Audi A5 Central Locking Failure: Fix Guide & Costs

I had a similar issue with my 2011 Audi A4. As someone with low experience in car repairs, I initially tried checking the fuse box myself but found no obvious issues. The central locking system completely failed, just like yours. The key fob stopped responding, and the security system would out of nowhere activate. After attempting basic troubleshooting, I took it to a workshop where they diagnosed a faulty wiring connection in the door. The cable connection to the central locking mechanism had deteriorated over time. The repair took about 2 hours and cost 95 Euro, which included labor and replacing the damaged wiring. They also reprogrammed the key fob as part of the service. Much better than replacing the entire locking mechanism. Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you provide: Have you noticed any other electrical issues? Does the manual key still work in the driver door? Are there any warning lights on the dashboard? Did the problem start suddenly or gradually? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if its something different with your car locks.

Last service at 118189 KM. The manual door key still works fine, but the problem started suddenly 2 days ago. No warning lights on the dashboard, and all other electrical systems work normally. The car alarm sometimes triggers without reason when using the manual key. After reading your experience, I checked the door wiring but couldnt spot any obvious damage. The remote locking system seems completely dead, no clicking sounds or LED flashes on the key fob when pressing buttons. Even tried a new battery in the key fob without success. Will probably need to visit a workshop since diagnosing the central locking system requires special tools. Just hoping its a similar wiring issue like yours and not a complete keyless entry module replacement.

Thanks for the additional details. Based on what you described, your symptoms sound very similar to what I experienced, but there might be a key difference. In my case, I could hear faint clicking from the doors when using the key fob, even though the central locking wasnt working properly. The complete silence from your key fob suggests the issue might be with the keyless entry module itself rather than just the door wiring. Before heading to the workshop, consider trying one more thing that helped diagnose my problem: On a completely cold car in the morning, try the remote locking system. If it works momentarily when cold but fails after the car warms up, this often points to a failing control module rather than wiring. My repair was straightforward because it was just damaged wiring, but a faulty control module typically costs between 200-400 Euro plus programming. The unusual alarm triggers you mentioned are also a classic sign of a failing module in these models. The good news is the security system can usually be repaired without replacing the entire central locking mechanism. A specialized workshop should be able to diagnose whether its the module or wiring within an hour of testing.

From the perspective of the initial poster: Thanks for sharing such detailed information about your experience. I tried your suggestion this morning with the cold start test, and interestingly, the remote locking still didnt respond at all. This seems to confirm your suspicion about the keyless entry module rather than just a wiring issue. The price range you mentioned for the control module repair is actually better than I expected. I was worried the entire central locking mechanism would need replacement, which would have been much more expensive. Already booked an appointment at a workshop for next week. Really appreciate the troubleshooting tips, especially about checking the system when cold. Even though my issue might be different from your door wiring problem, understanding the various failure points in these locking systems has been helpful. Will update once I get the diagnosis from the workshop. The unusual alarm activation is getting quite annoying, so hopefully they can sort everything out in one visit. At least the manual key still works as a backup while I wait for the repair.