Door handles going nuts when washing the car

[dparm]

Every time I wash the car, the touch-sensitive door handles go nuts. Any time the water from the hose or the microfibre sponge hits them, they lock or unlock. They'll randomly toggle a few more times right after, then stop.

Is this normal behavior? Seems to happen on all four handles. Drives me nuts since the car probably locks/unlocks 20-30 times over the time it takes me to wash it.

[netwrkr]

Key in your pocket?

[Dcass08]

That sucks because you know eventually the mechanism that actually locks and unlocks it will crap out at some point. Does it happen when it rains as well?

[AKPS4]

This happens it your key is in your pocket and your near the car. Or if the key isn't in the pocket the car may not be locked? OR you putting too much force on the button on the handle?

I wash with the car locked and the key inside te garage and have no issues.

[phillips2024]

It's normal. Just keep your key away from the car

[Jones2012s4]

Had this issue. Took key out of pocket and placed it in car.

[dparm]

What puzzles me is how the hose somehow can lock and unlock the car. I have no clue how those sensors on the door work, but it's an odd design and someone didn't really think it through...

[WirelessEngy]

Haha, yea I always leave my key in my pocket when washing the car and the door locks goes crazy.
Washed my car about 10 times now and I still forget to leave the key in the garage.

[13S4]

Yeah whenever the key is within 1m of the door it will freak out. The vehicle cannot lock from the outside when the key is inside. Just toss it on your seat.

[dparm]

Yeah whenever the key is within 1m of the door it will freak out. The vehicle cannot lock from the outside when the key is inside. Just toss it on your seat.


Thanks, that's really good advice. I'm going to do that from now on.

[WirelessEngy]

What puzzles me is how the hose somehow can lock and unlock the car. I have no clue how those sensors on the door work, but it's an odd design and someone didn't really think it through...

I'm assuming it uses capacitive sensors across the door handles. Basically a very small electric field is applied across the sensor and when it comes into contact with a conductor (typically our hand, or in this case water) the uniform electrostatic field is changed and the car looks too see if the key is nearby.

This is the most practical solution that doesn't require you to physically push a button on the door handle to unlock your car.

[dparm]

Yes, I get that. I'm just annoyed that the hose can set it off.

[WirelessEngy]

Yes, I get that. I'm just annoyed that the hose can set it off.

Haha, first world problems [;)]

[ob_1jr]

Yeah i noticed that on my car. I just leave the key in the cupholder while i wash the car. No issues with it going off anymore.

[FrankO]

Every time I wash the car, the touch-sensitive door handles go nuts. Any time the water from the hose or the microfibre sponge hits them, they lock or unlock. They'll randomly toggle a few more times right after, then stop.

Is this normal behavior? Seems to happen on all four handles. Drives me nuts since the car probably locks/unlocks 20-30 times over the time it takes me to wash it.


First time happened to me...then I took the advanced key out of pocket and placed in the garage. [:D]

[dparm]

Haha, first world problems [;)]


Guilty as charged, but on a $50,000+ car I expect things like this not to happen.

[MacBerry]

Yes, I get that. I'm just annoyed that the hose can set it off.Your water from the hose is acting as a conductor, running back to you and you are the ground source when holding that hose which sets it off. Just leave the key elsewhere as others have pointed out. The hose is not an issue because it is just the ground conduit to the chip in the key which is on you.

[netwrkr]

That sucks because you know eventually the mechanism that actually locks and unlocks it will crap out at some point. Does it happen when it rains as well?

Drama much?

[Dcass08]

Drama much?

Um, no. Just seems like sometimes that's the way it goes.

[Dcass08]

Guilty as charged, but on a $50,000+ car I expect things like this not to happen.

Those are my sentiments exactly.

[phillips2024]

Guilty as charged, but on a $50,000+ car I expect things like this not to happen.

Should prob sell your car then

[VeryBadman]

It happens to me too and I get around by leaving the fob inside the car, problem solved!

[13S4]

The system is actually working exactly how it was designed too... There are two criteria for unlocking/locking the door from outside 1) Have key within 1m of door handle, and 2) Touch the square... Remove either one of those factors and it won't happen.

[Maltitol]

If you keep the transmission in neutral, the doors don't lock. The same thing happens to me when I wash mine. The hose and brush I use cause it to lock/unlock so I shove my transmission in neutral or put the key inside my house.

[Leor604]

If you keep the transmission in neutral, the doors don't lock. The same thing happens to me when I wash mine. The hose and brush I use cause it to lock/unlock so I shove my transmission in neutral or put the key inside my house.

