You hop in your TDI and push the start button, but instead of hearing your diesel come to life you see this in your cluster. 

The features on newer TDIs are nice to have: keyless entry, push button starting, and the ability to lock the doors by touching the driver’s door handle, all the while keeping your key safely in your pocket. However, they do take a toll on key battery life, and many TDI drivers experience dead key batteries much more frequently than they have with older cars. 

If your TDI has push button start, you already know to hold the key near the ignition lock barrel so it can read the immobilizer and you can start the car.

So you’re good to go. And when you get to your destination, you might still be able to lock your car with the remote or by touching the door handle. However, when you return to your car, touching the handle may not unlock the door. And the door handle is a smooth surface, no key slot. Or so it appears. 

But there’s a way in. There’s a slot on the bottom side of the back of the driver’s door handle where you can insert the switchblade key to pry the cover off the handle. 

Once that pops free, simply use the switchblade key to unlock the door. You’re in!

Now you can open your key and replace the battery. This one (2015 Golf) takes a CR2025. Depending on your TDI’s year and model, it may use a different battery. 

Diesel on!