Smiley50

I have a 2017 A8L with one key that works fine. I bought it used with 1,460 miles on it in around July, 2018. The other factory key would not work. Took car in for one year maintenance with 6200 miles on it and asked for key to be checked. Dealer confirmed key is manufacturer one for car but said it was not programmed and charge would be about $235.00 to do it. Does Audi sell their cars without programming the second key they supply?

Twglasgow

MP4.2+6.0

For OP, not enough info here to assess. Where did you buy the used car? An Audi dealer? Somewhere else? If dealer, CPO or non- CPO?

Smiley50

MP4.2+6.0

No, try a different and more likely theory about second key situation. Car new of course had two keys. It actually had a third plastikey too. Then owner #1 lost one. Then owner #1 bought a replacement, never had it programmed and got away with it if a lease turn in or some such. Or dealership from private sale to you pulled same thing if they acquired car with only one key, or an intermediary auction wholesaler might have done it. If you ever wondered where a lot of those keys on eBay or manual sets come from, these sort of fact patterns also fit unfortunately when second keys mysteriously vanish at times.

BTW, if you order a key by VIN frim dealer, it is cut correctly for your car if you pull out the blade part from the fob. You should check to see if that actually matches your working key and your car. If it is some other cut design, I would speculate you may have an already programmed and then worthless eBay type key. If uncut, probably same. If cut to match your car, then maybe it is still unprogrammed as mentioned earlier, and then it would be usable if you (or selling used car dealer (when pigs fly perhaps...)) pay to have it done.

Meantime, net Audi has really nothing to do with this. Issue is somewhere with prior owner, the used car selling dealership, or in that used car distribution chain.

Smiley50

Audi USA was polite and not really informative. They don't know if the car was manufactured with 2 working keys or sold with 2. Referred me back to local dealer where I will pay the $235-300 for programming. Still seems strange as dealer confirmed the key operated door locks and windows.

MP4.2+6.0

Have you checked the actual key side cut? Either look at it visually against the known good one, or stick it in something like hidden trunk key slot or glove box and see if it turns/works.

Smiley50

It works. Just won't start car.

Twglasgow

MP4.2+6.0

Works, as in it unlocks and lock the doors by clicking it, or works as in the physical cut of the key portion that you can pull out of the fob and then physically stick in the glove box lock, hidden trunk lock, etc. ? Two different things, and if the latter doesn't match it's a bogus key in general.