Question 1

How long does the Audi dealer take for key replacement on a 1997 S4?

Accepted Answer

It varies, but owners of late-1990s Audis consistently report that the dealer experience is slower than it should be for what is ultimately a mechanical key job. Some service advisors still route these through parts ordering even when a qualified locksmith could cut one on site in minutes. If the dealer needs to look up the key code by VIN and order a blank, you might be waiting a day or two. If there is any question about the ignition cylinder, that conversation stretches further.

With me, a mechanical key for a 1997 S4 is same-day. I come to you in Bayside, decode or copy the existing key, cut the replacement on site, and test it before I leave. No appointment queue, no parts delay.

Question 2

What is a mechanical key and is that really all a 1997 Audi S4 needs?

Accepted Answer

A mechanical key is exactly what it sounds like: a metal key cut to match your vehicle's locks and ignition cylinder. No remote buttons, no battery, no wireless signal. The 1997 S4 uses this type of key.

One thing worth knowing: some keys from this era carry an anti-theft element that works alongside the ignition. I do not assert the 1997 S4 has none of that, because stating an absence confidently can be wrong. What I can tell you is this: if the key turns and the car runs normally, the cut key is the whole job. If the key turns and the engine starts then immediately stalls, that points to an anti-theft component, and that is something I diagnose and handle on site rather than something you solve with a different key blank.

Question 3

Why does the dealer process take so long even for an older Audi key?

Accepted Answer

Three things slow it down. First, dealer service departments are organized around scheduled appointments and bay availability, not walk-in key cutting. Second, advisors sometimes over-complicate older mechanical key jobs by running them through parts procurement channels that were built for newer, more involved key systems. Third, if there is any ambiguity about the cylinder condition or the key code on file, the job stalls while someone makes phone calls.

None of that applies to a mobile job. I show up, decode the key or work from the existing blade, cut it on site, and test it in your locks. Thirty minutes, your driveway in Bayside, done.

Question 4

My 1997 S4 key works in the door but feels stiff in the ignition. Do I need a new key or a new cylinder?

Accepted Answer

Stiff in the ignition but fine in the door usually points to the ignition cylinder, not the key. The door and ignition cylinders wear independently, and the ignition takes more abuse because it carries the weight of a keychain every day for decades. Worn wafer tumblers inside the cylinder are the common culprit on vehicles this age.

That said, rule out the key first. If the blade has any visible wear, bending, or if it was copied from a worn original, a freshly decoded cut can sometimes free things up. If a new cut still binds, the cylinder itself needs attention. I can assess both on site.

Question 5

I lost the only key to my 1997 S4. Can a replacement still be made without the original?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When there is no original key to copy or decode from, a locksmith can decode the lock directly by reading the tumblers in the door lock or ignition cylinder. From that reading, a replacement blade gets cut to the correct specification.

It takes a bit longer than copying an existing key, but it is a fully standard process for a vehicle this age. You do not need the original, and you do not need to tow it anywhere. I can do the work on site in Bayside with the car exactly where it sits.

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