Electrical Funnies - Drivers door wiring?

[kooky_guy]

Hi All,

My 52 A4 has started a series of electrical problems which I'm hoping are all related...

Firstly the remote part of the central locking suddenly packed up. It had misbehaved intermittently a few weeks before but seemed to sort itself out. Now, suddenly it is completely dead. The physical key will only unlock the drivers door (until the ignition has been turned on, at which point the physical key will then unlock the other doors if I take it out again and stick it in the door lock (this may be normal - I have no manual so can't tell). The door lock/unlock button on the inside of the door does not unlock the other doors. Should it?

Now, suddenly the drivers door electric window has stopped working (luckily it's stuck closed). even turning the key in the door won't move it - the easy open/close function (or whatever it's called) works on all of the others).

Thirdly (and I can't really see how this is related, but it started happening in the same time frame (ie the last week), the radio reception has suddenly become intermittently very poor - as though the aerial lead has a loose connection...

Now I'm guessing that these are probably all related to the convenience module (or whatever it's called). I've had a quick look at the carpet and it seems to be bone dry. Is there anything else to physically check around the module, or do I need to disconnect it and check the connector pins? Is there a guide anywhere on how to do this (ie remove the carpet etc)? I've not come across one.

The other possible cause that I've come across on my googling is that the drivers door wiring harness is prone to fatigue and that a couple of broken wires in it can cause these issues (although, I can't see how the radio would fit in). Is there a common point at which these wires break and if so is it the same wires each time, or should I think about replacing the entire door harness? Easy job?

Any thoughts and/or sugggestions would be welcomed.

[richie190784]

Have you checked under the ecu to check if the drain holes are blocked if it is then water will enter the car thru these wires into the convenience module?

The ECU is the box on the off side at the top of the bonnet under the plenum cover if there is one.

[kooky_guy]

Have you checked under the ecu to check if the drain holes are blocked if it is then water will enter the car thru these wires into the convenience module?

The ECU is the box on the off side at the top of the bonnet under the plenum cover if there is one.

Hi,

I did try and have a quick look, but couldn't work out where the drain holes are supposed to be. Do I need to take the battery out to find them?

The carpet shows no sign of ever having been wet though.

[fourringsrus]

Kooky, not sure about the reception queery, but I would suggest the loom in the drivers door is as you have read, I have repaired my 52 A4 cabby drivers door loom 3 times for exactly the same faults and a couple of others. Its not particularly easy to work on in the hinge area but it is workable with a bit of patience.

Stuart

[kooky_guy]

Kooky, not sure about the reception queery, but I would suggest the loom in the drivers door is as you have read, I have repaired my 52 A4 cabby drivers door loom 3 times for exactly the same faults and a couple of others. Its not particularly easy to work on in the hinge area but it is workable with a bit of patience.

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

How did you find the breaks - were they physically obvious, or did you have to test each wire? Were they all in the flexi part? I have a wiring diagram in the Haynes book so could do this, I suppose.

I assume there is a multiplug at the door pillar end of the loom? Can this be disconnected without removing trim? I'm half tempted to just buy a new loom regardless but have no idea where to get Audi parts yet - not had this car very long.

[fourringsrus]

Hi buddy, yes easy to see the breaks once the flexi boot is peeled open.
There are quite a few wires inside, of varying thickness, which are a bit fiddly to access because of the lack of space in that area.
There is a multiplug arrangement which again is fiddly to remove, the "tongues" that make the click fit of the plug are difficult to squeeze in to release but it is do-able.
Ref loom replacement, I think the multiplug detaches from the car side but not from the door side,not sure, but maybe a loom comprises everything in the door.
The door card would only need removing if the loom inside is to be replaced, but no trim removal needed if just attempting a repair in the door slam area.
Good luck and as a p.s remember my info is based on experience with the two door cabriolet A4(2002 52 PLATE) but I would imagine the job on a four door to be pretty much the same.

Stuart

[imc042]

Hi guys,

I really don't mean to hijack this thread or anything but my issue is very similar to this. Firstly, my remote central locking went on the blink. Worked one day, didn't work the next. Thinking it was the battery inside the key I bought one at the filling station and replaced it. Seemed to work better for a while and then became intermittent again.

