My car broke [update]

"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly) 06/30/2020 at 18:50 • Filed to: German engineering, VW GTI

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[Update] I didn't even have to do the reprogramming trick on the window. After resting all afternoon while I was at work, it behaved properly again when I tried it this evening. Quirky. 

First !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (under warranty) due to a coolant leak at the water pump. But now my 2016 VW GTI is ready for the scrap heap, because . . .

. . . today I figured out that one of my “auto” window switches is no longer “auto” up or down.

I can’t be expected to hold the switch when I want my front passenger window to go all the way down from the driver’s side, CAN I?

(Plus, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It just gets worse and worse.)

Still not quite at 55,000 miles. Probably would do more damage replacing the switch than it is worth. I am surprised at how accustomed I have become to one touch down and up on all my windows.

In all seriousness, I’ll be fine. I just saw something that may allow a reset on the switch, also, since it still works, just not auto. Oppo seemed a bit slow this past hour, so thought I’d post.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:13

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This doesn’t bode well for me. I  just ticked over 25,000 miles. I should junk mine too right? 

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 06/30/2020 at 14:13

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PS

My free satellite radio is still going strong!

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 06/30/2020 at 14:15

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Clearly we need to cut our losses and move to the Oppo car of the year, which is *checks notes* the VW Mk7 Alltrack. Hmm.

UserNotFound > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:18

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That happens to me sometimes too. The driver’s side one-touch up/down feature randomly decides to take a day off.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:20

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But they have been secretly targeted by Big CUV, whether by poles, rear endings, or deer. The Alltracks have been falling left and right. Better play it safe and wait until the other switch breaks before scrapping it.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:22

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I was driving my ST yesterday, rolling up the window and hit a bump. The window started rolling down despite me holding the switch otherwise.

My ST is heavily haunted by electrical gremlins 

nermal > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:22

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All you need to do is hold the switch down all the way for a few seconds after it goes down, then do the same for up. Should reset it.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > nermal 06/30/2020 at 14:24

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Yes, this is what I found after searching AFTER I posted to Oppo. I plan to try it tonight.

MrSnrub > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:28

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That’s a bit annoying, but not too terrible. At least it’s not the driver’s side window which is the one that gets 90% of the use.

This gen GTI seems to have been pretty solid for the most part really , apart from IIRC some early turbo failures. With 33k so far, I’ve had my touchscreen replaced due to some dead pixels but that’s the only non-maintenance item - and that’s only something I did because the warranty covered it, it’s not like it wasn’t usable otherwise.

That said, I’ve had some build quality issues with mine which, while not impacting reliability , has been super triggering for my OCD, which has been a bummer. That plus  a want for something a bit bigger means I’m leaning towards replacing it soonish, maybe with   a CX-5 turbo . But I wouldn’t be worried about depending on it for a while like I might have been about a Mk5 or 6.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > UserNotFound 06/30/2020 at 14:28

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For one day, my brand new 2020 Outback decided that the rear passenger window would not stay up after sending it up via one-touch. It would roll back down a bit, then have to be inched up to closed.

Hasn’t ever happened again, but it now has just under 9,000 miles, so I’m a little curious as to when it might reappear. Window electronics apparently are difficult .

Tripper > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:29

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Those switches are easy to replace but if you’re under warranty... let em do it.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > MrSnrub 06/30/2020 at 14:31

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I still really like mine, so I hope that it lasts a lot longer than VW has led people to expect. Seems like it might.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 06/30/2020 at 14:32

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Out of warranty now except for the drivetrain, for which I have another 5,000 miles.

zipfuel > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:33

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God love VW electronics, first time I had a battery changed the windows forgot they could one touch up/down for about half an hour.

Unfortunately at the same time the radio also permanently forgot it had an aux input so unless I buy some chinese off brand VW coding software no more Bluetooth for me :(

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > zipfuel 06/30/2020 at 14:33

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That is no good.

CB > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:42

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Wooo broken VW club! Every VW owner is a member, they just don’t know it yet.

CB > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/30/2020 at 14:44

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1) Find Alltrack with deer damage

2) Put on your scrapped GTI’s front end, including the engine

3) ???

4) Profit!

