A4 saloon 2001 - faulty sensor showing door open

worded

Two problems -

Back Door showing as open when driving

Perhaps because of this within a few mins stop lights blink on and off when the car is closed electronically with the key. Car thinks the door is open still perhaps

Anything I can do?

joujoujou

Remove a door sensor, clean it up, also clean up connectors. Put it back on and check again. If that fails, get a replacement on a scrapyard.

worded

joujoujou wrote: »

Remove a door sensor, clean it up, also clean up connectors. Put it back on and check again. If that fails, get a replacement on a scrapyard.

Thanks!

Is of difficult to get at the door sensor?
It's in the door I presume ?

Ideal thing to clean it with? Isopropyl alcohol?
Ideal thing to seal it with afterwards ?

joujoujou

Have no experience in that particular model alright, but usually it's quite easy job.

It's on door frame or door itself, more than likely hidden under a rubber cap - take a look and you'll spot it.

Electrical contact cleaner will do the job. Something like this:

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_195717_langId_-1_categoryId_212351

worded

joujoujou wrote: »

Have no experience in that particular model alright, but usually it's quite easy job.

It's on door frame or door itself, more than likely hidden under a rubber cap - take a look and you'll spot it.

Electrical contact cleaner will do the job. Something like this:

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_195717_langId_-1_categoryId_212351

Went to halfords and the fellow was unable to find a manual sensor on the door. He thinks it may detect a shut / open door by a circuit created when the locks closes.

Anyway I sprayed the lock mechamism and catch on the car itself with that stuff and the latest is the car doesn't detect if the door is opened or closed now!

Perhaps that's better than thinking its open when it's not.

Car detects ever other door and boot when it's opened or closed though.

mickdw

A4 wouldn't have old external switch that you looked for. Your sensor would be integrated into the door lock itself and will likely serve more functions than just the door open warning and interior light. It would likely feed into central locking and alarm as well.
You could take out the lock and have a look but id have a replacement lined up to save you messing with the door card twice or driving around for ages without the door card.

Tropheus

My father-in-law's 2001 Passat has a similar problem. He doesn't have a door open light, but the interior lights don't come on when the door is open and the "lights on" buzzer doesn't work when the lights are left on. After a bit of a search, I found that the switch for detecting the open door is in the door lock. It's the opposite problem to yours, but probably the same cause. A new door lock mechanism is most likely required which by all accounts isn't that easy to do as DIY and not that cheap to buy.

sean1141

there are little switches in the door lock module which can be replaced but if your not handy with a spanner yourself its not worth getting someone to do this for you. cheaper to replace the lock

worded

sean1141 wrote: »

there are little switches in the door lock module which can be replaced but if your not handy with a spanner yourself its not worth getting someone to do this for you. cheaper to replace the lock

Thanks all.

What kind of € for a new lock. + labour ?

sean1141

I think a new one from audi is about 120. cheaper on ebay
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/DOOR-LOCK-MECHANISM-Audi-A4-B6-00-04-back-left-new-8E0839015A-/170972417367?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27cec00d57

not sure of labour

uberalles

sean1141 wrote: »

I think a new one from audi is about 120. cheaper on ebay
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/DOOR-LOCK-MECHANISM-Audi-A4-B6-00-04-back-left-new-8E0839015A-/170972417367?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27cec00d57

not sure of labour

Thanks everyone !

Got to keep this car on the road.

Wheelnut

Are you guys sure the micro switch is not in the receiver on the door-frame rather than in the lock itself?

sean1141

They are in the lock module