Doors unlock, windows & roof open by themselves!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6
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2001 E430
Doors unlock, windows & roof open by themselves!
Okay... So I got my ABS/ESP lights off on my 2001 E430 by replacing the brake switch, but now the car is unlocking and windows/sunroof opening fully on their own! A little disconcerting, and overall sucks during rain. The doors will unlock while I'm driving, but it all happens together after I've locked the car and walked away!
After searching the forum, I tried resetting the windows and sunroof, but it didn't seem to do anything. I'm sure there's a voodoo reset for all this, or a fuse somewhere that's causing this...
There are no malfunctions on the dash, save a bulb out warning.
Thanks!
Jeff
After searching the forum, I tried resetting the windows and sunroof, but it didn't seem to do anything. I'm sure there's a voodoo reset for all this, or a fuse somewhere that's causing this...
There are no malfunctions on the dash, save a bulb out warning.
Thanks!
Jeff
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
i don't know the cause(s) of all these symptoms together. that's a head
scratcher. but as far as the doors and interior lights unlocking or turning off/on
here is a well known 210 ailment:
the door jam switch (usually front driver....then less likely, front passenger side)
have deteriorated to a point where they're fluttering between open/close
electrically.
to test for this, while driving, put your weight against the door....as well as
pulling it closed. as you do this, there may be a pattern developed. try this
for each door.
another test would be to tape a penny directly opposite the door jamb switch.
when the door closes, it would more positively open the switch, ergo turn the
lights off and door should lock (when you're going 10mph).
if you're able to identify the bad door jam switch, replace for < $20 US. or
continue using the coin trick
separately - window/sunroof:
have not encountered or read about this before; this is very unusual. it
wouldn't normally open unless window/roof switch operated manually. or,
window/roof can be activated using Smartkey's convenience feature but
that is under infrared mode and even less prone to false positives.
the only idea i have would be for you to see if the logic system here can
be 'rebooted' by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. be clear
that your windows, mirrors, roof, seats, and radio will need to be reset.
don't do this if you're not aware of the resetting procedures and that
you have on hand the radio reset security code (specific to your radio's
serial #)
scratcher. but as far as the doors and interior lights unlocking or turning off/on
here is a well known 210 ailment:
the door jam switch (usually front driver....then less likely, front passenger side)
have deteriorated to a point where they're fluttering between open/close
electrically.
to test for this, while driving, put your weight against the door....as well as
pulling it closed. as you do this, there may be a pattern developed. try this
for each door.
another test would be to tape a penny directly opposite the door jamb switch.
when the door closes, it would more positively open the switch, ergo turn the
lights off and door should lock (when you're going 10mph).
if you're able to identify the bad door jam switch, replace for < $20 US. or
continue using the coin trick
separately - window/sunroof:
have not encountered or read about this before; this is very unusual. it
wouldn't normally open unless window/roof switch operated manually. or,
window/roof can be activated using Smartkey's convenience feature but
that is under infrared mode and even less prone to false positives.
the only idea i have would be for you to see if the logic system here can
be 'rebooted' by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. be clear
that your windows, mirrors, roof, seats, and radio will need to be reset.
don't do this if you're not aware of the resetting procedures and that
you have on hand the radio reset security code (specific to your radio's
serial #)
Last edited by raymond g-; Mar 18, 2012 at 11:42 PM. Reason: correction due to idiotic typing
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
2001 E430
Thanks for the response. It seems like the issue is with the convenience module under the right rear seat. My wife put a cooler back there on Saturday, and the drain plug was out. The foam box was dripping wet. I took it out and dried it overnight and dried off the connections, but as soon as I reinstalled it, the car unlocked and all the windows and sunroof opened again. On top of it, the damn abs light is on again!! Any suggestions?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
2001 E430
Okay, so it looks like the vacuum/convenience module is going to run a few hundred on eBay. Is this the most likely culprit? I dont mind guess-teching with relays and fuses, but expensive components are another thing entirely!
When I pulled the module out, by the way, there was water inside the pin sockets on the unit...
When I pulled the module out, by the way, there was water inside the pin sockets on the unit...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
can you wipe it down, air dry it (possibly days) and try again? (smacking
forehead) the bizarre symptoms can be attributed to liquid/shorting of the
critical and electronic rich environment beneath the rear seat. get the
insulation dried, sponge dried, etc. i'd disconnect the battery first, then check
the fuse blocks and wipe each connection down. same for PSE pump.
but be sure you know all about the how-tos of resetting window, radio, mirror,
roof, etc before you disconnect the battery.
natch, it's hard to determine if the PSE pump is trashed which is why we need
to go through all the steps to dry that area. otherwise, it can be a $4-500 part
forehead) the bizarre symptoms can be attributed to liquid/shorting of the
critical and electronic rich environment beneath the rear seat. get the
insulation dried, sponge dried, etc. i'd disconnect the battery first, then check
the fuse blocks and wipe each connection down. same for PSE pump.
but be sure you know all about the how-tos of resetting window, radio, mirror,
roof, etc before you disconnect the battery.
natch, it's hard to determine if the PSE pump is trashed which is why we need
to go through all the steps to dry that area. otherwise, it can be a $4-500 part
Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
W210 E300D
Well your symptoms are consistent with a convenience feature(when you press the door lock button long enough all the windows and sunroof will close, alternatively if you hold it open they will open), so if your symptoms have appeared after water spillage, sounds like the module is running that convenience program. Take the module apart if you can and clean it with alcohol, also inspect for any 'green' corrosion, if you see that stuff around the micro chips, your module is most likely dead. Also leaving the module which had water spilled onto it plugged in without completely drying it first will most likely cause permanent damage to it and possible other components in the network.
See if you can maybe borrow one from a Forum member in your area(but it has to be from the exact same model and year, because they are Variant coded, and if you buy one from eBay you'll have to code it as well). If you are mechanically inclined you can try troubleshooting all the inputs to see if the problem resides in the module or something is sending a false signal to it(the convenience feature I mentioned earlier can be activated via remote or driver door keyhole).
See if you can maybe borrow one from a Forum member in your area(but it has to be from the exact same model and year, because they are Variant coded, and if you buy one from eBay you'll have to code it as well). If you are mechanically inclined you can try troubleshooting all the inputs to see if the problem resides in the module or something is sending a false signal to it(the convenience feature I mentioned earlier can be activated via remote or driver door keyhole).
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
2001 E430
So...there was definitely some green nastiness around the pins in the plug socket. I sprayed both the male and female parts with contact cleaner and dried them with canned air. I didn't disassemble the unit, but I set it in the airflow of the pellet stove for a good 8-9 hours last night. Interestingly, after I reinstalled it today, I left the car in the sun with the back seat out, and an hour later I noticed some moisture forming on the inside of the windows. Opened everything up and let everything bake for a few hours. This evening, voila-car locks, ABS lights are out, and the windows are staying up!
Thanks for the help in isolating the problem-if things go sideways again, I'll know where to start.
Cheers,
Jeff
Thanks for the help in isolating the problem-if things go sideways again, I'll know where to start.
Cheers,
Jeff
