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Doors unlock & windows open automatically

54K views 32 replies 20 participants last post by  Nkxtc 
#1 ·
Hi Guys,
I'm hoping someone has had a similar problem in the past and knows how to fix it - randomly all 4 doors unlock and all 4 windows wind down.

I thought it may have been a problem with the key fob so I changed it for my spare one but to no avail. The problem happens very randomly, sometimes 3 - 4 times a day then nothing for a month or more ! I've been lucky so far in that it hasn't happened on a rainy day. I can park the car up and lock it and everything is fine, then next time I lock it almost immediately the doors unlock and the windows open. On other occasions nothing happens or it will happen several hours later.

Any experts out there who can point a finger in the right direction ?

Thanks in advance,

Graham
 
#3 · (Edited)
Any experts out there who can point a finger in the right direction ?
Put that finger on the unlock button and HOLD it there (for like 20 seconds or so).

Does the same thing happen?

The most common cause of this is your pants pocket.
 
#4 ·
Sounds like a problem with either the button on the remote sticking or faulty alarm unit. Our cars windows roll down when we hold the unlock button. So it could be sticking and holding it long enough to unlock all doors and then roll down the windows.open up your key and check if there's water, juice or any kind of liquid in there and clean it. If it's not that then the culprit could be the unit is either grounded or failing...


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#12 ·
Sounds like a problem with either the button on the remote sticking or faulty alarm unit. Our cars windows roll down when we hold the unlock button. So it could be sticking and holding it long enough to unlock all doors and then roll down the windows.open up your key and check if there's water, juice or any kind of liquid in there and clean it. If it's not that then the culprit could be the unit is either grounded or failing...

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Hi Edmonem,

Do our cars ('97 528i) have an alarm other than the central door-locking system ? Does it sound when any incident happens ?

And mine is with the old key (lock and unlock button only). Is yours the same ?

Thanks.
 
#5 ·
Hi Guys,

I don't think it's the remote as I've already swapped it out for my spare which I've never used before. This happens even if I have the keys hanging up on the rack indoors. So far it's happened at just 2 locations - outside my house and outside my brother's house. At first I thought it may have been due to someone using a transmitter at my brother's location and it was this that was causing the problem, but it still happens at my house which is in a rural area with very few houses around and no one as far as I know is a radio ham or such like. I'll try holding the unlock button down in the morning and see what happens, I'll also open the fob up just to make sure that everything is OK in terms of the button sticking/water etc.

Thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how I get on.

Graham
 
#6 ·
Drivers door jam connector/wires. Most likely the wires are broken and shorting out in the rubber boot going from the door to the door jam. or any wires inside the door going from the lock to the jam.
 
#10 ·
I know it sounds far fetched but with these cars I wouldn't be surprised. When my LCM was getting wet the idle would change. And when my aftermarket amp was crapping out it would trip the DSC light. I would turn on the radio and the dsc would light up, as soon as i would turn it off the DSC light went off. l:dunno::dunno::dunno:
 
#13 ·
I don't have anything more to offer the OP ... but if the problem is still unsolved, perhaps these alarm-related threads from the bestlinks will help identify how the system works.

Presumably, 'something' is causing the system to be activated 'as if' the key button were being constantly pressed (I still think 'that' is the prime suspect).

- How to understand the BMW E39 EWS alarm drive-away protection system (1) (2) & troubleshoot the alarm & hood switch (1) (2) (3) (4) or replace the siren (1) or disable the unlock chirp (1) (2)
 
#16 ·
This happens so much (that people ask, and then fade away like old soldiers), that I wonder why.

I suspect either the OP solved the problem (and didn't bother to update us), or, it was something simple (like the button was accidentally pressed while the key was in his pants pocket).

I'm guessing it was the latter ... and the OP is too embarrassed to say so ...

But, if not ... why do people just disappear like this? It just doesn't make sense.
 
