Nearly Halloween - Seem to be suffering from Phantom Windows...!

[JuliusF]

Yesterday I parked up, locked up and left the car streetside. All appeared as normal, locked and alarm armed as usual - no bip to suggest any zone was awry.

When I came back an hour or so later the driver side window appeared to inexplicably have opened itself(!) about 3 or 4 inches - eh?

No sign of force or any attempt to get in - window had just been cleaned so I would've noticed finger prints - I unlocked with the key fob, window stayed put, so I got in hit the button, closed the window in the normal fashion.

Seems fine now, drops and raises the usual fraction when I open and close the door, but inevitably I am a bit concerned for security when its unattended, or if it decides to do it when its parked up somewhere and the heavens open.

Another great 996 WTF? moment!

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Could you have unknowingly held the lock button on the remote? (Tight jeans pocket, perhaps). If so, the car could have unlocked and lowered the window because the button was held down. Because the door wasn't then opened, the car will have re-locked after 1 minute, but it wouldn't have raised the window.

 

[JuliusF]

Thanks Richard - Well I wouldn't have thought of that!
Jeans are not intentionally tight, but these days under middle age duress I'm not as svelte as I once was - also there's a couple of other keys on the same key ring.
Didn't realize the window woudl drop if the button is held in - I'll see if I can replicate the condition - without too much fiddling in my jeans pocket...!
Thanks.
J

 

[Boxstercol]

I had a similar problem with my 987 - left the house one evening on my way out & noticed both windows down. Never got to the bottom of it & touch wood it hasn't happened since. OPC checked car out & couldn't find anything wrong.

Didnt exactly inspire confidence.

 

[aPropertyMattR]

Know of a similar problem with e46 3 series BMW's, phantom windows were an issue with the window safety mechanism thinking it had come up against an obstruction and auto lowered to prevent an accident, i.e. childs head out of window, may be something similar? I can't remember much detail i'm afraid but may be a sensor issue or increased resistance to the window travelling up as it closes.

 

[NickCWebb]

Funny aPropertyMattR should mention windows opening spontaneously on 3 series BMWs, I went out to ours about two years ago to find the car locked but all four windows fully down. Luckily it hadn't rained and nobody seemed to have helped themselves to anything in the car. Shortly after that, the battery completely gave up the ghost, so I can only think it was a battery related issue. I don't know if it would be worth checking the battery condition Jules?
aPropertyMattR[/h3]