Question 1

My key blade snapped off inside my door lock. Can you get it out?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it comes up more than you'd think on the A7. The emergency blade on this fob is the one you physically insert into the door lock when the fob battery dies or the handle sensors stop responding. When owners force it at an angle or the lock cylinder is stiff, the blade can shear off inside.

Extraction on a door lock cylinder is careful work. The goal is to remove the broken piece without damaging the cylinder pins. In most cases we can get it out, cut a new blade from the original key code or by decoding the lock, and you're back to a functioning door entry. If the cylinder itself took damage in the process, that's a separate repair, but the extraction itself usually goes cleanly when the right tools are used.

Question 2

What exactly is a smart key and how does the 2015 A7 use it?

Accepted Answer

The fob communicates with the vehicle electronically to authorize starting. You keep it in your pocket, approach the car, and the system detects it. The A7 also has a backup for when the fob battery is dead: there is an induction spot, typically near the steering column or center console, where you can hold the fob directly against the surface. The car reads the transponder inside the fob passively, without needing the battery, and allows the start sequence to proceed.

The fob on this car has four buttons. It also contains an emergency blade that folds inside the housing, used for the door lock when the fob battery is fully depleted.

If the fob shell cracks or a button stops actuating, the internal components can often be moved into a replacement housing without reprogramming the whole key. That saves time and cost compared to registering an entirely new fob to the system.

Question 3

My A7 is showing a key-not-detected warning. What should I check first?

Accepted Answer

Start with the fob battery. A CR2032 that reads low on a tester can still cause intermittent detection failures on these cars before it dies completely. Pop the fob open, swap in a fresh cell, make sure it sits flat and the contacts are clean.

If the battery is fine and you're still getting the warning, try the backup start location. Hold the fob directly against the induction area near the steering column. If the car starts that way, the fob is communicating but the battery or the wireless side has an issue.

If neither of those works, the fault is deeper. On this generation, a module communication dropout after a battery disconnect or a low-voltage event can produce a no-detection condition that has nothing to do with the fob itself. That requires diagnostic equipment to read what the system is actually reporting before assuming the key needs replacement.

Question 4

I bought a replacement fob online. Can I program it myself or do I need a shop?

Accepted Answer

You need a shop. There is no self-programming sequence for the 2015 A7 smart key. Registering a new fob to the vehicle security system requires diagnostic equipment connected through the OBD port and proper security authorization. The fob you bought is a blank until that step is done.

Bring it in and we can program it. Just confirm the fob you purchased is compatible with this vehicle before you call, since aftermarket fobs vary in quality and not all of them respond reliably to the programming process.

Question 5

What happens if I lose both keys for my 2015 A7? Is all-keys-lost a big deal?

Accepted Answer

It is a bigger job than adding a spare, yes. When no working key exists, the process requires security-level access to the vehicle's immobilizer before any new key can be registered. On this generation, that involves specific tooling and, depending on the path taken, may require either direct module access or factory security credentials to pull the authorization data. It is not an OBD-only, ten-minute job.

The upside is that it is a well-understood procedure for shops that work on this platform regularly. The old missing fobs get wiped from the system in the process, so they cannot be used to start the car if someone finds them. Plan for more time on site than a standard spare-key job, and call ahead so I have the right parts ready.

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