A4 B7 Plastic Key

[techi]

Hi all,
Just a quicky, as an experiment I unlocked and started my car today with one of the plastic keys that came with car. Now I did expect it to unlock car but not start, I had thought it required the fob am I wrong?

Cheers
Techi

[Sam]

You can open the doors and start the car, but you must do so within 30 seconds otherwise the alarm goes off.

It should allow you to access the doors and ignition, but nothing else (glovebox, boot, etc).

Does your plastic key have a transponder chip in it?

[Maximus2k3]

I tried with my key and it wouldn't start at all! Not sure if it even opened the doors to be honest (it was a while ago, can't really remember).

Might have to dig it out and try again....

[techi]

I'm pretty sure it was within 30 seconds. Although I will have to try again and check boot and glovebox also I will wait more than 30 seconds and see what happens.

Cheers
Techi

[bez101]

next time u try leave your keys indoors
it will start but cut out ofter 2 or 3 seconds

[kite]

I thought the plastic was a "valet" key.
Allowing the car to start and run but not exceed a certain speed.

[Sam]

^ That's my understanding too

[Sarge786]

The plastic key does allow you to open car AND start the car. Once key is in ignition and turned to 'ignition' setting on the barrel, the alarm will be deactivated (indeed key has to be turned to ignition within 30 seconds to deactivate the alarm) and your doors should all unlock, this is only if the transponder is recognized and cars starts. If the immobilizer light flashes and car won't start then either the transponder is missing, wrong one or not programmed to the car. Also the remaining doors will stay locked and alarm will sound.

All these keys will have a transponder in the head, it is what has been said an emergency key. I don't believe we have such a thing as a valet key in UK, as the emergency key allows access to all parts of the car, and full use of the car (other than the obvious remote fob operation) in the UK.


I have seen people remove the transponder from them and put it into a replacement remote fob, after losing their original fob, this way they don't have to pay through the nose to get a key programmed, but it leaves the plastic key unable to allow starting of the car.

Another note is, when people loose a key, have someone come out and program a new key, then subsequently find their old key, this may not work again. The reason being that when a key is programmed to the car, 'all' the keys for the car have to be present and programmed at the same time, otherwise the ones not present at the time get removed from the system, despite the fact it may be working in the past.


There is no effect on the speed limit etc, it acts just like the normal key without the remote fob operation that's all.

The key is cut to the same as the metal blade, therefore any locks that you use the metal blade in, is the same for the plastic key, glove box, boot etc ( I think the glove box lock access using emergency key 'may' be different in the US or simply put they may actually have a separate valet key too! ... not sure on that one)


Cheers
Sarge