Audi A1 Electric window switches
Discussion
The drivers door switch unit on Mrs K's A1 has failed. The switches are limp and inoperative, a common fault.
Audi main dealer wants £175 to check what I say is true and that is before doing any work. They wont accept that the fault is self evident and needs, for example, no diagnostic or plug in needed to prove the fault.
Any benefit in owning in Audi is written off by the feeling of being ripped off.
Audi main dealer wants £175 to check what I say is true and that is before doing any work. They wont accept that the fault is self evident and needs, for example, no diagnostic or plug in needed to prove the fault.
Any benefit in owning in Audi is written off by the feeling of being ripped off.
I must be seeing things differently to you guys.
Failed window switches are well known to go wrong, even on newish cars. The diagnosis would take less than 5 seconds.
I would have thought that it would be a reasonable course of action for Audi to rectify this manufacturing defect with the minimum of pain to the customer.
Failed window switches are well known to go wrong, even on newish cars. The diagnosis would take less than 5 seconds.
I would have thought that it would be a reasonable course of action for Audi to rectify this manufacturing defect with the minimum of pain to the customer.
That the franchise dealers are annoying really isn't news. That their service advisors often lack common sense isn't either.
Unless you're obliged to use them for a warranty/contract of some sort buy a switch pack yourself and either fit it yourself or find a sensibly priced independent garage.
A window switch is a crap example but a garage will often refuse work with no or outside diagnosis because they don't want you back in complaining or asking for refunds when the diagnosis is wrong. A franchise dealer in particular will want to go by the book and check feeds, wiring etc. before confirming switch pack itself has failed.
Unless you're obliged to use them for a warranty/contract of some sort buy a switch pack yourself and either fit it yourself or find a sensibly priced independent garage.
A window switch is a crap example but a garage will often refuse work with no or outside diagnosis because they don't want you back in complaining or asking for refunds when the diagnosis is wrong. A franchise dealer in particular will want to go by the book and check feeds, wiring etc. before confirming switch pack itself has failed.
K87 said:
I would have thought that it would be a reasonable course of action for Audi to rectify this manufacturing defect with the minimum of pain to the customer.
Even if it was in warranty the dealer's first response would most likely by that you'd damaged it etc. I was told the other day that a melted control panel that had melted in the places where each heated seat switch indicator is was water damage.The dealer staff are targetted to get as much money out of you as possible. They probably don't want the job anyway, an Audi dealer will be flat out charging £400 for oil change services that take 20 mins.
K87 said:
I must be seeing things differently to you guys.
Failed window switches are well known to go wrong, even on newish cars. The diagnosis would take less than 5 seconds.
I would have thought that it would be a reasonable course of action for Audi to rectify this manufacturing defect with the minimum of pain to the customer.
Who says its the switch? It could be the door module, it could be the wiring loom, it could be the window motor itself, it could be a fuse.Failed window switches are well known to go wrong, even on newish cars. The diagnosis would take less than 5 seconds.
I would have thought that it would be a reasonable course of action for Audi to rectify this manufacturing defect with the minimum of pain to the customer.
As I said, if you know its the switch pack replace it yourself. Worst case the door card has to come off so would take you less than an hour to swap out.
SteBrown91 said:
K87 said:
I must be seeing things differently to you guys.
Failed window switches are well known to go wrong, even on newish cars. The diagnosis would take less than 5 seconds.
I would have thought that it would be a reasonable course of action for Audi to rectify this manufacturing defect with the minimum of pain to the customer.
Who says its the switch? It could be the door module, it could be the wiring loom, it could be the window motor itself, it could be a fuse.Failed window switches are well known to go wrong, even on newish cars. The diagnosis would take less than 5 seconds.
I would have thought that it would be a reasonable course of action for Audi to rectify this manufacturing defect with the minimum of pain to the customer.
As I said, if you know its the switch pack replace it yourself. Worst case the door card has to come off so would take you less than an hour to swap out.
It may be practical for some to remove the door card but not for me.
Your tone is agressive and confrontational, is there a reason for that?
I'm not being confrontational - I am telling you how a main dealer will see it from their side which you don't seem to get.
Just because the switch pack is floppy doesn't mean there isn't a fault elsewhere. If you spend £2-300+ quid in labour and the fault remained because it turned out a module had got wet and the buttons although floppy were still working, you would be kicking off at them. If they diagnose the fault themselves then they can price the job accordingly.
