Newbie Passat Owner - Key Problems!

[WaltrHenn]

I have just bought a '03 Passat 1.9 TDI Sport, seems a good solid car. My problem is that there is only one key, the flick out key type, and the electronic part of it doesn't work. The light flickers but no joy!

There are so many threads and forums on this which have me so confused! What is the best, and importantly cheapest, way of getting the main key working fully and having a satisfactory spare key as well?!

I see people talking about buying keys on eBay, getting them cut at locksmiths, going to VW, I'm very confused! I'm Dublin Ireland based!

Thanks for your help, really looking forward to enjoying my Passat for a long time! :Blush:

[Crasher]

Firstly you need to make sure that key is actually faulty before buying a new one, there is no point buying a new one to get the system working if the original key is OK, something else is wrong. Have you changed the battery? There is no cheap easy way around this, whatever you do you need a diagnostic system such as FULL legal and registered VCDS (not Free or Lite or stolen) and using this, the convenience system can be checked and the key remote matched in. Often the convenience unit is taking a bath in rain water under the carpet of the passengers floor so check that first and the wiring junctions get heavily corroded.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd20/Crasher1964/Forweb-2.jpg (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/Crasher1964/media/Forweb-2.jpg.html)

Remember the key is in two separate parts, even if you get a new key blade cut with a new remote and that remote coded into the convenience system, the car will not start as the key also contains a passive rolling code chip that must be separately programed into the instruments unit and this cannot be done with VCDS in 99.99999% of cases as the all important security (SKC or PIN) codes are not available and yet another piece of expensive software is required for this.