Question 1

Do I have to go to the Audi dealer to get a replacement key for my 2017 A5?

Accepted Answer

No. A mobile locksmith with the right equipment can cut and program a replacement key on site, wherever your car is parked. Audi owners often assume the dealer is the only option because a lot of general locksmiths pass on Audi work. The dealer route involves ordering by VIN, waiting on parts, and scheduling a programming appointment that can stretch out days. One visit, same day, right at your location is how we handle it.

Question 2

My 2017 A5 has a mechanical flip key. What does that actually mean for replacement?

Accepted Answer

It means the key folds into the housing and flips out when you press the release, kind of like a pocketknife. The key itself has two jobs: the blade has to be cut correctly to turn the lock and ignition, and the transponder chip inside the key has to be recognized by the immobilizer before the engine will run.

If only one of those is right, the car either will not turn on or will start and immediately stall. A correctly cut blade that has not been programmed gets rejected. A programmed chip on a badly cut blade will not even turn the cylinder. Both have to be right, and we handle both on site in a single visit.

There are no remote buttons on this key type, no lock or unlock, no fob battery to worry about. It is a key. It turns in a lock. That simplicity is actually nice because there is less to go wrong over time.

Question 3

How long does the Audi dealer process actually take for a replacement key on an A5?

Accepted Answer

Longer than most people expect. Owners on Audizine and AudiWorld have posted about being told keys need to be sourced and that the process takes several days from authorization to pickup. Some waited longer when the part was not in regional stock. Even when everything goes smoothly, you are looking at dropping the car off, waiting, and making a second trip.

We do it in one visit, on site, usually under an hour.

Question 4

I lost my only key for my 2017 A5. Can a new key still be made without the original?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is one of the more common calls I get. All-keys-lost on the A5 is a real job with a defined process. Without an original key present, I decode the door lock cylinder to get the correct key profile, then cut the blade to match. Programming a first key into a vehicle that currently has no recognized keys requires the right diagnostic equipment and takes longer than adding a spare to a working key, but it is absolutely doable on site.

What you want to avoid is waiting on the dealer if you are already stranded. Call a mobile locksmith who specifically works on European vehicles. Not every shop takes on Audi all-keys-lost jobs, but it is well within reach for someone equipped for it.

Question 5

My 2017 A5 starts and then immediately stalls. Could this be the key?

Accepted Answer

That specific pattern, starts then cuts out right away, points to the immobilizer not recognizing the transponder chip. The engine fires because the mechanical part of the key turned the ignition, then the vehicle security system steps in and shuts it down because the chip did not check out.

This can happen with a worn or damaged original key, a key that was cut but never programmed, or occasionally a communication issue between the key and the immobilizer. It is something I diagnose and sort out on site. Do not keep cranking the engine repeatedly if you see this pattern. Call a locksmith who handles European vehicles and describe exactly what you are seeing.

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