patoons

hi everyone. i recently got a new to me 2003 Audi A4 1.8t. i am experiencing a frustrating, inconsistent issue with the alarm and key fobs.

so at first, the key fobs weren't responding. i had to manually open the door with the key. the windows, sunroof and interior lights would not turn on, since i guess the key fob didn't remotely unlock the door. sometimes the car would randomly start beeping for a minute or two, sometimes this would happen once, sometimes a few times.

i eventually figured out that if i open the trunk manually with the key, that would trigger the alarm. i could then press the unlock button on the key fob, and that would fix the key fob and i'd be able to use it properly until i turned the car off. windows, interior lights, sunroof all worked fine with this method.

then, the key fob for about 2 weeks worked completely fine. i wouldn't have to do the trunk trick. it just worked. the car would still beep here and there, but everything worked fine.

now, the car is back to not communicating with the key fobs. its no longer randomly beeping. and the windows, interior lights, and sunroof don't work. the trunk opening remedy isn't working whatsoever. i tried various resetting/re-syncing methods, to no avail.

sorry, i know it's a mouthful, but i have no clue what to do, and it's very frustrating. it would be one thing if it was strictly an issue with the locking and alarm, but it affects the windows and lights. has anyone encountered this and have solutions?

mikeh

I would first change the battery and then try using the search button at the top. There is plenty of information on key fobs and the problems around them here on the forum.

This is a good place to start https://www.audiforum.ca/general-d-i...ogramming.html

patoons

I did change the battery, didn't help.. and that is the exact guide i used today with my wife assisting, and it didn't work. i also tried the programming instructions found in the owner's manual.

mikeh

I recently had some programming and electrical issues and a mechanicl told me to disconnect both battery terminals, touch them together for 30 seconds (releases stored energy in capacitors) and hood them back up again. This will perform a hard reboot on your computer. Take the car for a 15-20 minute drive to reset itself.

Just a guess and it might work. Other than that I can't help. Perhaps other members here might have some advise or have encountered similar problems.

Good luck and let us know what happens?

patoons

tried the battery thing...... it reset but i am still having issues with it.. thanks for the information. i hope to get to the bottom of this, i'd hate to pay up the wazoo for audi if it's something i can do myself. ill keep u posted

JAudi

Are you sure it isn't a frayed wire in the door hinge area harness? I had a wire that eventually completely broke in half, and my drivers door lock functions were not working when I pressed the fob. other doors would lock/unlock normally, but still had to use the key manually on the drivers door to get in. Your issue doesn't sound like this, but may be worth checking out.

Just a thought.

patoons

everything is working fine suddenly, it could be a frayed wire perhaps that maybe connects at times. its either that, or i did some searching and found that the comfort control module craps out and needs to be replaced. not a cheap part. but i'll keep a tab on it, as it's working like it's supposed to now. thanks everyone

Destiny

Did you fix it yet?


I am having the exact same problem, except i noticed that a second before everything started to work again on mine, I heard a silent ding or click sound, like a relay would make, so I'm starting to think it could be a relay issue, the sound came some where behind or underneath the dashboard... Sometimes it happened when i was getting into the car, sometimes during driving.

Now for a few weeks it doesn't resolve it self anymore and I also noticed the red alarm warning light in the door panel is blinking constantly slow and at the same rate. It begins as I close the door (don't lock them), but goes away after I open them or after I start the car. When I lock the car with the key, the warning light does the same thing, no change. Before the above issue it wasn't blinking at all, until locking the car, when it started blinking fast for two or three seconds, then constantly slow.


I have been advised to buy a new comfort module, but I am hesitant to do so, because it's expensive and I'm afraid it will not fix the problem... could a relay be the source for this problem? Where are the relays in this car (2002 A4 B6) anyway? And which one has something to do with the comfort module?

Please help..

patoons

i did fix it, i think.

don't go out and buy the comfort module. it wasn't a relay either. program both key fobs to the car. there's something you have to do to it with the keys in the ignition and having the other one with u or something. u can find it on google easily. there's also a method to program by putting the key in the door and holding unlock or something as u turn.. but u can find instructions easily.

also, from what i've heard the comfort control module is beneath the driver's seat and acts funny when it gets wet. i noticed every time it rained, some water would leak into my drivers side floor. idk if that was affecting the module, but regardless, its an issue. audi's are known for having sunroof drains blocked. see if your floormat is wet after a drive in the rain. i think it has to be a driven in the rain for the leak to happen, at least it was in my case. i never noticed it was wet by sitting in the rain.

just open your sunroof and locate 2 holes on either side and blow some compressed air in. when i did that i saw a bit of water under my car with some pine needles in there, so it was definitely clogged.

like i said, idk if either will help you, but my car has been behaving just fine.

Destiny

I have no sunroof on my car and I already took the comfort module out of the box beneath the floormat for inspection. Everything was dry, not even a spec of dust came in there... so i don't think it's an water intrusion, at least not with the comfort module siting in that sealed box.

Tried with the battery reset, didn't help. The key fob programing doesn't do anything, because the fob doesn't respond at all. Even the door opening with the key and holding for a few seconds doesn't open all windows (before the issue it used to with the key or the remote).

I also inspected the floor, under the main floormat, where all the cables are.. everything was dry, even after driving in some heavy rain. So it has got to be some other issue. So I'm in the dark with this at this point..