Audi Cabriolet - Totally locked out after 3 days ownership! Help!

[testpilot4321]

I'm new here and last week I bought my first ever Audi in the guise of an 04 plate A4 Cabriolet which I immediately fell in love with shortly followed by regret!

Last Friday I jumped into my car, started it, drove around the block and pulled up outside my house, locked the car with the remote, grabbed a tent, back out to car, opened the boot with the key (the remote won't open the boot), that then set the alarm off (flashing hazards but no siren so guessing that is either faulty or been disconnected), went to unlock the car and stop the hazards flashing to find the remote is unresponsive. Tried the key in the door and that didn't work either, the key turns the full 90 degrees either way but nothing happens.

I have replaced the batteries in both remotes and had them checked, they are producing a signal but they don't work and neither key will unlock the car.

The car battery is definitely fine, alarm light flashing in the car and hazards flash away when I open the boot plus I had just driven it and it turned over with ease etc.

So I am totally locked out and pretty close to breaking the window to get in, any help will be massively appreciated.

Not the best start to my Audi experience!

[spartacus 68]

Hang fire breaking a window. First things first.

Previous owner have any faults with the car?

The alarm siren batteries can fail, and it's a non serviceable item. Either that or it was linked to a fault and has been disconnected. That said there are fixes to split the siren and replace the back-up batteries. The key should manually be able to unlock the door. Only thing I can think of is a fault in the vacuum on the central locking. If you're a member if the AA it would be worth contacting them for assistance.

If the batteries are new in the key fobs you'll probably have to re-sync them to the car. Insert in the driver's door, press unlock (hold button down) and turn anti-clockwise. Hold for a second or two.

Let us know how you get on.

[testpilot4321]

Hi Spartacus and thanks for the reply.

I have had an Audi specialist come look at the car and he is pretty sure that the door key lock isn't connected to anything, it turns but it doesn't actually do anything, obviously once I'm into the car the first thing I will be doing is taking the door card off and having a look.

This purchase was a trade sale that they took in PX (they specialised in classic cars not cars like this) so finding out info is difficult though they have said they will contact the previous owner and ask him.

I'm with Green Flag, going to call them out this morning but not hopeful, AA or RAC would have been better in this situation.

I have tried to sync the key fobs but to no avail.

Will keep you posted.

[testpilot4321]

Ok, I have an update.

Green Flag said there was no way in without breaking a window as his rods wouldn't push between the two windows due to it being a convertible and the way they push up into the ridge in the roof. I then removed the ski hatch via the boot to allow him to try with his rods that way, it almost worked but turned out the doors were dead locked and he declared that there were no other options, however I found one, a very easy one!

A complete stranger and her children were walking past and my light bulb above my head lit up, I stopped her and asked if I could borrow her 7 year old son, they agreed and I gave him my key and sent him into the boot, through the ski hatch and into the drivers seat, he then put the key in the ignition, turned it one click and click, the doors all opened!

I have now done the reprogramming sequence and both keys now operate the car as they should. The drivers door lock still doesn't work so that is booked in with a mechanic to get fixed on Tuesday next week.

I am now back in love with my first Audi and looking forward to being an active member of this community, just hopefully not because more things have gone wrong!

Thanks again Spartacus for trying to help, it's appreciated.