More electrical gremlins!

[spidey1]

Hi guys help needed please.

Have searched the site but not found anything quite like this.

S4 cabriolet on 04 plate been sat for almost 2 weeks while away with work. Came to start last night and it started and immediately died. Tried a few times to same effect. Then noticed that I had no power to anything except radio. No DIS or warning lights except abs warning light. Key fob remote then wouldn't work, had to lock/open car with key in driver door.

Checked all fuse and all ok. Read forums, noticed post re electrical funnies with just one dead cell in battery and thought ok, battery is original, so old, hence time to swap as first thing to try. Got a new battery, swapped it out today ( a diff story, but what a pig to get to one beeping bolt to free it)

Anyway, now get std warning lights (i think) and an alarm going off but no change to symptoms. Car starts but dies immediately. Also tried re-synching the key but still won't lock/unlock or turn off the alarm.

Put a new battery in the key fob remote to no avail.

Any ideas? If the key fob isn't talking to car is it immobiliser or more serious?

[aligod78]

I'd get the car battery tested.
Any idea how old that is?

EDIT: Cancel that, skipped that paragraph...

[RoyalMile]

Hi there

It sounds like the transponder isn't recognising your key. Symptoms are that the engine fires up then cuts within two seconds as the immobiliser kicks in. I've had this on two Audis and it was a common problem with the B5. A good auto electrician should be able to advise. Have you tried waiting for a few seconds with the ignition switched on before you crank the engine?

[spidey1]

Have tried the turn ignition, wait 5 seconds, which I think was described somewhere in the owners manual. - no luck.

Tried to get an auto electrician but no one available till monday and was similar money if not more than main dealer, couple I spoke to and described symptoms both said it sounds like key needs re-setting. Odd though that its happened to both keys?!?.

Main dealers have said they'll re-map the keys for £75, but I'll see if that actually works. Hopefully get that done tomorrow or monday.