2016 S4 Advanced Key Stopped working - Help

[Riu]

I got a 2016 S4 in December and everything was working fine. Before I go to work I open the back door to put my bag in the backseat. The other day I go to open the back door and nothing happens. I tried the driver door and it it unlocks all the doors. I lock the car again and try the rear door and still nothing happens. I walk around to the other back door and it works. I did not pay major attention to it and figured tomorrow I would try again. The next time I went to my car it doesn't work on any door and hasn't in 2 days now. I cannot unlock or lock the door from the handle at all and have to take out the key and press the button on the fob.

Anyone ever have this issue before or know of a way to restart the system lol

[doug97gxe]

all 3 keys having this behavior ?

[Riu]

all 3 keys having this behavior ?

Today when I get home I will grab the other key and try when I go outside. I actually meant to do that this morning and forgot to grab it and I did not have the time to run back and grab it.

[BluntAaronR]

Your push button start doesn't work either, right?

I am going through the exact same thing on my A6. It is a fault code related to the antenna and requires a security code (stealership) to clear the fault. I am hopefully getting it back today or tomorrow; I'll let you know in more detail once it is fixed.

[Riu]

Your push button start doesn't work either, right?

I am going through the exact same thing on my A6. It is a fault code related to the antenna and requires a security code (stealership) to clear the fault. I am hopefully getting it back today or tomorrow; I'll let you know in more detail once it is fixed.

Oddly enough, push button start works fine :/

[blackfunk]

If the car sits for extended periods I've noticed that the smart unlock doesn't always work. Usually driving it seems to put it right. Spoke to the dealership about this and they changed the battery.

[doug97gxe]

Oddly enough, push button start works fine :/

as black funk indicated the battery might be getting low.. but i was curious if the other keys did this too to rule out the car itself

[Riu]

as black funk indicated the battery might be getting low.. but i was curious if the other keys did this too to rule out the car itself

I will check. But it seems unlikely the battery would be low as I have only had the car for 1 month and its brand new lol.

Will try the other key when I am home though.

[doug97gxe]

I will check. But it seems unlikely the battery would be low as I have only had the car for 1 month and its brand new lol.

Will try the other key when I am home though.

true ... but never rule it out

[Lamprey]

I got a 2016 S4 in December and everything was working fine. Before I go to work I open the back door to put my bag in the backseat. The other day I go to open the back door and nothing happens. I tried the driver door and it it unlocks all the doors. I lock the car again and try the rear door and still nothing happens. I walk around to the other back door and it works. I did not pay major attention to it and figured tomorrow I would try again. The next time I went to my car it doesn't work on any door and hasn't in 2 days now. I cannot unlock or lock the door from the handle at all and have to take out the key and press the button on the fob.

Anyone ever have this issue before or know of a way to restart the system lol

When you try to open to the door make sure you just put your hand in between the door handle and the door. make sure you are not putting a finger on the "button" on the handle. The button is to lock it and if you touch that trying to unlock it, it may just stay locked. If that doesn't work take it to the dealer, not much a forum can do for ya.

[bpang1]

You have a 2016 so I assume you have the new car warranty, why aren't you posing this question to your dealership? While you have a warranty, it really isn't in your best interest to waste any time trying to fix something that they should do for you.

[doug97gxe]

You have a 2016 so I assume you have the new car warranty, why aren't you posing this question to your dealership? While you have a warranty, it really isn't in your best interest to waste any time trying to fix something that they should do for you.

he prob figured if its something of a quick fix that can be done on the forums.. saves him time from having to drop the car off to the service dept for them to troubleshoot it

[Riu]

he prob figured if its something of a quick fix that can be done on the forums.. saves him time from having to drop the car off to the service dept for them to troubleshoot it

Exactly this. I was more curious if there was some way to reset just that system that I didnt know about. I tried the other key and still no luck so I am bringing the car in Monday. Let them fix it.

[Thurston]

did you recently tint your windows by any chance?

I was told certain tints that contain certain metals (i can't remember which or what) could interfere w/ keyless entry or maybe it was side assist.

[Riu]

did you recently tint your windows by any chance?

