[s-cars]Re: Fw: [SOS-cars] need help - S6 electrical problem

[Tom Green]

> Original message:

> Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2004 19:01:22 -0500
> From: "Mark Strangways" <strangconst at rogers.com>
> Subject: [s-cars] Fw: [SOS-cars] need help - S6 electrical problem
> To: "s-car" <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> This in from the southern Ontario chapter..
> I could not find the answers in my little archive for the s-car list, 
> so
> does anyone recall the problem / solution to this sunroof gremlin ?
> Mark S
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Hugh Ramola" <hramola at yahoo.ca>
> To: <SOS-cars at yahoogroups.com>
> Cc: <w-t_audifans at yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 6:51 PM
> Subject: [SOS-cars] need help - S6 electrical problem
>
>
> Hello all,
> I need some help with a problem that has developed in
> my 1997 S6.
>
> About a month ago my sunroof began to power open by
> itself when I started the car.  It did this a half
> dozen times - always when I first started the car, but
> not all the time.  Once open, I could no longer close
> it with the switch.  The switch would do nothing at
> that point.  I had to drop the panel and crank the
> roof closed manually.  Then it would be in fine
> working order again for a few days.  The switch would
> open and close it as always.  Then for no apparent
> reason the same thing would happen immediately upon
> starting the car.  Sunroof opens and can't be closed
> electrically.  I called the dealer and the service
> advisor suggested it was likely a problem in the
> sunroof switch.  So I disconnected the wiring to the
> switch and the problem went away for a couple of
> weeks.  Therefore assuming the switch was indeed the
> problem, I spent the $117 on a new switch and
> installed it myself.
>
> You know where this is going...
>
> The day after installing the new switch the problem
> resurfaced.  So clearly it is not the switch.
>
> That bites!  117 bucks for nothing (how many beers is
> that?).
>
> Anyway, I would welcome some suggestions as to what is
> causing this.  Right now I have disconnected the
> wiring to the new switch and the problem does not
> occur.  Seems to me the switch has to be in the
> circuit for the problem to occur, but that the source
> of the problem is beyond the switch.

Check the battery for low voltage.  I know, it seems like a real 
stretch, but a weak battery that still starts the engine can produce 
weird problems with sunroofs and door locks,  and a botched boosted 
start can be the end of the life your S6 now enjoys.  If it's going, 
just replace it now.

Tom, '95 S6