VW Scirocco Key Fob Failure: Quick Battery Check Needed

I experienced similar issues with my 2014 VW Golf TDI. The electronic key started acting unreliable, first with inconsistent door locking, then completely stopped responding. The car key battery was the root cause, a simple fix that took minutes at the garage. The diagnosis showed the CR2032 battery in the auto key had dropped below operational voltage. While the physical key blade still worked for manual door entry, the electronic components like keyless entry and push-start were affected. The dead key symptoms matched exactly: error messages on the dash, inconsistent central locking, and increased starting resistance. After battery replacement, the system required a quick resync by turning the key in the ignition several times. This is typically not a serious issue requiring extensive repairs. The car key battery replacement resolved all electronic key functions. Worth checking this simple fix before investigating more complex electrical problems with the vehicle itself. Just ensure using quality batteries suitable for car keys, cheaper ones can drain faster and potentially cause similar symptoms again within months rather than years.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Same symptoms hit me last month with my Scirocco, really good to hear the fob battery sorted it for you. What did the battery replacement end up costing? Mine is showing those exact problems now with the error messages and dodgy central locking. Just wondering if any other issues popped up since you had yours fixed or if the low battery was definitely the only culprit?

Got my key fob fixed last week, the low voltage warning is completely gone now. The auto key works perfectly again after the battery replacement, which cost me 37€ including the new CR2032 battery and the resync procedure. Since the repair, all remote functions are working flawlessly, central locking, boot release, everything. The key battery warning disappeared from the dash immediately after the fix, and there have been zero issues since then. No other electrical problems emerged, confirming the fob battery was indeed the only problem. Looking back, it was actually a pretty straightforward fix. Just make sure the shop uses a quality battery for your key fob, that makes a big difference in how long it lasts. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I experienced, so you should be good to go after a simple battery swap.

Thanks for the input. Just got back from my mechanic and wanted to share how it went. The electronic key issues were indeed just a dead key battery. Total bill came to 42€ for the battery replacement and programming, definitely better than I feared. The whole process took about 20 minutes. They popped open the auto key, swapped the old battery, and did a quick resync. All the error messages cleared up right away and the keyless entry is working perfectly again. Really relieved it was just a low battery situation and not something more serious with the car's electronics. For anyone else seeing similar symptoms, definitely check the key battery first before assuming the worst. My central locking and all other functions are back to normal now. Time and money well spent compared to what I was worried it might be.