Keys

"Anthony R. Gold" wrote
>A new Audi came with two kinds of keys, metal ones which fold into a
> remote control fob and a plastic service key.
>
> Can someone explain the intended functionality of the plastic service key?

The idea behind a service key (although in the case of my '01 A4 it was not
plastic - it was metal with plastic fob, but not switchblade-type), is to
prevent the service people from getting into the trunk and glove
compartment, in case you have items there that you don't want them to see.
So, if you lock the trunk and glove compartment with one of your regular
keys, they cannot be opened with the service key.

I also got an all-plastic small flat key (for wallet), that would do
everything a full-size key would do.

Of course, my A4 was a US-version without immobilizer. I don't know how
such keys would work on a car that had the immobilizer.

Cheers,

Pete

> Can someone explain the intended functionality of the plastic service key?

I believe it's meant as an emergency key that should have all the
functionality of the metal keys.

> I find I can use the plastic key to unlock a vehicle which has its alarm
> set and without sounding the alarm - but then the key will not start the
> vehicle. But if the alarm has not been set, then the plastic key can
> start the vehicle.

Again I believe it should unlock and start the vehicle as normal. After
unlocking the doors you do have a finite amount of time before you can start
the car. I'm not near my manual at the moment but I can check later.

>
> Does my plastic key do everything correctly?
>
> Are there any electronic components (e.g. an RFI chip) in the key which
> needs to be married to the vehicle or is its manufacture just one of
> copying the pattern? Can extra plastic service keys be simply mailed to
> me and not need to be fitted, installed or trained to the vehicle?

They will need to be coded to the car in order to use them. A dealer usually
charges 0.5 hours labour for this even though it's a 5-10 minute job. If you
know someone with VAG-COM then they may be able to do it.

HTH

"Anthony R. Gold" > wrote in message
...
>A new Audi came with two kinds of keys, metal ones which fold into a
> remote control fob and a plastic service key.
>
> Can someone explain the intended functionality of the plastic service key?
>
> I find I can use the plastic key to unlock a vehicle which has its alarm
> set and without sounding the alarm - but then the key will not start the
> vehicle. But if the alarm has not been set, then the plastic key can
> start the vehicle.
>
> Does my plastic key do everything correctly?
>
> Are there any electronic components (e.g. an RFI chip) in the key which
> needs to be married to the vehicle or is its manufacture just one of
> copying the pattern? Can extra plastic service keys be simply mailed to
> me and not need to be fitted, installed or trained to the vehicle?
>
> Tony

the plastic key, in my manual, is called a Spare key. It says it fits ALL
locks on the car. Well I just tried it and yes it fits the locks but it wont
lift the drivers door locking knob. So much for a spare.

dj

"Anthony R. Gold" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 18:27:14 +0000 (UTC), "Glittery Gary"
> > wrote:
>
>> the plastic key, in my manual, is called a Spare key. It says it fits ALL
>> locks on the car. Well I just tried it and yes it fits the locks but it
>> wont
>> lift the drivers door locking knob. So much for a spare.
>
> That is odd. Mine unlocks the driver's door (the only door with a key
> operated lock) as well as the glove box lock and ignition/steering lock,
> just fine.
>
> Maybe try that again with a little more torque?
>
> Tony

with a little more torque..........yes perhaps it's because it's a smaller
headed jobby, I'll give it a try tomorrow.

dj

On Wed, 03 Aug 2005 17:36:11 GMT, "Dave" > wrote:

>> Can someone explain the intended functionality of the plastic service key?
>
>I believe it's meant as an emergency key that should have all the
>functionality of the metal keys.
>
>> I find I can use the plastic key to unlock a vehicle which has its alarm
>> set and without sounding the alarm - but then the key will not start the
>> vehicle. But if the alarm has not been set, then the plastic key can
>> start the vehicle.
>
>Again I believe it should unlock and start the vehicle as normal. After
>unlocking the doors you do have a finite amount of time before you can start
>the car. I'm not near my manual at the moment but I can check later.
>
>>
>> Does my plastic key do everything correctly?
>>
>> Are there any electronic components (e.g. an RFI chip) in the key which
>> needs to be married to the vehicle or is its manufacture just one of
>> copying the pattern? Can extra plastic service keys be simply mailed to
>> me and not need to be fitted, installed or trained to the vehicle?
>
>They will need to be coded to the car in order to use them. A dealer usually
>charges 0.5 hours labour for this even though it's a 5-10 minute job. If you
>know someone with VAG-COM then they may be able to do it.
>
>HTH

Not likely...the *ALL PLASTIC* key the OP is referring to has no electronics
of any kind within....

