Question 1

How long does the Audi dealer take for a key replacement on a 2009 S4?

Accepted Answer

Longer than it should. The typical dealer path on a 2009 S4 runs like this: they need to verify ownership and VIN before they will even order the key, the physical key may need to come from their parts network which adds days, and then you need a programming appointment during service hours once it arrives. Owners on Audi forums describe calling Monday, getting told the key would be ready Thursday at the earliest, and still waiting for a callback Friday.

On my end, I carry stock for this generation. Cut it, program it through the OBD port, test it, done in under an hour at your location. No appointment, no weekday requirement, no waiting on shipping.

Question 2

What exactly is a remote flip key and what does mine do?

Accepted Answer

It is a key where the blade folds into the housing when you are not using it and flips out with a button press. Your 2009 S4 uses a 3-button version. The housing contains both the transponder chip, which the immobilizer reads to authorize the start, and the remote electronics for the lock and unlock functions. The blade and the remote share one unit but talk to two completely separate systems in the car. One handles security and starting. The other handles the door locks. You can have a dead fob battery and still start the car as long as the chip is enrolled. You can have a perfectly paired remote and still not start the car if the chip lost its registration.

Question 3

Why does the dealer take so long with Audi key programming?

Accepted Answer

Three bottlenecks. First, parts sourcing. Even for a key that looks like it should be on a shelf, dealers frequently have to order, and the timeline on that varies. Second, scheduling. Programming requires a technician with the right software during service hours, and bay time at a busy dealer is not always available same-day or even same-week. Third, the programming process itself requires the dealer's diagnostic software to connect to their authorization servers, and if anything in that handshake does not go cleanly, the job stalls while they troubleshoot.

A job that takes 30 to 45 minutes at your car becomes a multi-day event when you layer in ordering, scheduling, and the possibility of a sync hiccup. Mobile service skips all three of those bottlenecks.

Question 4

I bought a replacement fob online for my 2009 S4. Can I program it myself?

Accepted Answer

Not for the transponder side. The remote portion of these older Audi flip keys does have an onboard pairing sequence that some owners have used successfully, but that only syncs the remote functions, meaning lock and unlock. It does nothing for the transponder chip inside the housing. The chip still has to be enrolled to your immobilizer through a diagnostic tool connected to the OBD port. So if you bought an aftermarket fob online, you have the hardware, but you still need a locksmith or technician to finish the job. Bring it along when you call me and I can work with it if it is the correct unit for your car.

Question 5

My 2009 S4 key starts the car but the remote stopped working. Do I need a whole new key?

Accepted Answer

Probably not. If the car starts fine, the transponder chip is still enrolled and doing its job. The remote module is a separate circuit. Start with the CR2032 battery, those go flat without much warning and a weak cell gives you shortened range before it quits entirely. Pop the fob open, check that the battery is seated flat and the contacts are not corroded. If a fresh CR2032 does not fix it, the remote may need to be re-synced to the car. That is a quick procedure. A full key replacement is the last resort, not the first move.

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