1986 Carrera relay cut off question

VA_Zach · 10:44 AM

Hoping someone can help me identify the location of a specific relay in my '86 Carrera. When I take the keys out of the ignition and open my driver's side door, the power no longer cuts off (windows go up and down, radio still works, etc). This is a new phenomenon which began about 3 months ago but I can't correlate it back to any event or change in the car.

Edit: Should add that the issue I'm experiencing is that I typically encounter a dead battery these days. My assumption was that, if the relay was working properly, the kill function would preserve the charge in the battery.

McLaren-TAG · McLaren-TAG's Garage

May be as simple as your door switch is not responding due to corrosion etc and the door looks as if you've not opened it, keeping power to the circuits you mentioned.

Do the interior light come on and go off when you open/close the door?

Welcome to the forum BTW.

chrisbruck · chrisbruck's Garage

I'd put money on the door switch. Mine is bad and does exactly what you are experiencing.

VA_Zach · 12-03-2015, 11:24 AM

Thank you for the quick replies!

McLaren-TAG - the interior lights don't work at all. I got the car about 18 mos. ago and spent a few hours mucking with them ('lights' plural, for the interior roof and the engine compartment) but to no avail.

chrisbruck - I'll take a look and see if I can investigate this further. Is there a replacement part number?

ganun · ganun's Garage

BTW the relay is behind the fuel / oil gage, try pull it and if things get normal clean or replace the door switches. With a flashlight you can see it and get to it from the trunk, says FENSTERHEBER.

Alex973 · Alex973's Garage

thank you guys, same problem I had. the door switch fixed the
problem. why are we having the same problems same time, and
same mid 80's 911

ganun · ganun's Garage

100 dollar relay, .....i just pulled the relay, even though the switches were cleaned. Just in case...
One day I miss to notice the dome light is not on and then kill the battery.

chrisbruck · chrisbruck's Garage

If you wiggle the door switch while the door is open the interior lights should come on and the radio and windows will "quit" working... at least that's how mine is. For 3 yrs I thought the windows working after pulling the key out was a "feature", kinda like newer cars have to roll up after the ignition is off. Nope, just a flakey door jamb switch.

VA_Zach · 12-04-2015, 08:20 AM

Okay, so I had some time this morning and poked around using the advice and tips. Playing with the door switch didn't get me the desired results. What *did* work was opening the driver's side door fully and completely. Typically I open the door just enough to slide out. But when I swing the door wide, the electronics stop working. Solved the problem for today! Would like to get to the root but, right now, I think I'll just go for a ride.

Thank you again for all of your help and input. If I do figure it out I will post an update.

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

Remove the door switch carefully and clean/lube it. It is not making a good contact.

I say careful because you may be twisting the wire inside, it is a ground wire and may snap off into the abiss

SilverWT · 12-05-2015, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VA_Zach

When I take the keys out of the ignition and open my driver's side door, the power no longer cuts off (windows go up and down,...

Guys, you maybe confusing the issues.

The windows operating with the ignition off and a door open is correct for a most, if not all, 3.2s. Bentley shows a change to the wiring for 1985, but my 1984 already has this feature. It is also explained on page 9 of my original handbook as follows "When a door is open the power windows can be operated even if the ignition key has been withdrawn"

Terminal 85B on the power window relay was connected to the door switch circuits with two brown/white wires (in earlier cars 85B was not connected to anything). So the windows operate with the ignition on, or with a door open and ignition off making it more convenient to close a forgotten open window as you get out the car. They should not work with the ignition off and the doors closed.

You obviously have an intermittent connection/earthing issue, but don't get distracted by trying to cure a "factory feature".

Good luck in finding a solution.

Mark