[s-cars] Central door lock system won't pass state inspection

[Eric Sanborn]

I don't remember, does the C4 have flush locks when locked? It is sad,
I owned one and can't remember.  I can't imagine you would fail
provided there is a way to get out of the car.  By this I mean the
door automatically unlocking as you try to open it or if you can reach
over and pull up the lock with your hand.

That said it can be annoying and needs to be fixed.  I agree with
others that is likely wiring or vacuum line problems in the door jam
or inside the door.  I have a little hand vacuum pump that is helpful
for diagnosing those sorts of things.

-Eric

On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 9:04 PM, Tony Curran <tony.curran at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Hi Tom,
>
> I just fixed some significant issues with my central locking recently after
> the driver door lock failed. I had to replace the lock cylinder.
>
> The vacuum pump sucking for 30 secs sounds like a leak. I had to fix the
> hose in the passenger door close to the latch when I had this problem but
> you'll have to open up access to the hose to trace the leak. The pump is
> located near the battery under the rear seat so an easy place to start. Next
> disassembly of doors is required.
>
> The other symptom you described about having to open the door from the
> outside is possibly a driver door latch issue. The vacuum controller may not
> be receiving the door "locked" signal from the latch and continually
> applying vacuum. There is a micro switch on the driver door latch but also a
> break in the wiring at the door hinge could be the problem.
>
> At its worst, my central locking would activate itself and lock the car -
> this would happen in winter only. Locked me out once when I started it then
> got out to clear off some snow! Occasionally, the central locking would
> continually apply lock, or attempt to lock the doors every minute or so -
> mind of its own. I hope this doesn't return.
>
> Good luck with the fix.
>
> Tony
> 96 S6
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Tom Rodriguez
> Sent: May-27-14 11:08 AM
> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Subject: [s-cars] Central door lock system won't pass state inspection
>
> Please HELP!  My central door locking system is malfunctioning and will not
> pass state inspection which is due this week.  I searched the FAQs and
> recent discussion topics on Quattroworld for a fix, but to no avail.
>
>
>
> Symptoms (for the past week or so): From outside the car the doors can be
> locked and unlocked with the key as intended.  From inside the car the door
> lock buttons on the driver's and passenger's doors do nothing.  Occasionally
> when driving, all the doors will lock if I lower or raise the windows, and
> sometimes they seem to lock spontaneously due to no discernable action on my
> part.  When this happens I am locked inside the car and the only way to get
> out is to lower either the driver's or passenger's side window and reach out
> to unlock the door from the outside (this will not pass inspection).
>
>
>
> Another symptom which may or may not be related is that the vacuum pump for
> the central locking system runs on for about 30 seconds whenever the doors
> are locked or unlocked.  This has been happening for about a year.
>
>
>
> Any insights or BTDTs will be greatly appreciated.  The car is going to the
> shop tomorrow and I'd like to have the wisdom of this group before I get my
> mechanic's diagnosis (and his cost estimate!)
>
>
>
> Tom Rodriguez
>
> '95 S6
>
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