Greetings all. I just purchased a 2005 A4 Ultrasport and I am experiencing some odd alarm system/lights behavior.

Every now and then I will park my car, engage the factory alarm, and upon returning to the car my rear parking lights will be on, for how long I am not sure. The first time it really freaked me out because I thought I was going to have to confront someone stealing my car.

I am not sure if this is a problem with the alarm system, the automatic lights feature (auto setting on the parking/headlight ****) or something else. Not a big deal so far but I would hate to come out to my car and discover my battery is dead.

I did notice that this occurred when I had my windows up but sunroof open. My first thought was that the wind may have blown something around in the car and the motion detector went off and the alarm system was letting me know about it - but after reviewing the manual there is no mention of an interior motion detector (although there is a funny looking ****-like thing protruding from the middle of the dash under the rear view mirror).

Advice? Thoughts? Anyone else have a similar experience?

Happy to be a part of the Audi family (after 10 years of BMW ownership),

Neil

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one word mate "warranty"

 

i have never had that problem with my windows down or anything left down, i don't think there is anything that would keep the tail lights on, you should take it back to the dealer and let them take care of it .

 

2005 "warantyyyyyyyyyyy"

 

Thanks guys. It is under warranty but I have a feeling it will be something hard to replicate for the service technician. Plus I had my car at the dealership right after purchase to have a key fob cut and the lot attendant backed my car into another - went straight to the body shop for several days! Needless to say I am hesitant to take it back there...

Does anyone know if there is a motion detector/sensor with the factory alarm system?

Thanks,

Neil

 

the alarm is very sophisticated and does have a motion detector mercury movement sensor unit "dealer job mate" and you can claim from the accident repair company for failing to do the job right

 

avant80@2.6,

Thanks so much for the advice, it is extremely helpful. For my understanding, the mercury movement sensor is for movement of the vehicle as a whole (like tilt), not a sensor for something moving inside the vehicle (i.e., my previous BMW and Porsche both had a system where if the window was down and you waved your hand inside the car an alarm would go off)?

Sorry for being so thick. Unfortunately I am a civil and not an electrical engineer.

Cheers,

Neil

 

not a problem mate things change and even I have to keep up

 

I had the same problem, but it had nothing to do with the alarm. The brake light switch was faulty, and some morning I would come out and find the tail lights on. As it got worse, I would notice them staying on while driving (at night, by seeing the reflection of the center brake light on the rear window). Evnetually it confused the ESP since the system thought the brakes were always on.

I had to bring it back to the dealer twice to get it diagnosed and fixed - they replaced the switch and I've had no problems since.

 

VitaminB6:

Nice car by the way! This sound exactly like my issue. I couldn't quite figure out the connection since only the break lights were on and not the side markers or front parking lights. I hate to trouble you but I would like to be armed with as much info as possible when I return to the dealership: Is the switch literally called the "brake light switch"? Can you tell me where the switch is located? With the brake light switch issue - can the lights come on spontaneously - or does the switch just jam in the "on" position from the last time it was engaged (by pressing the brake pedal I assume)?

Much much thanks,

Neil