B8 A4 Advanced Key Stopped Working

[Oz83]

I have a 2010 A4 Allroad and my advanced key will no longer unlock or lock any of the doors. The boot will still unlock and the car still starts with the start button (with the key in my pocket) so it seems to be an issue with the door sensors. The key fob batteries are good.

Here's the thing - I just went away skiing for the weekend and the car wasn't driven for 3 days, although it was unlocked/locked a few times over the first couple of days (using advanced key) to get stuff out of the car. When I came to load the car for the drive home, I noticed the problem and it hasn't worked since.

In the handbook it says that if the car isn't driven for a while the car shuts down the sensors to conserve power, but it doesn't really say how to 'wake' them up again. Does anybody know? I've driven 800km since then so you would think that the battery is now back to full charge.

I did search the internet and it seems that the door handle sensors can be problematic, but I'm out of warranty and I'd rather not take it to Audi for a diagnostic check if there is a simple solution.

Thanks in advance!
Owen

[Dr G]

The door handle sensors in these are properly crap and yes, they can all fail.

Running the car for a few minutes is all it needs even if it's gone into power save mode (low battery).

If you were nearby I'd offer to plug it in and tell you.

[Oz83]

Cheers for the quick reply...and the offer (unfortunately I'm in Sweden) :-)

Looks like a trip to the stealers!

[rufmeister]

Yep, advanced key is useless.

All 4 handles on my q7 need doing, new e only option, would cost me £1200.

They are known to be murder.

I'd love them to all be working, but not at that price!

I did try a second hand handle, on the drivers door, that worked, then failed as well.

[Oz83]

I've been doing some research today...seems that the general consensus is that the handles/sensors are crap, and that most of the problems occur during winter months when it's damp and cold. I'm not too fussed about using the fob to open and lock the car, afterall it's what I've always done.

I read that the sensors/buttons are built into the handles on the Q7 and new handles would have to be painted, hence your rather large quote. On the A4 the sensors can be purchased online for about 80 euros each, so I may be able to do the work myself, depending on what the scan says the problem is.