TSHong

That's what I was thinking.

mishar

As a starter I would not trust him. I think he knows more about that "poof" but it would make him reliable ($$$). Than, if I am there, I would follow those 12.5V and find where the line is broken. Most certainly not at the key recognition module.

Anyways, make a good record of everything. You may need it.

storka

Yes probably start at the battery and see if any power is getting to the wiring

mishar

Just jumping it with another battery (negative pole or shiny hexagonal) wouldn't hurt anything, but those fast chargers supply higher voltage, so jumping with them can likely burn some modules.

aTOMic

I spoke to him just now and the dash lights DO come on... I apologize for wasting everyone's time with incorrect assertions

I'd have sworn he said the lights were dead. Back to the search.

Thanks for all the help, guys.

aTOMic

To be continued... bypass key recognition so I don't have to replace THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN

storka

I don't think that can be done
Can you get a scan on it ?

ltooz_a6_a8_q7

As I understand the system, the immobilizer is activated if an authorized key is used to turn on the engine since the ignition is NOT keyed (you can put in any key and turn it on) when the engine started, it will check the key and immobilize the system. I believed the "Indy Master" might used a wrong key from another car to start the car and activated the immobilizer, hence the battery is still good (never dead in the first place). He knows, that's why he recommended to take the car to the dealer. Nothing may NOT be wrong with your car, may be just an operator error.
I would bring all the spare keys and try to make sure nothing else is the problems (the immobilizer key should appear on the dash - at least on my brother's 2000 A8). Tow the car to the dealer to get all keys reprogram to take the car out of immobilization.
That's how I believe immobilization work. Nothing just died over night even with battery dead. No jumping/charging car correctly would fry anything.
Why sit and start worrying about replacing things when we have no ideas what happened. If I have to take my car an hour away to anyone to fix my car, I would not own that kind of car. I don't care how many years of a technician have on something, if the experience is doing wrong things all those years, don't mean squat. Ask me how I know, I've interviewed engineers with 15 years experienced of doing nothing and wrong ways.

Cheers and good luck,

Louis

storka

+ 1
Flatbed to the dealer
I know the ignition switches work for any key
I have 3 of them and they all work with my key
I don't know if using a wrong key would do it
Just don't let the dealer sell you new thousand dollar modules and give you the bs about not being able to adapt used modules
Also watch they don't break your steering lock while it's dead in the water
Make sure they use wheel rollers

storka

Have you tried the key matching with the vcd ?
If the keys are already coded it may work.
When I was swapping out Kessys a while back my keys did not work and I used the vcds and it worked.
Worth a try!,
Ross-Tech: VAG-COM: Remote Control Matching Info