New old owner’s manual rant

Owner’s manual

Its been some time since we had an owner’s manual to rant about, but we have one now, on a 2008 Audi Q7.

We were contacted by the owner of said Audi, actually a 2007 model, which evidently has a mechanical key start back up for the keyless start system. But when he or she I tried to use the ignition switch with the physical key, he or she got “the key no key message when turning it to position one.”

So, I went on the hunt. I was unable to find a manual for a 2007, but did find one for the 2008. We now know that Audi offers electronic copies of owner’s manuals beginning in 2008.

In any case, we searched the entire 400 pages of the 2008 manual, and there is literally no mention of a back up start system in the 2008. The model comes in two forms: one that uses a standard ignition switch and one that uses separate Start and Stop buttons on the console. But the manual gives no indication that the ignition switch exists in these models that can be used if the fob’s battery dies.

This is however, exactly how the 2007 model works. The 2007 owner came back to me an hour or so later after I suggested he look for a back up spot in front of the center console. There wasn’t one there, but he tried again with the mechanical key in the ignition switch and it worked. He speculates that he didn’t give the car enough time to recognize the key the first time.

Whatever the answer, it was a good solve on the part of this driver.

The point here is that the 2008 manual, while noting a number of instances where a “key not found” message may appear, is simply unclear as to what to do in these cases and never states that the car can be started either with the Start button or by using the ignition switch.

I will say this. The manual shows that the vehicle is equipped with a valet key and an emergency key, both of which are mechanical keys. This suggests that an ignition switch is available in the 2008 model that will accept the mechanical key as a back-up start option.

We will amend our Audi page to offer this option.

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