My car is locking me out

This has happened twice now.  After driving the car, I stop the car, put it in park, get out and close the door while the engine is running.  The door locks when I close it.  I've been lucky so far - the first time the window was partially open and the second time I was close to home so I could get the spare keys.  Has this happened to anyone else?

hasnt happened to me, but that always worries me for some reason -- guess my worry is warranted now.

Weird...

My cheap-o Volvo automatically unlocks the door when you shut it (only when the keys are in the ignition) even if the door is already unlocked to prevent you from locking your keys in!...

I figured the A3 would do the same thing... I've left it running for 10 minutes while I went inside and it was unlocked.  I know the doors lock automatically at 10 or 15mph, it might have something to do with that.

The A3 is not supposed to do this. In fact, when I got my A3 the salesman kept talking up how it is impossible to lock your key in the car except by closing them in the hatch area. My car has never locked me out when the engine was running. For that matter, when I get out and don't lock the doors, the car automatically locks all of the doors except the driver's door after a certain amount of time. If you take the car to the dealer, maybe you should mention it next time your in. They may just have to make an adjustment with a vag tool (like when the windows stop rolling down with one touch).

quote:

ORIGINAL: BAMF

The A3 is not supposed to do this. In fact, when I got my A3 the salesman kept talking up how it is impossible to lock your key in the car except by closing them in the hatch area. My car has never locked me out when the engine was running. For that matter, when I get out and don't lock the doors, the car automatically locks all of the doors except the driver's door after a certain amount of time. If you take the car to the dealer, maybe you should mention it next time your in. They may just have to make an adjustment with a vag tool (like when the windows stop rolling down with one touch).

 
It hasn't done it again, but whenever I get out with the engine running, I'm leaving my window down a bit.  I was going to mention it on the next trip to the dealer, but thought maybe somehere has had the same thing happen or maybe there was a tech bullentin out.  I have a VAGCom, but haven't made any changes in quite a while, so I don't think it would be that, but you never know.

It happend to me when I had some other person on the pasenger seat, but never happend when I was by myself in the car.

It has happended three more times in the last three days.  Once at the carwash where they were able to break into the car, once at my mailbox where I could walk home to get the spare key and once with someone else in the car to unlock it for me.  I'm definately taking it to the shop now, but I've got to wait a couple weeks because I've got a lot of work-related travel coming up.

It seems beneficial simply to keep the key on your person rather than left in the ignition. Certainly not worth the hassle.

The only times my A3 will lock itself is when I reach 11 mph, or, if locked and I remotely unlock it, then don't open a door (or the hatch) for a short period of time, it will lock itself again.
 
Does yours do either of these?
 
Also, did it do this before you made the VAGCOM adjustments?
 
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: Blue Jays

It seems beneficial simply to keep the key on your person rather than left in the ignition. Certainly not worth the hassle.

A good short term fix, but hard to do at the carwash and something I shouldn't have to do.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Driver8

The only times my A3 will lock itself is when I reach 11 mph, or, if locked and I remotely unlock it, then don't open a door (or the hatch) for a short period of time, it will lock itself again.

Does yours do either of these?

Also, did it do this before you made the VAGCOM adjustments?

Yes, my car locks just as you describe.  This is a relatively recent problem and my VAGCOM adjustments were a long time ago, so I don't think it could be that - but you never know.  It is worth looking over the VAGCOM options to see if there is something that could be causing the problem.  I'll try to do that in the next couple of weeks.

I'm wondering if the VAGCOM changes enduced this. I've been worried myself and always lower the window before getting out with key in ignition but the door doesn't lock unless I'm at 11mph or so.

I am having the exact same issue. I had it at the dealer for 3 days this past week and they tell me they don't know what the issue is? Did you have any luck getting this resolved? I wouldn't mind having some "ammunition" to use to educate the dealer the next time I bring it in.

quote:

ORIGINAL: rwalsh71

I am having the exact same issue. I had it at the dealer for 3 days this past week and they tell me they don't know what the issue is? Did you have any luck getting this resolved? I wouldn't mind having some "ammunition" to use to educate the dealer the next time I bring it in.

 
I don't have an answer for you.  About a month ago, it locked me out four times in one week and hasn't done it since.  I had it at the dealer last week for routine service and since it wasn't doing it, they couldn't diagnose the problem.  I suspect there is a loose electrical connection in the drivers door that is causing the door to lock when it is shut, but that is just my conjecture.  Did the dealer look for any potential electrical connection issues that could cause a short when jarred (door shut)?

