audi central locking problem can anyone help please?
audi central locking problem can anyone help please?
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pies1981

Original Poster:

8,955 posts

202 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
Yesterday the central locking on my audi a4 packed up.

The fob disarms and arms the alarm/immobiliser but the doors will not lock or unlock from it. I have treid the key in the drivers door, this just locks/unlocks that door, the others do nothing. I have also noticed when i try the for i can hear (what i presume to be the sentral locking unit) a motor whirring for about 10/15 seconds then it stops.

So, am i better off getting an auto elctraician out ot have a look, or a local audi specialist? I rang this morning said they can hook it up to a diagnostic machine for £47 plus vat and tell me whats wrong? i would prefer the most cost effective method if possible.

All help would be really appreciated ph!

audidug

342 posts

206 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
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My 06 did this put a new battery in Key fob and all ok

pies1981

Original Poster:

8,955 posts

202 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
Really? i took the fob apart yesterday and it doesn't look like a battery, it looks like some sort of rechargable unit?

Nolar Dog

8,786 posts

210 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
What year is your Audi?

It sounds like the vacumn pump has stopped working.
I think it's in the boot on A4's?

Could it have bee disturbed somehow (loading stuff into boot?) or got wet/damp?

Other things to look for are corrosion to wiring leading into the central locking ECU, which (depending on which A4 it is) could be in the NSF footwell behind the carpets and plastic trim panels. Some A4's are bad for "dry" soldered joints in the loom leading up to the module.

When you manualy operate the OSF door and get in, does the interior light come on and does the "Door open" dash information module still function corrently?


pies1981

Original Poster:

8,955 posts

202 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
Nolar Dog said:
What year is your Audi?

It sounds like the vacumn pump has stopped working.
I think it's in the boot on A4's?

Could it have bee disturbed somehow (loading stuff into boot?) or got wet/damp?

Other things to look for are corrosion to wiring leading into the central locking ECU, which (depending on which A4 it is) could be in the NSF footwell behind the carpets and plastic trim panels. Some A4's are bad for "dry" soldered joints in the loom leading up to the module.

When you manualy operate the OSF door and get in, does the interior light come on and does the "Door open" dash information module still function corrently?
Its a 1999 tdi. I have just changed the batteries to no avail, there is no signs of water ingress, and i dont use the boot so i doubt i have knocked anything. Yes the interior lights and the door open symbol comes up, do you think its most likely to be the pump unit?

audidug

342 posts

206 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
Sorry read your first post in correctly doh!!
Mine just would not lock the car or activate alarm. central locking was fine.But as been said vaccum pump could be shot.Have you checked the fuse??

sorry

Simon

pies1981

Original Poster:

8,955 posts

202 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
audidug said:
Sorry read your first post in correctly doh!!
Mine just would not lock the car or activate alarm. central locking was fine.But as been said vaccum pump could be shot.Have you checked the fuse??

sorry

Simon
Its ok mate, have not checked the fuse yet, i will do tomorrow, i have put a post up on an audi forum and after doing some detective work i think the central locking pump unit is shafted! Time to get a workshop manual methinks...

Nolar Dog

8,786 posts

210 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
pies1981 said:
Its a 1999 tdi. I have just changed the batteries to no avail, there is no signs of water ingress, and i dont use the boot so i doubt i have knocked anything. Yes the interior lights and the door open symbol comes up, do you think its most likely to be the pump unit?
In that case, yes I suspect the vacumn pump is faulty.

pies1981

Original Poster:

8,955 posts

202 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
Nolar Dog said:
pies1981 said:
Its a 1999 tdi. I have just changed the batteries to no avail, there is no signs of water ingress, and i dont use the boot so i doubt i have knocked anything. Yes the interior lights and the door open symbol comes up, do you think its most likely to be the pump unit?
In that case, yes I suspect the vacumn pump is faulty.
Is it alot of hassle to remove the pump? Think i'll attemp it next week, thanks for your help mate, really appreciated!

mas99

4,888 posts

199 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
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Common problem. There is reason why 2nd hand vacuum pumps are sooooo expensive.

In fact any cheap A4 with cd multichanger and working cl is almost worth buying to break if everything else is shagged.