I assume you are DSG. With 6MT, gear position has nothing to do with door locks.

[dparm]

The system is actually working exactly how it was designed too... There are two criteria for unlocking/locking the door from outside 1) Have key within 1m of door handle, and 2) Touch the square... Remove either one of those factors and it won't happen.


How is spraying the door with the hose "operating as designed"?

[netwrkr]

Should prob sell your car then

+1. Between this and the intercooler thread seems folks are a bit unrealistic with expectations.

[13S4]

How is spraying the door with the hose "operating as designed"?

It's tripping the sensor that is activated since your key is within range of the door handle. If you put it >1m away or inside the car you will have no problems. Do you think Audi should have programmed it so it should just "know" your washing your car? I think they did a great job with it.

[JohnEnglish]

How is spraying the door with the hose "operating as designed"?As mentioned previously:


Your water from the hose is acting as a conductor, running back to you and you are the ground source when holding that hose which sets it off.

[sworksone]

I can't believe I'm now the 29th response to this thread in under four hours. As was alluded to in the first response when it was the only response when I first looked at this thread: just don't leave the key in your pocket! Come on people, you don't need German engineers to figure out a solution to this for you!

[Leor604]

I can't believe I'm now the 29th response to this thread in under four hours. As was alluded to in the first response when it was the only response when I first looked at this thread: just don't leave the key in your pocket! Come on people, you don't need German engineers to figure out a solution to this for you!

+1

I think the easy availability of information on the web has made people lazy. It's far easier to post inane questions and allow others to solve your problems rather than shut off the porn and trouble your brain to figure something out for yourself. "What do you mean I should go to my toolbox and figure out for myself which socket fits the lug bolts?"

[dr bryan]

+1

I think the easy availability of information on the web has made people lazy. It's far easier to post inane questions and allow others to solve your problems rather than shut off the porn and trouble your brain to figure something out for yourself. "What do you mean I should go to my toolbox and figure out for myself which socket fits the lug bolts?"

17mm. Don't worry Leo, I got your back! :)

[Leor604]

17mm. Don't worry Leo, I got your back! :)

Whew! Saved me Doc B. Thought for a minute I was going to have to shut off the porn. [drool]

[Chiguanodude]

Happens to me everytime. So annoying. Just don't keep your keys on your pocket

[UmIsThisThingOn]

+1

I think the easy availability of information on the web has made people lazy. It's far easier to post inane questions and allow others to solve your problems rather than shut off the porn and trouble your brain to figure something out for yourself. "What do you mean I should go to my toolbox and figure out for myself which socket fits the lug bolts?"

Especially since this issue has a few threads devoted to it already. A quick search by the DA, I mean OP would've told him all he needed to know.

[Wilbur]

Yes, I get that. I'm just annoyed that the hose can set it off.


Haha, first world problems [;)]

no kidding. Annoying? wow.

[phillips2024]

http://www.flero.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/world-have-a-generation-of-idiots-1.jpg

[sirpickles]

and I thought it was the blind spot sensors all this time! Love this forum and will do the keys in cupholder trick :)

[SteveYem]

This happened to me when I washed my car in the driveway last week. Took me a few minutes to comprehend why the doors would lock every time I hit the handles with the hose water. Once I realized I still had my key in my pocket (while I usually leave it ~20 ft away in the garage), I quietly accepted defeat, removed the key from my pocket and continued on my way, hoping my neighbors didn't think I was nuts at that point for having locked my car 7 times in a row.

Hadn't thought about the keys in the cupholder trick, though, I guess because I'm in such a habit of keeping my keys on my at all times from my other cars (less expensive Japanese cars) which don't have such "intelligent" technologies built in. This will come in handy when I go to those $5 all-you-can-wash type places, which I occasionally do over the winter to blast off all of the real crappy grime from the paint and undercarriage.

[ENV²]

The water is helping conduct the signal. Be happy it works that well. Leave the key in the car. Problem solved.

[JimmyBones]

Dparm, you have to be smarter than the car.

On a side note, I learned from working on Q5s that the door handle sensor portion is replaceable seperatly from the painted outer piece. Which should save money since the Q7s had to replace the whole handle plus get it painted - usually three at a time too. (The driver's rear door and both passenger side doors)

[Leor604]

http://www.flero.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/world-have-a-generation-of-idiots-1.jpg

That day has come and gone and we are well on our way to Idiocracy.