Sunroof - Mind of its Own?

[piotrowr]

Okay so for the past couple weeks we have started experiencing the sunroof tilting open/close on its own intermittently. This appears to happen in the 1st 5-10min after start up and does go away. Typically cycles about 3-6 times with it only tilting as if to open but tilts back down and closes.

Anyone else seen this?

[schmally]

in previous models the potentiometer inside the switch goes bad, so more than likely same thing

[minira]

wow the A4's still have this problem?

[Blake P]

Never had that issue, but a couple times when I tried closing my sunroof it decided it didn't wanna close yet and just reopened on its own.

[macuser]

Never had that issue, but a couple times when I tried closing my sunroof it decided it didn't wanna close yet and just reopened on its own.

i had the same issue. i took it to the dealership and they regreased the track or something. hasnt happened since

[Hyde]

wow the A4's still have this problem?

I was thinking the same thing ... This is like a 10 year old problem at least.

[khmerguy978]

Never had that issue, but a couple times when I tried closing my sunroof it decided it didn't wanna close yet and just reopened on its own.

has happened to me plenty of times! i just close it to the tab before fully closing, and then turning it to close.

i'm going to yell at the dealer when i bring it in for my 25k maintenance if they don't grease it.

i swear i'm their youngest worst nightmare.

[Anthony]

I was thinking the same thing ... This is like a 10 year old problem at least.

Yup, same here. I suppose it could be worse though.

[sevenstarz]

Haha. This happened to my 97 A4. Sad.

Peace

[02A4TURBO]

And happened in my 2002 B6......... see a pattern here?

[B_Boy]

happened to me just after i did the giac upgrade. open, closed, tilted all kinds of screwy shit, lasted about 10 mins i restarted the car and if went away....hasnt happened since.

[piotrowr]

Dealer found the sunroof potentiometer to be bad and has ordered a replacement which is on back order. Will arrive in 10 days or so. Common problem, I wonder?

[speedydragon]

^ common in the b5 lol

[cameraz]

And happened in my 2002 B6......... see a pattern here?

Happened on my 2002 B6 also! There was a tech article on AudiWorld on how to fix it yourself -- which I did about three or four different times!

When I first bought my B8 and saw how the sunroof operated, I said "Uh, oh!"

Next people will be complaining about their power seat motors breaking. I had to replace the seat motors on my B6 twice .. at a cost of $950 each time. It broke a third time just before trade-in ...

[B_Boy]

my sunroof just did it again the other day for like 5 secs and then went back to normal...weird.

[piotrowr]

Update - dealer replaced the potentiometer about 3 weeks ago, no problems after that until last night the sunroof began freaking out again . What are the chances of two bad potentiometers? Low, probably something else?

[audi til I die]

Lol. In 3 Audi's I've owned the last 3 years none have pulled these shenanigans yet but I've heard the nightmares. Anyone checked if this is an Audi recall?

[ItsDubC]

Mine has a mind of its own too when I operate it sometimes, even when I turn the knob one tick at a time. It never just opens out of the blue though. I've just added it to the list of things that I hope Audi will eventually have a standard fix for (other items on my list include the low-speed steering shudder and peeling weatherstripping), though the 10-year "legacy" for this problem worries me a little.

[dieatomic]

imagine that happening while going through a car wash...i know, i know hand wash only but damn that would suck big time.

[audi til I die]

imagine that happening while going through a car wash...i know, i know hand wash only but damn that would suck big time.

Wasn't there a scene in The Final Destination that the girl drowns in her car through the sunroof in a car wash??? Never saw the movie but that would eff-ing trip me out.

[truehye89]

Wasn't there a scene in The Final Destination that the girl drowns in her car through the sunroof in a car wash??? Never saw the movie but that would eff-ing trip me out.

Haha yeah, she sticks her head out the sunroof and it starts to automatically close, choking her to death during the car wash.

I guess Scion borrowed Audi's sunroof technology.

[B_Boy]

couldnt they have come out with a better fuckin sunroof control button? maybe thas the problem?!

[truehye89]

couldnt they have come out with a better fuckin sunroof control button? maybe thas the problem?!

I feel you. I'm not a fan of the damn thing either.

[piotrowr]

imagine that happening while going through a car wash...i know, i know hand wash only but damn that would suck big time.

I was wondering if you can vag com to force windows/sunroff closed if rain detect sensor is active. I guess a question for the vagcom thread...

Anyways, it's going in on Monday to see what they find for a 2nd time. They will also check the audi side assist system faults I keep having when activating the function. Less than <11K miles and multiple issues already, not a good sign.

[dieatomic]

good luck

[rhfoto]

Never had that issue, but a couple times when I tried closing my sunroof it decided it didn't wanna close yet and just reopened on its own.

I had it happen on my shade. They replace both the motor for my sunroof and the motor for the shade. It took them a week to figure out the problem, hasn't happened since.

[raudi A4]

Brand new a4 s-line.....this moon roof will be the death of me. I cant believe im not alone. They can make a car that looks like rolling sex and handles on rails but cant make a damn workable moonroof......Germans....

