Mk1 1999 Door Electrical Problems Windows & Central Locking

[Witchmaster]

My v reg 1999 MK1 has developed an electrical fault ....sometimes the central locking works and sometimes it doesn't. It is really sporadic it can work 10 times then drop out ... or vise versa. Sometimes turning the key back and forth will bring it back to life. 

Also the Electric Windows have stopped working altogether but the electric wing mirrors work normally and I believe they are on the same fuse n°2

 

Previous to this I have been having problems with my windscreen wipers ... regardless of the setting the were going really fast. On interval Single wipe, Screen Wash and Constant normal and Constant Fast .... all the same speed ..... fast.

This seems to have fixed itself for now and all working as it should ... I am pretty convinced that water has got in somewhere .... but where? 

 

With the massive amount of rain we have been having recently there maybe damp in the circuits somewhere I just would like a few tips on where to start looking.

 

I had a similar problem a few years ago on my BMW 3 series and it turned out to be a corroded block of earth connections under the passenger carpet.

 

Had a look under the carpets both sides and the aren't any connectors as the cables run down the sides of the sills.

 

There is however water in the passenger side footwell.

 

Any tips at all would be very welcome 

 

Cheers

Edited December 17, 2015 by Witchmaster

[gregers]

is the rear wash working,coz i suspect it aint,

what you are describing is the classic flooded alarm/locking module under the passenger seat,above this running in the cill gaurd is the rear wash pipe,and its come apart filling your ecu up with water.

do a search on here loads of info on what to do.

[BrianH]

Theres a joint in the wires at the same area (just in front of the passenger seat under the carpet) that can corrode for the same reason.

 

The wiper speed setting will probabbly be water getting inside the motor - the circuit board that controls it is on the bottom of the motor, mine does the same thing when its rained particually heavily. I haven't got round to fixing that yet.

 

The other thing worth looking at is the classic door gaiter wiring issues - particularly the boot one.

[Pfitzg1x]

Thanks all.

I checked this first and under the passanger seat, is the module for the parking sensors I believe and all looks dry.

But this also does not work but thats for another day.

 

 

I dont think there is a problem with the wiring in the door gaiter because it all works fine using the key in the door or the push button in the car, all handles move in and out..

( or am I wrong)

Its just the remote central locking with the key  fob that doesent work.

 

Thanks

  Pat.

[Witchmaster]

My car being a 99 has MK2 wiring to a degree I have since found out and therefore doesn't have the box under the seat.

The tube for the rear washer was not apart but I believe looked like it could have been leaking as one side of the joint was quite loose ... now super glued.

 

the channel in which the wiring loom sits was full of water the cable loom is now hanging outside of it drying off .... still have to check the joint near the passenger seat for corrosion. 

 

As things are drying out the central locking is working as normal now and if I try the window switches I get a screechy sort of noise but the windows won't move: I get the feeling there is now some power getting to them but not enough to run the motors. 

 

The inside of the drivers door gater was quite damp, slightly wet even so water may have got in there which would not surprise me with the amount of heavy rain we have had. so if water has gathered at the bottom then it will be causing some problems ?

[BrianH]

Thanks all.

I checked this first and under the passanger seat, is the module for the parking sensors I believe and all looks dry.

But this also does not work but thats for another day.

 

 

I dont think there is a problem with the wiring in the door gaiter because it all works fine using the key in the door or the push button in the car, all handles move in and out..

( or am I wrong)

Its just the remote central locking with the key  fob that doesent work.

 

Thanks

  Pat.

 

The window issue may be down to broken wires - the global open/close also works from the boot lock so this is worth looking at for that reason.

 

water in the gaiters by itself is unlikly to be the issue, but broken/bare wires are a common issue, if there is water there it will also be allowing them to corrode as well.

 

Though you mention now its the remote key (this didn't seem clear before) - its possibly a faulty switch in the key. If you know another galaxy owner with a remote fob try theirs (sync your car to their key) and see if it helps? if so then you know the problem is the key. Though the flooded footwell requires sorting out anyway.