A back-street garage will likely just swap out the switch pack for you for a fee, but main agents (and reputable specialists) want to diagnose the fault themselves to they are confident they are resolving the issue reported.
Or just swap it yourself. It will be less than an hour with a basic screwdriver & socket set and a set of trim tools to pop the clips.
Just because the switch pack is floppy doesn't mean there isn't a fault elsewhere. If you spend £2-300+ quid in labour and the fault remained because it turned out a module had got wet and the buttons although floppy were still working, you would be kicking off at them. If they diagnose the fault themselves then they can price the job accordingly.
A back-street garage will likely just swap out the switch pack for you for a fee, but main agents (and reputable specialists) want to diagnose the fault themselves to they are confident they are resolving the issue reported.
Or just swap it yourself. It will be less than an hour with a basic screwdriver & socket set and a set of trim tools to pop the clips.
SteBrown91 said:
I'm not being confrontational - I am telling you how a main dealer will see it from their side which you don't seem to get.
Just because the switch pack is floppy doesn't mean there isn't a fault elsewhere. If you spend £2-300+ quid in labour and the fault remained because it turned out a module had got wet and the buttons although floppy were still working, you would be kicking off at them. If they diagnose the fault themselves then they can price the job accordingly.
A back-street garage will likely just swap out the switch pack for you for a fee, but main agents (and reputable specialists) want to diagnose the fault themselves to they are confident they are resolving the issue reported.
Or just swap it yourself. It will be less than an hour with a basic screwdriver & socket set and a set of trim tools to pop the clips.
Okay.Just because the switch pack is floppy doesn't mean there isn't a fault elsewhere. If you spend £2-300+ quid in labour and the fault remained because it turned out a module had got wet and the buttons although floppy were still working, you would be kicking off at them. If they diagnose the fault themselves then they can price the job accordingly.
A back-street garage will likely just swap out the switch pack for you for a fee, but main agents (and reputable specialists) want to diagnose the fault themselves to they are confident they are resolving the issue reported.
Or just swap it yourself. It will be less than an hour with a basic screwdriver & socket set and a set of trim tools to pop the clips.
The failure of the A1 drivers side electric window switch is a common fault which is not an electric problem but a breakage of the plastic under the levers.
In terms of doing the work myself I only have one useable arm, doing a repair such as this is beyond my capabilities.
Thank you for your comments nonetheless.
If you deal with main dealers unfortunately this is the game you need to play.
you book the car in with them and they then diagnose what's wrong with it. The service advisor phones you with a price to fix.
The service advisors are either dumb or trained to act dumb. They won't engage in any sort of technical discussion.
A customer rocking up with "its a common problem" and "its a 10 minute fix" is unlikely to get anywhere.
you book the car in with them and they then diagnose what's wrong with it. The service advisor phones you with a price to fix.
The service advisors are either dumb or trained to act dumb. They won't engage in any sort of technical discussion.
A customer rocking up with "its a common problem" and "its a 10 minute fix" is unlikely to get anywhere.
The car was taken in this morning by my wife. She asked the service adviser to come outside and look at the switch, all four levers lay flat.
'We see this a lot, at least one a week'
No threatened £175 inspection fee and the car will go in for repair when the part arrives.
Thank you all for your considered opinions.
'We see this a lot, at least one a week'
No threatened £175 inspection fee and the car will go in for repair when the part arrives.
Thank you all for your considered opinions.
I had similar, very frustrating.
Common fault, I knew, the service advisor knew, the techie knew. But we still had to go through the same charade. 1st appointment in 3 weeks , 45 min drive, 30min wait, fault confirmed no part in stock 45min drive home. rinse and repeat for repair.
6 weeks and 4hrs of my time to repair.
It happened again, part from ebay 24 hrs delivery, 1 hr for me to fit.
Small indies tend to be better. Large corporations are busy de-skilling those at the coal face and running appointments from call centres.
Common fault, I knew, the service advisor knew, the techie knew. But we still had to go through the same charade. 1st appointment in 3 weeks , 45 min drive, 30min wait, fault confirmed no part in stock 45min drive home. rinse and repeat for repair.
6 weeks and 4hrs of my time to repair.
It happened again, part from ebay 24 hrs delivery, 1 hr for me to fit.
Small indies tend to be better. Large corporations are busy de-skilling those at the coal face and running appointments from call centres.
Edited by Huzzah on Wednesday 24th June 10:30
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