CB > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/30/2020 at 14:45

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I don’t miss the electrical gremlins.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > CB 06/30/2020 at 14:47

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I think I’d feel differently if it was my DD, but as a fun car, I am willing to put up with them.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CB 06/30/2020 at 14:54

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Great idea! Except that means somewhere there is a GTI with a deer damaged All track from end.

Tripper > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 14:56

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Oh well those switches are easy to replace if that is the issue. Do ya have a VAGCOM cable to make sure that is the problem?

Ssfancyfresh > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 15:09

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My TT would do this when it got confused and the regulator lost “home”. There was a reset procedure that would bring it back. Not sure if that applies here, but may be worth looking into

CB > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/30/2020 at 15:13

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That sounds like a someone else problem.

DipodomysDeserti > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 16:35

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Could be a programming issue. The regulator on my wife’s BMW broke. After replacing it, there’s no more auto up/down.

Manny05x > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 17:06

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My Mazda6 had it for all 4 windows, my new car does not and it bothers me.

Josh - the lost soldier > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 17:10

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So, will you also be ditching your GTI for a C5 Z06?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 17:26

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With the window switch doing that, it’s definitely time to send it to the scrapper.

But I’ll do you a favour and take it off your hands for CAD$500 ... way more than the scrap value.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Josh - the lost soldier 06/30/2020 at 18:03

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If something catastrophic happened to it, the most likely replacement might be another MK7 GTI. I still would like a C5Z, so that wouldn’t be out of the picture, and I’d also consider a BRZ with a tune and headers, but I would be more limited in my use with those. And my wife would be more irritated if I was using the Outback and left her with one of those.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 19:08

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Mine (also a 2016) does the window thing randomly as well. It sucks when I want to use the hold-unlock-to-open all the windows feature and that doesn’t work due to my window switch being obstinate.

But I just mumble some curses and open my windows the hard way.

I also have had to get both my T-stat and water pump replaced recently. Thankfully I still had some powertrain warranty for both of those. It was made easier in that I work at the VW dealer (well the premium brands up the hill). But I can still simply drive to work and just go to the VW service drive rather than park my car.

dogisbadob > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 19:08

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Hi

P5guy now GTIguy > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 19:18

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My 18 is going in tomorrow for the left rear window not going down at all. 15k miles. Thank you 6 yr 72k warranty

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 19:22

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That happened on my Outback, then one week later it started working again. BTW my outback got a new engine at 36,000 miles and a new engine wiring harness that the dealer boggled up around 70k and maybe a dozen or more un diagnosed CELs.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > P5guy now GTIguy 06/30/2020 at 20:26

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Hopefully an easy fix. I wish I had gotten that nice warranty with mine. 

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > dogisbadob 06/30/2020 at 20:27

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I like the color, but the rest of the look is unappealing. I do need to learn more about it, though. 

dogisbadob > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 20:30

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Toyota makes the best cars :o)

P5guy now GTIguy > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 21:07

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Dealer is picking it up tomorrow we'll see what they do. 

OmerCarrothers333 > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 21:10

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I replaced the window switches on both the doors on my car a couple months ago. Thankfully, I didn't have to reset the windows, but I messed up the trim plates when I was removing them. I think because my car sits in the sun, the plastics got a little soft. So now my automotive OCD is going crazy.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 06/30/2020 at 22:59

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The auto-up in my MINI goes wrong every once in a while , but fortunately it does fix itself after a while. And can confirm, auto up and down on all windows is a crucial feature. I was miffed my Volvo doesn’t have open windows with the remote enabled in the US but at least it has  the auto-up and down on all windows including the roof.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 07/01/2020 at 06:19

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It wasn’t important to me until I had it. Then, when shopping for the camping car, I knew that I wanted auto windows in the rear to quickly give the dog head- out access, so it helped that the Outback had them. 

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > OmerCarrothers333 07/01/2020 at 06:21

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Ooo, that would be my fear if I ever had to replace them. Mess up something small but which would trigger me every time I saw it. Sorry that you have that going on. 

OmerCarrothers333 > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 07/01/2020 at 09:17

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It is what it is, my car’s 8 years old and sits in the sun in Utah. I think if it had been garaged when parked at home it would have been ok. Replacements are like $30, I just have to be able to say “ok, I’m doing it”.

Unfortunately, I have to get some body work done, because I ran over a hunk of metal that flew up and dented my rocker-panel all to hell.