Audi's key mistake
01-06-2019, 06:08 AM
#21
AudiWorld Member
01-06-2019, 07:22 AM
#22
AudiWorld Member
I attended an outdoor event tonight in an almost pitch-black field. Somewhere in that field, I lost my house keys. Luckily, I keep my car key on a separate key ring.
But what if I had lost my car key? I would be up the creek! I mean, who carries a spare remote key on him or her? With my previous three Audis, I had a small, flat "valet key" that I could keep in my wallet. And believe me, there were many times I was lucky I had it.
But this time around if I had lost my remote key, I would have been in big trouble. I keep my spare car remote key in a safe in my house, but the key to my safe was on my house-key ring, so that's gone, too. So it's not like I could've sent somebody to my house to pick up my spare car key. Luckily, I do have a spare house key and safe key hidden in a safe place, so I was able to get into my house.
Meanwhile, I'm curious about what other Audi owners do about having their spare key available for emergencies.
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But what if I had lost my car key? I would be up the creek! I mean, who carries a spare remote key on him or her? With my previous three Audis, I had a small, flat "valet key" that I could keep in my wallet. And believe me, there were many times I was lucky I had it.
But this time around if I had lost my remote key, I would have been in big trouble. I keep my spare car remote key in a safe in my house, but the key to my safe was on my house-key ring, so that's gone, too. So it's not like I could've sent somebody to my house to pick up my spare car key. Luckily, I do have a spare house key and safe key hidden in a safe place, so I was able to get into my house.
Meanwhile, I'm curious about what other Audi owners do about having their spare key available for emergencies.
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The high-tech answer: Get a Tile.
If I was **really** cynical, I would say this was a plant by someone trying to drum up interest in Tile.
Anyway, regarding the spare key thing: when my wife and I go on a long trip, we each carry our copy of the key. The odds of both of us dropping the keys on an almost pitch-black field is very low.
Last edited by MDAudi; 01-06-2019 at 09:02 AM.
01-06-2019, 09:09 AM
#23
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
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Last edited by A4Driver; 01-06-2019 at 09:13 AM.
01-06-2019, 09:16 AM
#24
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
This is probably what you are referring to about the flat valet key. If however, you have a convenience key where you just press the start button with the fob in proximity, Does that fob allow you to disengage the physical key from the body of the remote, whereby you can physically open the car door? If so, I'd place that physical part that opens the door similar to what I've done on either the rear or front tow hook opening and keep the other part of the remote in the trunk. In a bag that won't allow the transmitter to be recognized by the car and therefore start the car. That is, until the body of the remote is removed from the bag. An EZ pass type bag/pouch to keep the tag from being read.
The current chrome key section you pictured will never fit in my wallet ... and wouldn't start the car, either.
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Last edited by A4Driver; 01-06-2019 at 09:22 AM.
01-06-2019, 11:13 AM
#26
01-06-2019, 11:18 AM
#27
AudiWorld Super User
Just 3D print one isn’t exactly a solution 98% of owners have access to. And how much is a printer relative to an extra key and fob from Audi? I’m sure the key is cheaper
As mentioned the fob starts the car; the shank portion just gets you inside. Without the fob, you’re stuck in place.
but the app also lets you unlock the car, so not sure how or why even a 3D printed, plastic helps to begin with
fact of the matter is, the only way you’re safe, is don’t lose the key to begin with. Anything beyond this will simply range in both cost, inconvenience and time wasted
As mentioned the fob starts the car; the shank portion just gets you inside. Without the fob, you’re stuck in place.
but the app also lets you unlock the car, so not sure how or why even a 3D printed, plastic helps to begin with
fact of the matter is, the only way you’re safe, is don’t lose the key to begin with. Anything beyond this will simply range in both cost, inconvenience and time wasted
01-06-2019, 11:40 AM
#28
AudiWorld Senior Member
A Tile is a decent idea. Maybe I have just been lucky, I haven’t lost my Audi key. Because it never has to come out of my pocket, I just haven’t had any reason to lose it. Now, I have lost car keys before. Several times. Mostly when i had to put my key in the ignition to start the car. I would either get busy and leave the keys in the ignition, or a couple times I set them on the seat while doing other things and forgot them there. My wife is famous for losing her keys, wallet, credit cards, etc. But since having a fob that she doesn’t have take out of her purse, she has been better with her car keys. My main point though is how in the world did this become Audi’s fault? If you lose your keys, you lost your keys. Audi didn’t lose them for you. Really, it is simply pretty much your responsibility to have your keys when you need them. I find Audi’s system is much better. Makes it harder to lose your keys. You can still it, but blaming Audi is just a little weird.
01-06-2019, 01:01 PM
#29
AudiWorld Member
What happens when the car’s battery dies and the doors are locked? And what is the point of the valet key slot on driver’s door when no key is included with the car?
01-06-2019, 02:01 PM
#30
AudiWorld Senior Member