"Anthony R. Gold" > wrote in message
...
> A new Audi came with two kinds of keys, metal ones which fold into a
> remote control fob and a plastic service key.
>
> Can someone explain the intended functionality of the plastic service key?
>
> I find I can use the plastic key to unlock a vehicle which has its alarm
> set and without sounding the alarm - but then the key will not start the
> vehicle. But if the alarm has not been set, then the plastic key can
> start the vehicle.
>
> Does my plastic key do everything correctly?
>
> Are there any electronic components (e.g. an RFI chip) in the key which
> needs to be married to the vehicle or is its manufacture just one of
> copying the pattern? Can extra plastic service keys be simply mailed to
> me and not need to be fitted, installed or trained to the vehicle?

On the TT, one has (or "had" in my case..) a small plastic "wallet" key.

It has an immobiliser chip - which means that you can start the car - but,
in the UK it doesn't disable the alarm. "Thatcham" rules. Apparently.

For RoTW, AFAIK, it will disable the alarm/immobiliser and generally act as
a "normal" key.

The service key is marked with a sort of hammer symbol (refreshingly
honest!), and will not open the glovebox or (allegedly) boot [trunk]. It
lacks the groove of the normal keys (take a look..)

HTH

Hairy One Kenobi

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this opinion do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the highly-opinionated person expressing the opinion
in the first place. So there!

On Thu, 04 Aug 2005 01:01:59 +0100, "Anthony R. Gold"
> wrote:

>On Wed, 03 Aug 2005 23:27:55 GMT, "Hairy One Kenobi" ]>
>wrote:
>
>> On the TT, one has (or "had" in my case..) a small plastic "wallet" key.
>>
>> It has an immobiliser chip - which means that you can start the car - but,
>> in the UK it doesn't disable the alarm. "Thatcham" rules. Apparently.
>
>We now have one vote for the parts department who also say there is a chip
>inside to allow the key to start the car. I'll have to keep score :-)
>
>> The service key is marked with a sort of hammer symbol (refreshingly
>> honest!), and will not open the glovebox or (allegedly) boot [trunk]. It
>> lacks the groove of the normal keys (take a look..)
>
>My car (allroad) did not come with any genuine service key (or a trunk!),
>but I see some rebates running along the keys' edges which would make it
>possible to make larger non-rebated keys operate say the door and ignition
>but would not fit into the locks of something else - say the glove box.
>
>Tony

It just occurred to me that the difference may be a North America (sans
immobilizer) vs Europe (with the immobilizer). The wallet key I was issued for
my NA B5 S4 is just a piece of plastic....

"Hairy One Kenobi" ]> wrote in message
...
> "Anthony R. Gold" > wrote in message
> ...
>> A new Audi came with two kinds of keys, metal ones which fold into a
>> remote control fob and a plastic service key.
>>
>> Can someone explain the intended functionality of the plastic service
>> key?
>>
>> I find I can use the plastic key to unlock a vehicle which has its alarm
>> set and without sounding the alarm - but then the key will not start the
>> vehicle. But if the alarm has not been set, then the plastic key can
>> start the vehicle.
>>
>> Does my plastic key do everything correctly?
>>
>> Are there any electronic components (e.g. an RFI chip) in the key which
>> needs to be married to the vehicle or is its manufacture just one of
>> copying the pattern? Can extra plastic service keys be simply mailed to
>> me and not need to be fitted, installed or trained to the vehicle?
>
> On the TT, one has (or "had" in my case..) a small plastic "wallet" key.
>
> It has an immobiliser chip - which means that you can start the car - but,
> in the UK it doesn't disable the alarm. "Thatcham" rules. Apparently.
>
> For RoTW, AFAIK, it will disable the alarm/immobiliser and generally act
> as
> a "normal" key.
>
> The service key is marked with a sort of hammer symbol (refreshingly
> honest!), and will not open the glovebox or (allegedly) boot [trunk]. It
> lacks the groove of the normal keys (take a look..)
>
> HTH
>
> Hairy One Kenobi
>
> Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this opinion do not necessarily
> reflect the opinions of the highly-opinionated person expressing the
> opinion
> in the first place. So there!
>
>

my service key depicts an adjustable spanner...........America its termed a
crescent wrench (I believe).

The message >
from "Hairy One Kenobi" ]> contains these words:

> For RoTW,

Republic of Tunbridge Wells?

--
Skipweasel.
Ivor Cutler - "Never knowingly understood."

In message >
"Hairy One Kenobi" ]> wrote:

> On the TT, one has (or "had" in my case..) a small plastic "wallet" key.
>
> It has an immobiliser chip - which means that you can start the car - but,
> in the UK it doesn't disable the alarm. "Thatcham" rules. Apparently.
>
> For RoTW, AFAIK, it will disable the alarm/immobiliser and generally act as
> a "normal" key.
>
> The service key is marked with a sort of hammer symbol (refreshingly
> honest!), and will not open the glovebox or (allegedly) boot [trunk]. It
> lacks the groove of the normal keys (take a look..)

I can't remember what came with my 1996 A4, but my 2000 A6 was delivered
with one of these 'service' keys. However, my wife's 2003 A2 and my
2003 RS6 only came with two standard folding keys and a plastic key.
Have Audi stopped issuing the service keys?

--
Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with 'bellfamily')