I was told certain tints that contain certain metals (i can't remember which or what) could interfere w/ keyless entry or maybe it was side assist.

I did 3 weeks prior and it worked for those 3 weeks.

Car is in for service today, tech told me that if one sensor goes bad it usually shuts down the whole system. We will know soon when they call me if its fixed.

[hotleadsingergu]

did you recently tint your windows by any chance?

I was told certain tints that contain certain metals (i can't remember which or what) could interfere w/ keyless entry or maybe it was side assist.

Don't worry about that, as it's not true.

I'm having the same trouble with my car though. It sat for a week in a coworker's garage (we were out of town), and it worked for the first 2 days after getting back, but now it's intermittent. Once I'm in the car it starts up fine, and the buttons work great...just the intelligent access business is hit-or-miss. I'm going to check out VCDS for codes tonight and try one of the other keys.

[blackfunk]

Don't worry about that, as it's not true.

I'm having the same trouble with my car though. It sat for a week in a coworker's garage (we were out of town), and it worked for the first 2 days after getting back, but now it's intermittent. Once I'm in the car it starts up fine, and the buttons work great...just the intelligent access business is hit-or-miss. I'm going to check out VCDS for codes tonight and try one of the other keys.

As per Audi, the car will systematically start turning off power draining devices as the battery starts getting low, with the Smart Key door sensors being at the top of that list. If you take it to the dealer they will most likely just replace your battery.

[hotleadsingergu]

My car is only 6 months old. If the battery needs replacing I'll be questioning why that is.

To be fair, my car was built 11 months before I bought it, so I guess it's 17 months old (with a good deal of sitting), but still.

[jygesq]

My car is only 6 months old. If the battery needs replacing I'll be questioning why that is.

To be fair, my car was built 11 months before I bought it, so I guess it's 17 months old (with a good deal of sitting), but still.

that might explain why battery issues. You should insist on new Battery.

[blackfunk]

My car was about 18 months when I first started having that issue as well.

[hotleadsingergu]

My car was about 18 months when I first started having that issue as well.

And did that fix it for you?

[blackfunk]

Yup.

[Thurston]

Don't worry about that, as it's not true.

awe okay that's good to know. Just to be clear, metallic tint vs ceramic tint will not affect keyless entry or side assist on most cars entry/side assist system or just definitely not on this car? jw so i can avoid being upcharged on my next tint.

[hotleadsingergu]

awe okay that's good to know. Just to be clear, metallic tint vs ceramic tint will not affect keyless entry or side assist on most cars entry/side assist system or just definitely not on this car? jw so i can avoid being upcharged on my next tint.

On almost any car. In just about every Intelligent Access-like car on the market, the electromagnetic field is generated at each entry-point (4 doors and trunk). That's why you can't stand on the hood and have someone open the doors, or stand at the passenger side and someone can open the driver's door. The field is generated below where the windows could block the signal, and the frequency is just altered by the key fob.

That said, I use Ceramic tint anyway...I think it just looks better and works better for heat blocking. I've kept cars for many years with Ceramic tints and I've never had them fade, discolor, or bubble.

[Thurston]

On almost any car. In just about every Intelligent Access-like car on the market, the electromagnetic field is generated at each entry-point (4 doors and trunk). That's why you can't stand on the hood and have someone open the doors, or stand at the passenger side and someone can open the driver's door. The field is generated below where the windows could block the signal, and the frequency is just altered by the key fob.

That said, I use Ceramic tint anyway...I think it just looks better and works better for heat blocking. I've kept cars for many years with Ceramic tints and I've never had them fade, discolor, or bubble.

cool, thanks a lot for the breakdown. i to have been very very happy w/ the ceramic as well.

[Riu]

Picked up my car yesterday. They did not replace any sensor. As they told me yesterday, if one sensor stops working they all tend to stop working. They told me they did not have to replace it because when they looked, one of the was not plugged in all the way. From the factory the plug was not clipped in, so with a few door slams it got looser and looser and finally stopped making the connection. They clipped it in all the way this time and it is now working.

True or not, its working and I have my car back.