[piotrowr]

Just wanted to update everyone on this long term issue.

So the car went back to the dealer since sunroof continued to act up after the potentiometer replacement. Once at the dealer they suspected the potentiometer again but when I went to pick it up they said it appeared to be a bad motor so it was replaced (2nd potentiometer was not). Well upon driving off the lot after wife dropped me off the 1st thing that happens is the crazy sunroof starts opening and closing again. Pissed, I immediately turned around and went back to demand once and for all they fix it and with a clue - the issue appears to happen most often when accelerating or decelerating (hint, hint). So they went with that and found a pin in one of the wiring harness was bent and harness was not snuggly in place at the connection point (from factory). Upon fixing this the dealer had 3 different people take the car on 15 separate test drives and the sunroof behaved. And it now seems the side assist faults have gone away as well, maybe related? Dealer could not reproduce the side assist faults and there haven't been any since the harness repair. Anyway at least they filled up the tank after driving it around for a full day and the rental car was thrown in for free. Just glad it was figured out finally....

[ItsDubC]

^Good info there, piotrowr. Thanks for the update. My sunroof does act weird at times but not to the extent you experienced.

[piotrowr]

Everyone, sorry to report the sunroof intermittency of opening and closing and refusing to close is back! Very upset as it has been addressed 3 times by the dealer already (2 potentiometers and wiring harness). But problem just comes back after not doing it for a week or two. Going in for a 4th time with escalation to shop floor manager and contact AofA as AZ has 4 time for same issue lemon law we may need to consider. Luckily we are in AZ with minimal rain. If it was raining when the thing started to act up, the car would be completely ruined!

[UmIsThisThingOn]

Count me in on the group of people with a wonky sunroof...

Today was the first sunny/warm day of the year, and I was driving around with the windows down, then thought "let's hit the sunroof"... nothin. I was able to tilt the sunroof. Then all of a sudden it was able to open/close. This was all while the car was parked w/ parking brake on.

Mind of it's own indeed!

[piotrowr]

Okay everyone, MAJOR UPDATE! Check this. Delivery just occurred on a BRAND NEW 2010 PRESTIGE A4 AVANT WITH 19" SPORT PACKAGE. That's right! AofA treated us right and replaced our avant with sorry a$$ sunroof issue with a brand spankin' new 2010 "almost*" (*see below) identical car! 1st and foremost I would like to thank the dealership of North Scottsdale for going way way far and beyond to ensure we were satisfied. Alan, Jason and everyone else who worked sooo hard on attempting to resolve the sunroof issue need to be recognized. But also AofA support dessert region deserve a lot of credit. Yes the lemon laws suck for them and my wife and I hate to call KIT (her name for our old car) a lemon just due to a unrepairable sunroof issue but I commend AofA for acknowlegeing the issue and taking the intiative to replace the vehicle under Arizona law. Now I am forbidden to discuss the details of the transaction, I can only say that based on the prior posts they did everything in their power to attempt to repair the vehicles sunroof w/o success and unfortinuteily it appears to be a factoy issue. Besides this point the good news is AofA was able to find our exact config in NA and ship it to AZ with only a couple of changes:
1. NAV standard on 2010 (we opted out of the option in 09)
2. Side assist standard on 09 but was added as option to this '10.
3. Rear window shades!!!
4. Black vs. our gray interior (we actually like it a lot, does not get as dirty - rubber all weather mats on the way)

Some other differences are 7 spoke 19' sport wheels vs the 5 spoke of the 2009. The car drives lovely and time to break it in as usual. Will need a new tint (AofA does not cover that) along with clear bra but that's no biggie. Looking forward to getting to know Kitty (wife's new name for the car) and all it's features! Will be getting more involved in the forum as I have been silent for obvious reasons. Laters....

[piotrowr]

Just wanted to add that the old car was found to have a wiring problem (dealership's theory so far). A wire that was unwrapped was found to have connections what seemed not to be "laser soldered" what ever that means. Dealership repaired the wiring (entire header has been remove during testing and is in service mangers office) to allow floor maint magr to drive the car on a reg basis and so far after 700+ miles no issues. I reminded them that after the 1st potentiometer replacement we went 30+ days w/o the sunroof acting up only for it to happen shortly there after. Will post pics of new ride soon...

[Anthony]

Wow, interesting and rather unexpected turn of events.

I suppose a congrats and a best wishes on the new baby are in order!

[piotrowr]

Thanks, a bit of an ordeal but all turned out well in the end. Gotta say we love the black interior, much cleaner look and great contrast with the trim. MMI control knob location with NAV is soooo much more convenient.

[naemcivic]

wow, congratulations on the "new" ride you got. you are lucky to have got a new vehicle from AOA.

[DB33]

Wow, your dealer sounds awesome! Best wishes with the new ride.

[piotrowr]

Wow, your dealer sounds awesome! Best wishes with the new ride.

Actually the dealer doesn't have anything to do with the replacement other than handing over the car and working to repair the old one. AofA is fully responsible for the transaction, costs, etc.

[ThePiombino]

Pretty awesome how things worked out for you here! Congrats and better luck w/this one!