Key fob faulty ?

[johnloaderuk]

Went to work today as usual. Forgot something which was in the boot so went back to car to take it out. Pushed the boot opening button but nothing. Tried to unlock the doors, but again nothing. Tried this again several times and noted everytime the red LED light on the key fob lit up, but no response from the car at all. Boot and doors remained locked.
After trying this for quite a few minutes I heard the magic click, so grabbed the door handle quickly and it opened as usual. I then used the boot open button in the drivers door, took out what I needed, then closed the boot and door. Pushed the lock button on the key fob, again the red LED lit up, but no response from the car at all. It took several more attempts to get it to lock.
Then when home time came it wouldn't unlock again. It took several attempts to get it to unlock. The car then started and drove as usual.
I went straight to the VW dealer and got them to change the key fob battery. The parts person seemed unconvinced that this was the problem due to the age of the car, but changed the battery anyway - £2.63
The car is only 3 months old from new, but the battery could be older I guess.
They suggested if it happens again try the other key fob, which I now have just in case. Plus of course, the emergency plastic key which I didn't try today as I had nothing to help get the door handle cover off.
Anyone else had this problem.

[billythetidd]

I had the same thing happen to me about a year ago. I arrived at a friends house but couldn't lock the doors. I tried everything but the fob would just not work. Took it apart, the light was still blinking too.

I remembered when I had my previous car I changed the battery on the fob and accidentally dropped the battery therefore going past the golden 2 mins, so the fob didn't work. It had to be reprogrammed. I found the Astra owner's club forum and they said to reprogram it just put the key in the ignition and turn ignition on fully without starting the car and hold down the door open button for 10secs then switch off the ignition and the fob should be reprogrammed. Worked a treat. So I tried that with the Passat and it worked too. Don't actually know that it worked but the car locked and it hasn't happened since.

[stevemr]

The plastic emergency key will take the cover off, there is a small slot underneath and the end fits in there and will pop it off.

[martin1810]

Most garages can check if your key is sending a signal with a keyfob tester, the dealer can do a complete check with their diagnostic machine. At least that way you know if the key is working. The key will always start the car even if the door lock/unlock is not working. They are two different systems.
How do you press the lock/unlock buttons with the key in the ignition.

[rapport25]

Most garages can check if your key is sending a signal with a keyfob tester, the dealer can do a complete check with their diagnostic machine. At least that way you know if the key is working. The key will always start the car even if the door lock/unlock is not working. They are two different systems.
How do you press the lock/unlock buttons with the key in the ignition.

I was thinking the same

[Teflon]

Start by changing the battery. You can try the one out of the other key if you are quick enough. Mine was working fine one day, dead the next.

They're only a couple of quid from Toolstation or Screwfix, no need to go to a dealer.

[johnloaderuk]

How do you press the lock/unlock buttons with the key in the ignition.

Eh ?.

Anyway, everything worked fine again last night after visiting the dealer and having had new battery fitted, and also was fine this morning until I got to work again. I work all over the place and yesterday was the first time I've worked on this particular site. Got back there this morning and had exactly the same situation - the fob not appearing to work, so I left the car unlocked. Went out at lunch time and again the fob still didn't work at all. As you say martin1810, the car will still start and drive fine. Once off site I had no problem, everything worked as usual, the fob performing perfectly.
I can only assume there was some sort of interference blocking the fob signal where I was working. Could this be possible, and what frequency do they work on.

[dunkley201]

I can only assume there was some sort of interference blocking the fob signal where I was working. Could this be possible, and what frequency do they work on.

Are there management comms radios where you work? I read that last year in the Lake District,there was a central locking/alarm anomily. Turned out to be interference from radios in use by waitresses at a local cafe!

[Quatrelle]

How do you press the lock/unlock buttons with the key in the ignition.

Am I missing something here? The lock/unlock button is on the driver's door, so what's the problem?

[johnloaderuk]

Are there management comms radios where you work? I read that last year in the Lake District,there was a central locking/alarm anomily. Turned out to be interference from radios in use by waitresses at a local cafe!

Probably there were, as I was working at fairly large site employing around 6,500 people. I was working at a major aircraft manufacturing plant, with radars on site for the control tower and all other associated radio and communication equipment on site, so the possibility of something interfering with the signal was potentially extremely high. Apparently the control tower work on 118.0 to 135.975 MHz. I have no idea what VW key fobs frequency would be.
I parked in exactly the same visitors parking place as yesterday, with exactly the same problem. There were other VW's in the same car park, but away from mine and no one else had a problem. Now I've come away from the site all seems to be working fine again - so far.