Then, the electric windows started going on the blink (not just driver side, both front windows together, my back windows are manual). Then the right dipped headlight, working sometimes, sometimes not. And most recently the interior light that comes on when you unlock the car is staying on after you start the car and you have to set it to OFF to get it off.

All of these problems are intermittent but are after getting progressively worse. I had my NCT test this morning, hoping it would be okay but it failed because of the windows and the right dipped headlight (both of which were working on the way to the test centre!). I have also replaced the car's own battery for 135 euro just two weeks ago and that did not help at all.

Rang the Audi garage in Cork and the woman said that it costs 68 euro an hour to take the car in there. I would really like to try and fix this myself if I could. Also, since I bought the car 2 years ago, I have always had poor radio reception. Works good in the city centre but where I live 25 miles from the city I can't pick up any stations.

Hopefully, me and kooky_guy have the same issue here and we can fix it ourselves?

Edit: By the way, mine is a 2002 Audi A4 Diesel Saloon 130bhp (The B6 one)

[fourringsrus]

Hi guys,

I really don't mean to hijack this thread or anything but my issue is very similar to this. Firstly, my remote central locking went on the blink. Worked one day, didn't work the next. Thinking it was the battery inside the key I bought one at the filling station and replaced it. Seemed to work better for a while and then became intermittent again.

Then, the electric windows started going on the blink (not just driver side, both front windows together, my back windows are manual). Then the right dipped headlight, working sometimes, sometimes not. And most recently the interior light that comes on when you unlock the car is staying on after you start the car and you have to set it to OFF to get it off.

All of these problems are intermittent but are after getting progressively worse. I had my NCT test this morning, hoping it would be okay but it failed because of the windows and the right dipped headlight (both of which were working on the way to the test centre!). I have also replaced the car's own battery for 135 euro just two weeks ago and that did not help at all.

Rang the Audi garage in Cork and the woman said that it costs 68 euro an hour to take the car in there. I would really like to try and fix this myself if I could. Also, since I bought the car 2 years ago, I have always had poor radio reception. Works good in the city centre but where I live 25 miles from the city I can't pick up any stations.

Hopefully, me and kooky_guy have the same issue here and we can fix it ourselves?

Edit: By the way, mine is a 2002 Audi A4 Diesel Saloon 130bhp (The B6 one)

Hi matey, with all the electric gremlins you are having, I would firstly take a close look at the cars' earth points ensuring good , clean and strong connections; ie battery earth to body lead etc.
Your windows issue could although be a car earth problem, also be down to the same issues relating to the door loom like Kookies possibly.
You may even have an issue with the cars' comfort module, something I know nothing about unfortunately, but someone on the forum will be able to advise.
In relation to the radio reception, this is most likely down to a failing or failed aerial booster/amplifier which is located somewhere inside the roof lining above the rear screen. I had exactly the same issue om my previous 2002 A4 3.0 quattro but sold the car before sorting it out.
Headlight bulb, possibly again down to poor earth connection or simply a dud bulb holder/wiring to the lamp unit.
Do a forum search to find a member near you who has or has access to vagcom/vcds.
I would be confident in suggesting that all of the issues on both the cars above will be traceable via a vcds/vagcom fault code reading.
Good luck boys

Stuart

[dan2134]

It sounds like the door loom has broken wires in it. to be honest the best repair is replace the door loom they cost about £100 from audi and take about an hour to fit. when mine went it been repaired once or twice before and was not worth repairing again. hope this helps.



A4 1.9tdi sport avant 2002

[imc042]

Thanks guys.

Okay, so I found another post where the poster also had the interior dome light staying on and no electric window function plus remote central locking opening all doors except driver door (exactly like me). Now I am certain that there must be damaged wires in the wiring loom in the driver door OR the Door Control Module is having a fault.

As for the right dipped headlight and the radio reception, I'm not sure. I don't care about the radio really, and the light may simply be a bulb.

He replaced the wiring loom with a new one and it still was not working. A VAG Com scan then told him this:

01331 - Door Control Module; Driver Side (J386)
49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent

The part no for the wiring harness is "8E1 971 029 C" and for the Comfort/Door Control Module is "8E0 907 279 E". I work in a phone repair center so I might be able to remove the wiring loom, solder any damaged wires and test before I go spending money on parts. Will keep posting on this thread as I work on this.