2004 Door issue

[gnoju]

So I just picked up my problem-full Cayenne (more posts coming) and I figured I would tackle the most annoying problem first - entry into the vehicle. The key fob doesn't work so I'm forced to inserting the key and unlocking it manually. Trick is, for some reason the driver's side door isn't reckognized by the car. The minute I unlock it with the key and open the door, the alarm sounds. This goes a bit further...when I open the driver's side door, none of the internal lights come on until the paseenger or rear door is opened. Same for the trunk. I cannot unlock the trunk without first opening a passenger or rear door. It's really as if it's not there or been touched. I did read earler someone had a similar issue, I think they might have even said they had to have handles replaced, but after hours of searching and no luck I figured I'd try posting once again. I am in the process of getting the keyfob...has anyone had luck getting it via ebay?

[gnoju]

Doesn't ring a bell with anybody?

[Guest]

wellcome to the club of MY04. :)

I did have encountered some problems with mine. do you have KESSY?

in my case, the door was opening by pressing the button on the key or sometimes like it supposed to do by just using the KESSY feature. also, I couldnt use the door button to lock the car, only the one from the back door. changed the door handle and everything is great now.

did you check the battery on the key? and btw how is your key?

and whats the keyfob? I hope you are not trying to get one chinese key and use it. though for solving your problems at the beggining I suggest you to go and run a test with a PIWIS or Durametric (this one can do also tests on the KESSY on the 03-04 cars). also, in order to use a newer key you will need to use the PIWIS.

just my .02cents

[gnoju]

no, not using KESSY and the keyfob is broken and being replaced. Physically it works fine, it's just that the car doesn't reckognize when it's open. No lights on, can't open truck, etc.., untill I open another door.

[RFM]

A decent diagnostic tool is a must to have, you are helpless without this days, and it become worse in the future.

[gnoju]

I agree but in this cases the PWIS (sorry if wrong acronym) at the dealer didn't pull anything up, and because of other issues, they forgot to look deaper at this one. How does the dar know when the door has been opened? Does it rely on the light coming on? Is it in the door handle? Is there a sensor on the inside of the door frame? Is there any place to look at detailed schematics of the doors?

[RFM]

The interior light comes up if you push the remote OPEN button and the doors unlock, thus BEFORE you pull on the handle. I, personally, can't believe there is no fault code in the system after what i have read in your previous posts. I recommend a visit to a mechanic with a PIWIS and knowles to use and interpret the tool.

[gnoju]

it was at the dealer with the system with no faults regarding this issue...that's why I think it is a physical something. If you forget about the keyfob, and open any door that is unlocked it will turn the light on, my driver's side doesn't. If you are driving then stop, get out via DR door you cannot open the rear hatch (normally you could but in my case the car does not know the door opened), i need to open the passenger or a rear door to let the car know someone got out and to unlock the rear hatch.

[SOH]

I've had similar problems on my Cayenne S MY04 (US version), that is no lights showing up on opening the driver's door.

I figured it out that the car doesn't see the door as open when it is. It sees it as closed. But when I put it half-shut (half-closed) the lights come up, the "door open" bell chimes and so on. So, this is how the car "sees" the drivers door in my case (from closed door to open): Closed (when the door is closed), open (for the little part of a second when the door is being opened), closed (when the door is open).

The Porsche service center said that the locking on the driver's door needed to be changed in order to fix that (haven't done it though).

Maybe it helps. If not, good luck =)

[gnoju]

I've had similar problems on my Cayenne S MY04 (US version), that is no lights showing up on opening the driver's door.

I figured it out that the car doesn't see the door as open when it is. It sees it as closed. But when I put it half-shut (half-closed) the lights come up, the "door open" bell chimes and so on. So, this is how the car "sees" the drivers door in my case (from closed door to open): Closed (when the door is closed), open (for the little part of a second when the door is being opened), closed (when the door is open).

The Porsche service center said that the locking on the driver's door needed to be changed in order to fix that (haven't done it though).

Maybe it helps. If not, good luck =)

Thanks SOH! Now I don't feel like I'm crazy. It just doesn't sound right that the door lock needs replacement unless it's got a gyrospce or something built in. Can any mechanicsa explain this? Other than that, I just found that my footwell light was clipped. I wonder if this is what's messing me up..

[PTEC]

I've had similar problems on my Cayenne S MY04 (US version), that is no lights showing up on opening the driver's door.

I figured it out that the car doesn't see the door as open when it is. It sees it as closed. But when I put it half-shut (half-closed) the lights come up, the "door open" bell chimes and so on. So, this is how the car "sees" the drivers door in my case (from closed door to open): Closed (when the door is closed), open (for the little part of a second when the door is being opened), closed (when the door is open).

The Porsche service center said that the locking on the driver's door needed to be changed in order to fix that (haven't done it though).

Maybe it helps. If not, good luck =)

Thanks SOH! Now I don't feel like I'm crazy. It just doesn't sound right that the door lock needs replacement unless it's got a gyrospce or something built in. Can any mechanicsa explain this? Other than that, I just found that my footwell light was clipped. I wonder if this is what's messing me up..

There is a microswitch inside the door lock unit that tells the alarm control unit if the door is latched or unlatched (ie, closed or open). When you physically open the door and the microswitch for the door latch doesn't register as open, the alarm control unit will not know to tell the vehicle electrical control unit to turn the interior lights on. This microswitch is located inside the door latch unit. You need to check the actual value for the drivers door and see if its operating correctly. If its not, SOH is correct in that the door latch unit must be replaced.

Edited January 21, 2009 by PTEC

[gnoju]

Thank you so much! That makes sense...I'll ripp that guy out this weekend.again, thank you for takeing the time to help!

[wvicary]

When I looked at the PET it doesn't appear that the latch assembly has any wires/connectors attached to it. I know the 986/996 latches do, maybe it's just not on my PET picture.