Electrical "gremlin"?: strange spoiler behavior

[willyjp]

Can anyone else relate to this?

The spoiler on my new 2010 is behaving strangely. It sometimes deploys suddenly for no apparent reason at low (5--30 mph) speeds and then stays up through 1 or 2 shut down/restarts before just as suddenly closing. The R8 tech at my dealer suggested is MIGHT have to do with vigorous acceleration and once I can confirm is seemed to happen when accelerating moderately briskly from a start up to about 35 mph. But other times there has been NO strong acceleration when it decides to deploy.

When it's down, it comes up at about 68--72 mph and then folds back below 25 mph. as it should. But when it deploys inappropriately nothing seems to get it to lay down. If I push the spoiler button when it's "stuck" up, the light comes on and then another push won't turn it off!! But IF I push the button and leave it alone, when the spoiler folds back down, the light in the button goes off!! Go figure!!

I have also, once or twice, had the "Auto Up and Down" feature stop working on the passenger side window for no apparent reason. The window still responds to holding the button up or down but it won't keep running unless you hold the button. This has cleared after 15 minutes or so of driving both time when it has occurred!!

Anyone else have electrical spooks in their car?

[gazza1]

Not one event at all..touch wood.

[wedouglas]

Are you sure you aren't laying your hand on the button? I've occasionally done that.

[KfabR8]

There's a way to reset the windows.

My driver's side window decided to have a mind of it's own a while back and the reset was simple. I believe it was put the window down and then hold the switch down for 5-10 seconds - but don't hold me to that. I'll try to remember to ask my Tech when I go get my car back this week.

By chance have you ever removed the ground lead off the battery? That's what caused my window issue - it pisses off the electrical system pretty well. Audi or someone with a VAG-Nav setup should be able to reset any codes that may have popped up because of this.

[R84ME]

Are you sure you aren't laying your hand on the button? I've occasionally done that.

Wouldn't explain this though ...

If I push the spoiler button when it's "stuck" up, the light comes on and then another push won't turn it off!! But IF I push the button and leave it alone, when the spoiler folds back down, the light in the button goes off!! Go figure!!

[smoothy]

all your R8 are belong to us!

[willyjp]

Are you sure you aren't laying your hand on the button? I've occasionally done that.

heaven forbid! I NEVER remove my hand from the wheel, except to make a quick gear change!

actually, that was the first thing I thought of, but I've paid attention and it is definitely not related to touching the button; also, when it comes up on its own and sticks, it is behaving much differently than when I push the deploy button (first hit: light on, spoiler up; second hit: light out, spoiler down)

to me, this speaks of a car that has gone beyond the original function of the car's "bus" being used to report status and problems from diverse areas; I think what we have now is a cpu that is sending executive orders in response to our (switch sent) requests; in that case, however, glitches like this spoiler thing OUGHT to be "reset" by a system shut down/restart (key off, restart), but this one is not; it just clears on its own time schedule!!

[ianerrid]

I suspect it is a short somewhere, if you have a VAG.com, I'd plug that in and get an autoscan. It pinpointed an intermittent fault with my B&O and the garage couldn't argue...

[harrison]

There is complexity involved here!!! The linkage to the spoiler is nice and complex. The wire bundle going to the spoiler motor has a couple of resistors as well. I know, because I had to really search for a way to disable my spoiler. Found a red wire going to the spoiler motor that I snipped and spliced a switch into. The fuse that protects the spoiler motor ALSO protects a few other systems. My R 8 still alerts me (at the display) at EXACTLY 66 MPH that the spoiler should be coming up. A beep always lets me know when I hit 66. The beep does'nt bother me. Just people always asking , "what was that beep?" as if an explosion is coming next !!!!

[willyjp]

There is complexity involved here!!! The linkage to the spoiler is nice and complex. The wire bundle going to the spoiler motor has a couple of resistors as well. I know, because I had to really search for a way to disable my spoiler. Found a red wire going to the spoiler motor that I snipped and spliced a switch into. The fuse that protects the spoiler motor ALSO protects a few other systems. My R 8 still alerts me (at the display) at EXACTLY 66 MPH that the spoiler should be coming up. A beep always lets me know when I hit 66. The beep does'nt bother me. Just people always asking , "what was that beep?" as if an explosion is coming next !!!!

that is very interesting, Harrison! I see the spoiler alert in the D.I.S. window when I use the button to deploy or cancel, but NOT, I think, when it comes up automatically....unless it's VERY brief and I've missed it. In NO CASE is there any "beep" with spoiler deploy/retract, either automatic or via button.

I wonder if any of that is driver configurable via the options in the D.I.S.....I'll have to check that out. If it's NOT a settings issue, then I definitely have some kind of minor malfunction there.