#21 · (Edited)
Just a suggestion but check your trunk loom, bluebee has a thread on it here. Helped me solve some alarm issues I was having. Once I looked inside the rubber covering I found several wires with copper showing and touching each other, I taped the wires and the weird problems went away. This may not be your problem, if anyone responds to this thread please post how you fixed the problem, if you replaced the door lock actuator in the drivers door or some other way.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Scottjo post sounds spot on my e46 is doing this too the driver lock failed and was using the fob almost every time the windows open on 1 click I thought it was the fob and as I needed a spare i bought I bought a new one from the steeler. The new key is doing the same took the car to a bmw specialist and its the lock actuator that has gone I can get a refurb/repair kit from eBay £10 or get a new lock from the steeler for £100+
Imgoing for the repair will let you know how I get on.
 
#23 ·
2004 525i windows open by themselves

Mine did this last night "and" it was raining!!! I caught it before too much damage. It's done it 5 times since. 3 while in the garage. I called a friend who's a bmw tech. He told me to spray some wd40 into the drivers side door lock. So far, so good! He thinks some water may have gotten into the door lock mech and was shorting it out causing the windows, locks and sun roof to open on their own.
 
#24 ·
Same thing is happening to my e46, driving me nuts. I did hit a pot hole hard yesterday and that is when this issue started. All the windows, vents and sun roof open when I walk away from the car without locking it. The keys were in the car not on me when this happens. Anyone else have a solution for this issue?
 
#27 ·
Hi, I had the same sort of issue with mine. After months of intermittent faults I tracked it down to insulation breakdown in the drivers seat wiring harness. Every time I hit a pot hole the windows would open due to the wiring shorting out on the seat springs.


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#29 ·
Hi, I had the same sort of issue with mine. After months of intermittent faults I tracked it down to insulation breakdown in the drivers seat wiring harness. Every time I hit a pot hole the windows would open due to the wiring shorting out on the seat springs.
Wow, I have no clue why that would happen. The P-bus does go to the door module and seat module, but, it would require a properly formatted four byte serial message to get the window to go down.
 
#30 ·
Had same problem with windows and lock. In my case it was not the holding down of the key fob. When i got into the car after this happened the problem I had with my rear left brake light had miraculously fixed itself so its electrical and its highly likely the two are connected. This is when I realized its likely a loose connection. I recently bought a water blaster to wash my vehicle and all these electrical issues occurred within a couple of weeks of my washing my vehicle so i am thinking that water is the cause of the electric issues. Perhaps it will just fix itself over time if i avoid water-blasting vulnerable areas such as the door locks? If anyone has had this professionally check out and has expert advice I would like to hear it as its only a matter of time before this happens again and theres a deluge...
 
#31 ·
Had same problem with windows and lock. In my case it was not the holding down of the key fob. When i got into the car after this happened the problem I had with my rear left brake light had miraculously fixed itself so its electrical and its highly likely the two are connected. This is when I realized its likely a loose connection. I recently bought a water blaster to wash my vehicle and all these electrical issues occurred within a couple of weeks of my washing my vehicle so i am thinking that water is the cause of the electric issues. Perhaps it will just fix itself over time if i avoid water-blasting vulnerable areas such as the door locks? If anyone has had this professionally check out and has expert advice I would like to hear it as its only a matter of time before this happens again and theres a deluge...
 
#32 ·
Electric Windows all winding down upon door opening/closing

Hi all

Read through a few posts on this thread and it seems to be the discussion closest to my problem.

I am experiencing an intermittent yet frequent fault whereby all of the windows wind down fully. This is most frequently when entering or exiting the vehicle but is not exclusive to the driver's door. Below is an overview of the other symptoms:
  • This only occurs when the key is not in the ignition.
  • No key fob function once fault is present - ie. locking/unlocking/window operation.
  • Windows work when car is started but not on ignition when fault occurs. Starting the car to return the windows to the closed position does not clear the fault.
  • Disconnecting the battery clears the fault, allowing the windows to be operated by the key fob and the car to be locked

I have very occasionally come home to find my windows down but it is predominantly an immediate issue when entering/exiting the vehicle.

The video below shows the issue occuring

https://youtu.be/OYznv59ADFE

Any ideas?:dunno:

Kris
 
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