Nolar Dog

8,786 posts

210 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
pies1981 said:
Is it alot of hassle to remove the pump? Think i'll attemp it next week, thanks for your help mate, really appreciated!
It's not difficult.

It's in the boot in the OS corner.
Lift up the carpet.
Remove the plastic trim running along the boot opening.
Remove the side trim (if it has a plastic cubbyhole thing they just slide out then a couple of tabs hold the back bit in)
Pull the trim out, disconnect boot light and you should see a block of grey foam in the recess.

The CDL vacumn pump is in there. Disconnect the "air" pipe 1st. Then the other plugs (I think there are 2?)
Always reconnect the middle plug with the power in it last.

You might be able to get it open and check an air pipe hasn't come loose.

pies1981

Original Poster:

8,955 posts

202 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
quotequote all
Nolar Dog said:
pies1981 said:
Is it alot of hassle to remove the pump? Think i'll attemp it next week, thanks for your help mate, really appreciated!
It's not difficult.

It's in the boot in the OS corner.
Lift up the carpet.
Remove the plastic trim running along the boot opening.
Remove the side trim (if it has a plastic cubbyhole thing they just slide out then a couple of tabs hold the back bit in)
Pull the trim out, disconnect boot light and you should see a block of grey foam in the recess.

The CDL vacumn pump is in there. Disconnect the "air" pipe 1st. Then the other plugs (I think there are 2?)
Always reconnect the middle plug with the power in it last.

You might be able to get it open and check an air pipe hasn't come loose.
Thanks nolardog, another question, i need to re-code my spare key, is that a main agent job or can i do it myself?

avantiblue

1 posts

186 months

Saturday 23rd January 2010
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Hi,

Just came across this thread so i thought i would help. The problem is the central locking motor, it has a graphite impellar that spins inside when the central locking is activated this has shattered. You can replace the impellar from another pump but you are never sure how much hammering the other one has had and it will fail again in the future. I have just had my impellar replaced with a better thicker impellar which will not fail in the future, also the advantage of replacing the impellar this way is that you don't have to deal with recoding of keys, pump etc... you simply replace the impellar and reconnect to your car and off you go. My contact charged me £150 for replacing the impellar, testing the pump and also sending the pump back to me special delivery. Far better than spending £540 on a new one which I think is a rip off! Contact me if you want his details. Thanks

aspire2266

1 posts

185 months

Thursday 25th February 2010
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I dont know if anyone can advise but i've just started to have the same problem, central locking not working,(got an A4 98), motor wining on too long etc. I've located the motor (in the boot well) and been told that it'll need replacing,seems simple enough, £363 at Audi, not paying that. Thinking about a second hand one from a breaker. The thing is i've been told that after fitting even a second hand one the key won't need re coding.Is this right??I'm told it should re configure itself.Dont know.

One thing i hadn't considered, the petrol cap stays locked with the central locking out of action.Ended up at petrol station with reading saying zero fuel when it dawned on me i couldn't fill up, ended up forcing the cover luckily without doing any damage. Again i'm told there should be a release button in the boot but don't see one.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

NigeC

1 posts

184 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
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The Solenoid that controls the fuel filler flap release can be found on the right hand side of the boot area behind a brace, pull back the trim and you'll see three squares of white plastic, push the center one in and reach behind and pull the unit back.
This will remove the pin that is locking the flap in place.

Regards,
Nige

natashaP381

1 posts

177 months

Thursday 7th October 2010
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My Audi A4, will central lock from inside when i push the button and also from the boot. But not via the key!!!! I have replaced the batteries and still nothing. Can anyone help?

Beer Routledge

1 posts

147 months

Thursday 11th April 2013
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After reading this forum and others, I found out that the impeller on my pump had shattered. This is a part within the pump motor that is made of graphite and spins around to create the vacuum needed to operate the locking. At first I was looking at getting a second hand pump, but this involves re coding my keys. I searched ebay and found a guy who sells A3/A4/A6 pump repair kits. He sent a new motor with a stronger thicker impeller and he will talk you through fitting it (which was very easy) it took me 5mins. It involved removing the old motor situated under the circuit board within the pump, attaching the red and blue wires, and reconnecting the air pipe. It only cost £44 incl. p&p so has saved me a lot. His ebay name is vag_autotechnik (282)