All they did was check the computer and said there were no malfunctions reported. I told them that I am able to reproduce the issue on demand and gave them a step by step procedure over the phone to make it happen. They insisted they could not reproduce the issue. I'll just plan on showing the mechanic the process first hand the next time I have it in.

What I did find interesting is that the red indicator on the doors that represent a locked state does not illuminate even though all the doors are locked. It makes me think the computer is not aware of the doors being locked and that it may be a mechanical issue. If I get it resolved I will let you know.

I've not been able to consistently reproduce this in my car.  Since my last post stating it hasn't happened in several weeks, it locked me out yesterday.  Good thing someone else was in the car.  Can you post your instructions for making your car lock you out and I'll try it on my car.

quote:

ORIGINAL: rwalsh71

All they did was check the computer and said there were no malfunctions reported. I told them that I am able to reproduce the issue on demand and gave them a step by step procedure over the phone to make it happen. They insisted they could not reproduce the issue. I'll just plan on showing the mechanic the process first hand the next time I have it in.

What I did find interesting is that the red indicator on the doors that represent a locked state does not illuminate even though all the doors are locked. It makes me think the computer is not aware of the doors being locked and that it may be a mechanical issue. If I get it resolved I will let you know.

 
Post them here, we'll check ours.  It could be, like you said a mecanical lock problem that happens just on yours.

Recently happened to me as well.  But just like most people, I cannot reproduce this error.  My car was stranded in the middle of the road because I stopped for an accident that happened infront of me.  Went out to check if the people were ok.  They were fine, a couple bumper scratches, and I was locked out... The irony...  It has happened a couple times where some how the passenger side wasn't locked and I was able to get back in.

Below is how I can get it to happen every time. Every time I have done it the car is running. I am not sure if it matters that the car is running, or just that the key is in the ignition. I'll check that when I get home and have a spare key.

1. Sitting in the car with the engine running and the doors locked
2. pull door handle to exit the drivers door
3. Close drivers door
4. Within 30 seconds the door will be locked. There is no sound heard and the red "locked" indicator on the doors is not illuminated.

The time varies. Sometimes it was immediate, other times it took up to 30 seconds before the door would lock. If when I tried to open the door from the outside it was unlocked, I would just close the door again and wait a little longer. Every time it eventually happened. Let me know if you get the same results.

Thanks, but that didn't do it alone for me.  I was about to write this and decided to try something different and this works for me every time.

Just as you state above, but when you open the door, just pull the handle enough to open the door and no more.  Then close the door and it will lock.  If you pull the door handle to its limit - beyond that which opens the door, it will not lock.  I tried each way several times and it worked every time.  It is how far open you pull the handle!!!!  Now I finally have a way to show it to the dealer.
 
Edit: I just tried it without the key in the ignition and it worked also.  Only pulling the handle partway will cause the door to relock - regardless of whether the car is running or key in the ignition.

Okay, I just checked on my '08  (dated 10/07). 
 
I bet there's a hidden tsr on this issue. The locking sensor works perfect on mine.  While slowly pulling the inside handle the red LED turns off WAY before the locking mechanism is able to open the door...close to 10mm of travel between the red LED goes off and the door is allowed to open.  After you open it (just barley, not all the way) get out...the car will never lock. It sits there dumb and happy. 
 
I bet there's a new sensor the dealer has to install/adjust for your car.  Good luck!
 
 

You are absolutely right!

I just tried it without the car running and it worked. I tried again without the key in the ignition and it still worked. I was about it update you on my test when I saw your post. I tried my normal procedure but instead pulled the inside door handle harder than I normally would and it never locked on me! I truly hope this is not normal. If it is, how will I ever know if I pulled the interior handle hard enough to prevent the door from re-locking. I guess I will just have to get use to carrying my emergency key with me until I get it back in the shop.

There must be a TSB or something on this.  I find it hard to believe that I was the first to notice this given the car has been in production for so long.  The red light goes out on my car also when I open the door and doesn't light up again after it locks, just like rwalsh71 described before, but they must have done something different on the '08.  It looks like others here that have also had this problem had '06s.  Anyone with an '07 or '08 that have this problem?

See above; show the dealer and have them fix it.  That's not as designed.

Anyone have access to the audi tsb database?