VW Fox Key Fob Failure: Central Locking System Dead

As someone with some experience working on VWs, I had a similar issue with my 2013 VW Polo diesel. The key fob completely stopped responding, leaving me unable to use the remote locking system. After checking the obvious things like the key fob battery, I took it to a workshop where they diagnosed a faulty wiring connection between the central locking control module and the door locks. The cable had worn through due to repeated door movement, causing intermittent failures in the system. The repair involved replacing the damaged wiring and checking all door lock connections. Total cost was 95€ including diagnostic work. Since the fix, the remote locking and car alarm systems have worked perfectly. Before suggesting specific fixes for your Fox, it would help to know: Have you checked the key fob battery? Does manual key entry still work in all doors? Are there any other electrical issues, like interior lights or power windows? Does the car alarm still function normally? Have you noticed any error lights on the dashboard? The fuse box would also be worth checking, as blown fuses can cause similar symptoms. These issues are often fixable without major component replacement, but proper diagnosis is important.

Latest service was done at 81000km. The manual key works fine in all doors, but I am having other electrical quirks, the interior lights flicker occasionally and the power windows are sluggish. No dashboard warning lights though. Already changed the key fob battery but no improvement. The fuse box appears normal after checking, but the security system seems to act up, sometimes the alarm triggers without reason. It looks like multiple issues are developing with the electrical system rather than just the remote locking. Taking it to a workshop tomorrow. Hoping its just a wiring issue like in your case rather than a full keyless entry module replacement. The intermittent door locks problem is really starting to get annoying.

Thanks for providing those additional details. Your symptoms sound very familiar to what I experienced before getting my Polo fixed. The combination of flickering interior lights, sluggish power windows, and unusual alarm triggers strongly suggests a broader electrical issue rather than just faulty door locks. In my case, the worn wiring had created intermittent shorts that affected multiple systems connected to the central locking control module. Since your manual key entry still works, this points more toward wiring or module problems rather than mechanical door lock failure. The security system acting up is another typical sign of electrical gremlins in the system. When the workshop checks your car, ask them to specifically: Test the voltage at all door lock actuators, Check the wiring harness in the door jambs for wear, Scan for fault codes in both the central locking and security system, Verify the ground connections are clean and secure My repair started with similar symptoms and gradually got worse until the key fob stopped working completely. The good news is that fixing the wiring resolved all the electrical quirks, not just the remote locking issue. Let us know what the workshop finds. Despite the multiple symptoms, there is a good chance its all related to the same underlying wiring problem.

Thanks for the input. Just got back from the workshop and wanted to update on what they found. You were right about the wiring, they discovered multiple worn spots in the door harness that were causing all the problems with the keyless entry system. The mechanic showed me where the wiring had rubbed through near the door hinges, which was causing intermittent faults in both the door locks and car alarm. They replaced the damaged sections and checked all the connections to the central locking module. Total bill came to 180€ including parts and labor. More than your repair but still better than replacing the entire locking mechanism. The remote locking now works perfectly again and the other electrical issues have cleared up too, no more flickering lights or unusual alarm triggers. Really glad I asked here first as it helped me understand what to expect. The workshop confirmed it was a fairly common issue they see with aging VWs. Everything is working as it should now, including the security system and power windows.