These instructions apply to the Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 (AD) 2016-Present. For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
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The Volkswagen Tiguan (Mk2 / AD, 2016–Present) is mostly fitted with Keyless Access and a START/STOP button, especially on the popular Life, Elegance and R-Line trims. When the fob’s coin cell dies the remote buttons go quiet, but the SUV will still start once you hold the dead fob against the steering column reader.
Start the Tiguan Mk2 with a dead fob
- Open the car with the emergency blade first (next section), then sit in the driver’s seat and shut the door.
- Press and hold the brake pedal.
- Locate the key-and-signal symbol on the right side of the steering column, just below the wiper stalk. That recess houses the back-up reader coil.
- Hold the flat face of the fob against the symbol and keep it there.
- Press the START/STOP button while pressing the fob in place; the engine starts.
If the cluster shows “key not found,” re-seat the fob squarely on the symbol — the reader only works at very close range.
Unlock the Tiguan Mk2 with the emergency key blade
- Press the release on the side of the fob and pull the metal blade out of the body.
- At the driver’s door handle, find the cap on the outer end. Insert the blade into the slot underneath it and lever the cap off to expose the lock barrel.
- Turn the blade in the barrel to unlock. Opening this way may set the alarm chirping until you start the engine.
Why the immobiliser still recognises a dead fob
The Tiguan’s fob battery only runs the remote-lock buttons and the keyless proximity signal. The chip that authorises the engine is a passive RFID transponder powered by the car’s reader coil, not the coin cell. So even a completely flat fob held against the column gives the immobiliser everything it needs to let the engine run.
Replace the fob battery
The Tiguan Mk2 remote takes one CR2032 3V lithium coin cell. Slide out the emergency blade, split the case along the seam with a tape-wrapped flat tool, lift out the old cell, and fit the new one + side up. Clip the halves back together and refit the blade — remote and keyless functions return at once with no coding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Tiguan Mk2 definitely have keyless start?
Most do, but base SE/S trims may use a turn-key barrel. If you have a START/STOP button, use the hold-against-the-column method; if you have a key slot, the blade simply starts the car in the barrel.
Where is the back-up reader on the Tiguan?
On the steering column, just below the wiper stalk, marked with a key and signal icon. The fob must touch this spot for the dead-battery start to work.
Can I lock the Tiguan again with the blade?
Yes — turn the blade the other way in the driver’s barrel. It is best to fit a fresh coin cell soon, though, so you regain central locking of all doors and the tailgate.
The tailgate won’t open electrically — related?
It can be. The powered tailgate relies on the same remote/keyless signals, so a dead fob can disable it. Once the car is running and recognised, normal operation returns.
Is it the fob or the 12V battery?
If the doors and dash are totally dead, suspect the car’s 12V battery, not the fob. A weak coin cell only affects the remote, never the vehicle’s electrics.
If a warning light stayed lit after the no-start, look it up on autodtcs.com to be sure it was just the fob and not a stored immobiliser fault.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general guidance only. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions when working on your vehicle. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or any damage resulting from the use of this information.
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