Haha, the record is so blurry that I don't even know, but it wasn't any error etc.

I do have 3 keys in total, but yes, only use one, with the others sitting in the cupboard.. Good shout, might be a faulty key as well.. As far as I know no synchronisation is required, I always try to do it in minimum time - have new battery ready and change it in matter of seconds, done it few times and never had to code/synchronise it.

With the key batteries, I'm sure in the past I was getting a message saying to replace the battery, this time absolutely nothing, despite some logs as shown in VCDS.

Of course tried to start the car 3-4 more times today, and starts like nothing happened. I seriously hope that perhaps it was a low key battery, but I not know for sure :D

Definitely check the dealers before I go.

6 minutes ago, rbss said:

but it wasn't any error etc.

Are you sure it looked like a lock, do you have the amber triangle of doom with your dash.

4 minutes ago, rbss said:

with the others sitting in the cupboard

How close to the car are those keys for radio signal, could both or all three be fighting for the car's attention, is that how it works, I forget, as you can guess I dislike them, I'm already too good at forgetting keys.

Years ago after a service for my wife's Vauxhall (GM unfortunately) when the remote battery was replaced as part of the service a little after my wife said the remote was playing up (I always used the keyblade, that also synchronised the remote) I took the remote apart to look at the battery, it didn't look like it was sitting right but that might have been me taking things apart, tested the voltage with my multimeter, 3.2v, great, gave the battery a wipe both side checked the remote contacts and put the remote back together, synchronise the remote and it never played up again. I can't be sure but I think the garage might not have nicely located the battery in the remote but I could have been wrong.

Also some have found hopefully cheap or very old batteries may show a good voltage but still not work well.

And of course you want to install the correct battery 2025 is 20mm across and 2.5mm deep and 2032 are 20mm across and ... well guess.

Putting a 2025 instead of a 2032 isn't a good idea and probably not the over way either, though both are nominal 3v.

I would separate the three keys from each other and keep out of distance of the car or in a metal tin each if kept indoors and alternate their use. Also check the battery in each.

Some say this make of battery is good, others another make, I use the expensive Duracell for my wife's car as I don't like walking 2 miles to her work on literally the coldest day of the year when a remote plays up (failed actually only £180 to replace). I've used Poundland strips of button batteries before and they have all been fine and long lasting but I would never risk it on my wife's car or any VW product.

The other two keys are sitting far away from the car, don't think they would be interfering.

btw. the message that was showing before during the start is the standard "safelock" message.

Started the car few times yesterday, three times today, starts ok just now....

Spoke to Fifetech Auto, they gave me a list of things to check, but so far all these things do look ok, and since this is intermittent issue, it will be a nightmare to diagnose...

Skoda Aberdeen are happy to book me for diagnosis .... on the last day of July :D:D:D

Love how you can explain to them - this is the car, this is the issue, this is my timescales... "ok, let me check and call you back asap" - when they call you back after 2hrs, they say wrong car, wrong issue, and completely outside the dates you mentioned ... :D

Thanks for confirming Safelock message, I can't even remember if my wife's 2015 Fabia shows a lock symbol but it's not a large symbol if it does.

If the other two keys can lock or unlock the car from where they are then they're in range at least.

Not all faults are picked up by the computers and/or report as error codes but if you could put up that VCDS full report some may see something in that, particularly if the car is play up at the time but still worth looking at perhaps even if not, someone here or on this site's 'VCDS & Diagnostics' forum.

Or perhaps someone near you with a VCDS too that knows about such stuff may be able to help you, have a look on the VCDS owners map. - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/262215-list-of-vcds-owners-previously-known-as-vag-com-vcp-owners/#comment-3091029