This has happened twice now. I get in thew car. Insert key. Key won't turn. Everything seems to be seized up. After 5 minutes of wrestling with the wheel and the gear level I eventually get it to work after wrenching the steering wheel very firmly.  Anyone else had this issue ??

It sounds as if the steering lock is not disengaging. When turn the ignition off are you still turning the wheel or do you release it first?

Leaving the steering near full lock when switching off can apply pressure to steering lock also 

Car was parked straight. But thanks for the suggestion

On 11/17/2025 at 1:23 PM, cliffcoggin said:

It sounds as if the steering lock is not disengaging. When turn the ignition off are you still turning the wheel or do you release it first?

Couldn't say but very unlikely.  Car going in for examination in a couple of weeks - will report .

3 hours ago, willsill said:

 Car going in for examination in a couple of weeks - will report .

Please do.

Do you have a report for us John?

Not yet I'm afraid.  Car to workshop next week.

My car went into the local Vindis/Audi garage today.  I cant really report a satisfactory result because the "fault" couldn't be reproduced in the workshop. ( I'm not too surprised as I have only experienced it twice in the last 6 months).  The dealer's service department tell me the it is actually a battery fault. Heaven knows what fault exactly but their analyst said it is a BM3 issue - whatever that is. They feel that I am leaving the car idle for too long a period.  In fact I use it 3 or 4 days a week albeit for local journeys though I do go on a 120 mile journey about every 6 weeks and then 120 miles back. Of course, they say this is not a warranty fault so I have to pay up. Curiously my "spare" key - which I never use apparently does not work at all. I would have imagined that would be covered but no. I have had the car since 3 months after it was registered in Feb 2021 and, curiously, some months later it suffered a flat battery . The AA man I called out said he thought the battery was faulty but I don't have evidence of that. Now the garage say they have to reprogram both keys because of this battery problem. I can't understand why.  Perhaps some tekkie expert on this forum can tell me.

Modern keys have 2 types of function, if your key does not start the car when held up to the designated area then the graphite immobiliser component has failed which is extremely rare. This component has a preset code that cannot be changed and the cars ecu gets taught the code when keys are programmed in.

the second part of the key is for entry to the vehicle, this is what the circuit board and battery on the key does, this works on a rolling code basis and can lose its programming but on many cars this can be recalibrated with special diagnostic tools.

 keyless start cars use the battery in the key to extend the range of the graphite chip and extra antennas in the vehicle pick this up. That’s why if the battery in the key fails you can still Start the car by holding the key close to its designated place. 
what function of your key does not work 

On 12/22/2025 at 9:12 PM, willsill said:

 I have had the car since 3 months after it was registered in Feb 2021 and, curiously, some months later it suffered a flat battery . The AA man I called out said he thought the battery was faulty but I don't have evidence of that. Now the garage say they have to reprogram both keys because of this battery problem. I can't understand why.  Perhaps some tekkie expert on this forum can tell me.

If there is any suspicion regarding the battery you would do well to get it tested professionally. It may have been damaged when it was allowed to go flat.

That's one suggestion and one question you have had regarding the problem John, but it seems we have wasted our time responding if you are not going to read them.

2 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

That's one suggestion and one question you have had regarding the problem John, but it seems we have wasted our time responding if you are not going to read them.

Im sorry but i dont read these posts regularly!  Audi garagecharged me a couple of hundred quid to reprogram boththekeys  problem hasnt reoccurred but it was intermittent anyway.  Probablygoing tobuy a new battery for tge first time in at least40 years

55 minutes ago, willsill said:

Im sorry but i dont read these posts regularly!  

In that case I shall add nothing more to the topic.