Audi A3 2003/53 Boot & Rear Wiper issues

**alistairr24** · 03-12-2007,04:14 PM

Hi Has anyone come across this one, I went to open the boot this morning and it clicked a couple of times but no response from catch. Now I am getting nothing from the electric handle or key. I also have just noticed that rear wiper has stopped working as well. Checked fuses for wiper all ok, doen't seam to be a fuse for tailgate lock. Any ideas? - Cheers Al

**Disco Dave** · 04-12-2007,04:17 PM

Hi,

I had a few issues a year ago with my boot latch (53 plate). My rear wiper would stop working, but the biggest pain would be the boot thinking it was open when it wasn't - cue my alarm going off all night.

I would be driving along when the "boot open" graphic would come on randomly - even though the boot was clearly closed. Audi traced it to a faulty boot latch on the second visit (the first time they gave it a "good clean" which seemed to make the problem go away for a few weeks)

Don't know if it's of any help, but it may be a similar thing.

Dave

**alistairr24** · 04-12-2007,05:00 PM

Cheers dave - Just fixed the problem it was a sticky
solenoid which had stuck open, making the wiper motor think the boot was open etc etc.. so a bit of WD40 saved the day

**Disco Dave** · 04-12-2007,07:43 PM

Good news!

I'm tempted to think that might have done the trick for me - but as I was still under warranty, I'll not complain that Audi changed the faulty lock....

Dave

**simonsocial** · 10-12-2007,07:31 PM

I'm having the same problem right now! My boot graphic on the dash keeps flashing on and off even though the boot is closed. On inspection on the boot latch there seems to be a lot of water around it, maybe the rear wiper washer is leaking?

My problem at the moment is parking the car on the street because the alarm keeps going off, i've taken fuse 35 out (the alarm system) but all that does is stops it making a noise but the indercators are still flashing.

Does anyone know if there is a fuse for the boot latch? or anyway I can lock the car without the alarm being enabled, I spoke to Derby Audi and they couldn't really help me, they tried but no luck.

The only time I could book the car in is Wednesday, so any idea would be helpful!

**Disco Dave** · 10-12-2007,09:09 PM

Yup,

The old "alarm fuse out" was the only remedy I could come up with....of course, I then had a couple of days when almost everyone at work took a turn to phone to tell me I had left my hazards on (knowing that is one of my pet hates)

)

As I said above, it was eventually traced to a faulty latch, but not before they had stripped and rebuilt the old one which gave a few weeks of better performance "probably due to a having had a bit of a clean".

I could never be sure, as it makes no sense, but I was also having coolant leak problems - and I wondered if they were related. Just to confuse me more, after they eventually spotted they had missed a recall on an o-ring seal problem a year later......they gave me a new rear number plate as a courtesy as the old one had a lot of water damage.

Curious....

Dave

**simonsocial** · 10-12-2007,09:23 PM

I have noticed that the number plate has got some water damage... maybe its related. When I brought the car a year ago the rear wiper washer didn't work and I was told it need re-connecting, so maybe its come loss again! Hope it won't cost to much, fingers crossed.

The indercastors have stopped now, they must flash for half an hour or so then stop, either that or the battery is dead!

**Disco Dave** · 10-12-2007,09:31 PM

Don't worry, they'll be on again soon.....I think it goes in cycles

)

Dave

**paul b** · 10-12-2007,11:18 PM

I don't know what the problem could be, but is yours petrol. My mate owned an A3 petrol model with this problem and he sent it back to Audi, told them to keep it and got a refund. He was so annoyed because it had this problem since the day he bought it, he only had it for 33 days in the end. This didn't put him off Audis though, he has since had 2 diesel A3s which haven't had any problems at all.
Paul

**simonsocial** · 12-12-2007,06:30 PM

Yes mine is a petrol but don't know why that would make a difference?

I did managed to stop mine for a short while by spraying WD40 into and behind the catch, this stop the alarm for one night! Always worth a try if your having a simlair problem.

Well it got fixed today buy Audi, turns out it was a corroded boot lock, so they replaced that, cost me £77.50.

I was asking a few people at work and they say its a common problem because water can swell up in the catch when driving in the rain, after a while it just messes the catch up. A few people I know have had to have there's replace.