the car asking you to use its backup key reader | Hold the back of the key against the spot the message points to and start the car, then replace the battery. The spot depends on the model, so check with our service center if you can’t find it. |
| A new battery made no difference, or the key stopped after being dropped hard | The key may need to be reprogrammed to the car, or its transmitter may be damaged | Ask our service center whether the key needs to be reprogrammed or replaced. |
For help with the key itself, reach out to our service center and ask about key battery replacement for your Audi.
At Audi Melbourne Service Center, our factory-trained technicians can also test your Audi’s battery, since a weak car battery can look like a dead key battery. You can schedule service online and describe what’s happening with the key.
