2012 Audi A7
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

2012 Audi A7 Smart Key Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

Out in Rancho Santa Fe, near Fairbanks Ranch, I got a call from someone who had already been through it once before I arrived.

He had found one of those bait-and-switch locksmith ads while searching from his phone. They quoted a low flat rate on the phone. The tech who showed up had a generic tool, ran through some motions, handed the key back, and took payment. The key would unlock the door and turn the ignition. The car would crank, fire for a second, and immediately die. Classic sign that the key was not properly enrolled in the immobilizer. The guy paid for something that did not work, and the company was not answering callbacks.

He found me through Google Guaranteed and his first question was direct: how do I know you are legitimate.

I gave him my BSIS license number on the spot. BSIS is California's Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, the state body that licenses locksmiths, requires background checks, and mandates active insurance. He pulled up the state verification page while we were still on the phone and confirmed it himself before I drove out. That is exactly what someone should do.

When I got there, I connected my programmer to the OBD port, ran the full immobilizer sequence for the A7, and enrolled the smart fob correctly. All four buttons confirmed working. Engine started and stayed running. No stall, no warning on the dash.

He asked what the dealer would have charged to fix the other guy's mess. I told him to call and ask, but that my price for the whole job was a fraction of what they wanted. He just nodded and said he wished he had called me first.

BSIS Licensed

LCO#6792

CA Bureau of Security & Investigative Services

NASTF Certified

National Automotive Service Task Force

Fully Insured

Liability & vehicle damage coverage

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