brandonp

Hey,

So I have put a lot of thinking into this and really can't get to the root of the problem.

Thanks for putting up with the essay, I just want to describe everything I have figured out to give the most detail.

The issue:

• The power windows on my 1999 A4 will roll down when I open the drivers door.
• No other doors opening or closing will cause the windows to go down.
• It happens if I unlock the doors to get in, or when I turn off the car and get out.
• It only happens when the drivers door is opened, not handle pulled.
• It DOES NOT happen if I open the drivers door before shutting the car off.
• The windows immediately stop going down if I close the drivers door again.

I don't want to bring it to the dealer or mechanic because they will kill me with the labour charges.

Any ideas?


I think it may have to do with the feature that if you hold the key in the unlock position all windows roll down, and if you hold it in the lock position they roll up.

I can hold it in the lock position and the windows will go up, but they wont go down if I hold it in the unlock position.

Anyway to reset the windows?

THANK YOU!

1move

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like a bit of a puzzler, to me either the connection to the window switch is not right and causes a short by movement. Did you inspect the wiring when the door is open, between the frame and the door itself?

brandonp

I did look, and didn't see anything that looks like the wires are stripped.

I feel it's too consistent to be a short. Such as, all windows always roll down if I shut the car off first and open the door, they never go down if I leave the car running, and it only happens when the door is opened and stops when closed. Force doesn't matter.

Thanks for the help!

mksu19

Seems like a problem with the security system. I would try to hook it up to a scanner and pull codes.

mikeh

For sure find someone with a VAG-COM and find out what is going on. Perhaps is as simple as a reprogram issue.

Corrado_Guy

It sounds like a problem with the door switch or something that is activated when you open the door. Scanning the system is a good idea though but if the doors won't lock then something is up. One test would be to unplug the handle harness and try the same test (other than locking and unlocking with the key in the door because this won't work) and see if it works properly. If you have the open signal going all of the time it will want to use those features but when the ignition is on it must change the behavior. I don't know the exact cause but a door switch or wiring issue could cause it as well as defective control unit, bad ground, lock switch, or wacked out programming.

brandonp

Thanks for the help!

I am looking for someone with a VAG so I don't get killed at the dealer.

I have narrowed it down a bit more...

It seems when I open the drivers door it activates the "unlock" signal in the car, and just like when you hold the unlock button down all the windows roll down.

I can hear the pump going for a good 10 seconds (only needing 2-3 before the windoes roll down though)

EDIT:
The doors lock and unlock fine.

brandonp

Where is the door-open sensor? It is located in the lock cylinder or on the latch?

The rear doors have a clearly identifyable mechanical button.

a5happy

I had a similar problem with my A5. About a year after I bought it, I noticed the driver side windows would roll down by itself, most often after closing the door. At first it happened rarely, the it would happen every other day. One day, I came to my car at the end of work and found the window down and snow inside!!. I called the dealer, the car is still on warranty.
First appointment: they changed the door open sensor, didn't make sense to me, didn't work, still the same problem.
Called Audi Canada, they told me to go to the dealer but I got much better response from the dealer after the call.
Took the car to the dealer, they changed the window motor, again, it didn't make sense, the windows were opening!!.
Finally, they change the window motor controller. Now, that did make sense.
It has been over a month now, no problems with windows opening by themselves.
I hope that answers your problem.
Now, my car was on warranty so it did not cost me money, just the hassle.
If your car is out of warranty, you might want to look at alternatives.
My best guess is, that since it took a while for the problem to start, there must be a some kind of bad connection on the window motor driver controller, like a bad soldering joint.
I had a problem with my previous car (Jetta), the fuel pump relay was busted. The dealer wanted over $100 for replacement !!. I told him 'it's a rip off' and walked out. took out the relay, inspected under a magnifying glass, found cracked solder joint, heated up a soldering iron, re-soldered the joint and it worked for the rest of the life of the car.
I hope this helped you.