Question 1

Do you use OEM or aftermarket keys on Audi vehicles?

Accepted Answer

For the 2006 TT specifically, the key has to carry the correct transponder chip internally, not just look right on the outside. The immobilizer on these mid-2000s VAG cars is specific about what it will pair with. A shell that's missing the right internal hardware, or carries a chip type that doesn't match what the immobilizer expects, will crank the engine and stall it every time.

We use keys built to OEM spec, meaning the correct blade profile, the correct chip, and the correct remote board for the factory FCC ID. Aftermarket housings vary in quality. Some are fine. Some have sloppy flip mechanisms that wear out fast or chip holders that don't seat securely. We source parts that hold up to daily use and match what the immobilizer needs to accept them the first time.

Question 2

How long will a replacement key last on a 2006 TT?

Accepted Answer

The programming itself doesn't wear out. Once the transponder is learned by the immobilizer, that relationship is permanent as long as the chip stays intact.

What does wear out on these flip keys is mechanical: the pivot pin, the spring in the flip mechanism, and the shell itself. Audi TT owners on VAG forums have documented the blade hinge loosening after a few years of daily use, especially if the key lives in a pocket with other metal. The fix is usually a shell swap, which preserves the original chip and keeps you from having to reprogram anything.

Battery changes on the remote side are straightforward. CR2032, swap it when the range drops off. The remote board itself can last the life of the car if it's not physically damaged.

Question 3

What if the replacement key stops working after a few weeks?

Accepted Answer

Call us. Our work is covered under warranty.

That said, when a correctly programmed key stops working on a mid-2000s Audi, the car is usually where I start looking, not the key. A weak vehicle battery can cause the immobilizer to behave erratically. A CAN bus fault can interrupt communication between the immobilizer module and the engine control module in a way that looks exactly like a bad key. VAG forum threads on the TT generation are full of owners who replaced keys twice before someone checked the vehicle battery voltage under load.

We don't just hand you a new fob and send you off. We troubleshoot what's actually happening.

Question 4

The remote buttons on my 2006 TT stopped working but the car still starts fine. Do I need a whole new key?

Accepted Answer

Probably not. On this flip key, the transponder and the remote are two separate functions sharing one housing. If the car starts normally, the transponder chip is doing its job. The remote side failing on its own usually points to one of three things: dead CR2032, a cracked solder joint on the remote board from the key being dropped, or the remote frequency losing its sync with the car's receiver.

Start with the battery. CR2032, make sure it seats flat against clean contacts. If the range came back but is still short, try the resync procedure through the door lock. If the board is cracked internally from impact, that's a remote board swap, not a full key replacement. The chip stays, the programming stays, and you're not paying for a full all-keys-lost job over a dead battery or a hairline crack.

Question 5

Can I program a second key for my 2006 TT myself at home?

Accepted Answer

No. The immobilizer on the 2006 TT requires VAG-compatible diagnostic equipment to add a key. There's no ignition-turn sequence or button trick that works on this generation. The key learning process communicates directly with the immobilizer module through the OBD port, and without the right software handshake, the module simply won't register the new transponder.

If you already have one working key and want a spare added, that's a faster job than all-keys-lost and costs less. Worth doing before you're locked out and calling from a parking lot.

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