A4 Central locking

[gre22]

Hi,

Hope you can help. My central locking suudenly stopped working (2000 X reg A4). When I press open on the key fob the alarm switches off and the indicators give 2 flashes as normal but none of the doors or boot open.

Located the CL pump on the right of the boot tucked up in foam cladding. Pump seems to operate (makes a noise like a small electric motor) for around 20seconds after trying to open the car. Removed the two air outlets from the pump and there is no air being pumped or sucked when the pump is on.

Does the pump unit contain the alarm, i,e, can I replace the pump without rendering my car a right off. Or does it require new keys etc which control the alarm.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Gary.

[stuart]

Hi,

Hope you can help. My central locking suudenly stopped working (2000 X reg A4). When I press open on the key fob the alarm switches off and the indicators give 2 flashes as normal but none of the doors or boot open.

Located the CL pump on the right of the boot tucked up in foam cladding. Pump seems to operate (makes a noise like a small electric motor) for around 20seconds after trying to open the car. Removed the two air outlets from the pump and there is no air being pumped or sucked when the pump is on.

Does the pump unit contain the alarm, i,e, can I replace the pump without rendering my car a right off. Or does it require new keys etc which control the alarm.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Gary.

Hi Gary

Thanks for joining the site.

From what you describe, it sounds as thought the pump is trying to work, but is failing. CL pumps on the VAG range are fairly common to fail.

As far as I am aware, it will just be a straight forward plug off.plug in replacement then connect the pipes. I would not expect this to cause any problems with the alarm system.

Replacement pumps are going to be in the region of about £150-200 unless you can find a second hand unit.

Hope this helps, but if you need more information, give me a shout.

Stuart

[gre22]

Hi Stuart,

Thanks very much for the info, much appreciated. First of all I must add that in this day of cost cutting (which of course means level of service). What a difference it makes to be able to cut through the Audi main dealer barrier and talk to someone who knows what they are on about.

Cheers again for the info, I'll let you know how I get on.

Gary.

[stuart]

No problem, here to assist. Hope you will visit again

You could try your local Euro Car Parts or German and Swedish for a pump, may be a little cheaper, but you may need the part number from the old pump.


Stuart

[gre22]

Hi Stuart,

Thought you might be interested in the latest saga with my central locking. Managed to find a second hand pump for just under £100, cheapest new one was £275. Plugged it in and pressed the open button on my key, zero response, not looking good. Opened the drivers door with the key and all the doors opened but they would not close, then the locks stopped responding all together and the alarm started going off, woke the neighbours up at least. On the phone to the supplier and apparently this unit needs "programmed" to the car, so Im no further forward, garage here we come with tail firmly between my legs. I'll let you know how I get on.

Gary.

[stuart]

Hi Gary

Thanks for keeping us updated.

That is a very good price for a new cl pump, I do know they range between £150 and £300 from VAG.

As The key is part of the imobiliser and alarm system, they do need coding to the unit. If this was not done any key would open any car (: not a good idea.

If I remember correctly this is not a major job to do, with the VAG diagnostic machine,and some cars, like my Seat Leon, I belive you can do via the key, door lock and ignition, by doing a certain procedure, which is shown in the handbook.

Keep us informed, may help someone else in the future.

Stuart

[dinga]

I have a 99 V reg A4, and ever since the xmas hols.. my central locking has exactly the same problem.....(great xmas present!!)...

Is this a job for a an amateur (like me).. or can I avoid the mark ups made by the main dealers :-)

Cheers for any help

Alan

[gre22]

Hi Alan,

I mangaged to get a 2nd hand pump from a breaker, it cost around £85. However it is not a straight swap as I thought. After telling the breaker the unit was duff I was informed the unit is part of the alarm and immobiliser and needs programmed to you car. I took it to an authorised VW garage and the guy programed it no problem, (via a laptop) you need to take your old pump so the settings can be copied over. Cost around £20. Audi quoted me around £350 for the job.

Hope this helps,

Gary.

[emlyn]

Hi Gents

I have the same problem and here is what I can tell you. If you get press the button and everything else seems to work except the doors opening chances are that your circuit board is fine. If you open the unit, you will find a circuit board immediately under the cover. You can simply take the board from your old unit and connect that to the new unit and there will be no need for programming.

What went wrong in my unit was the 'servo' according to a friend who is a VW technician. This the actual pump section of the unit.

Hope this helps.

[demonbarber]

Have you not tried cleaning the pump. I had a VW Passat with a pump for the Central locking, I took the pump apart cleaned up the vanes in the pump and it worked for 2 years or more before I wrote the car off!!