Michael McAleer answers motoring queries from readers
From Nigel Averill, Malahide, Co Dublin:
I read the letter in the Help Desk about a reader's problems with his Audi A4's windows winding down automatically without request.
I have a 15-month-old A4. It has done the same three times to date. No common reason . . . once it was raining and luckily someone spotted this and told me. As with Eddie McAteer, my main worry is leaving the car in a car park and this occurring. You may get others contacting you about this because my garage didn't seem surprised when I told them.
From Paul Stanley:
I'm writing to you about a letter which refers to a problem with the Audi A4 in which the windows go down by themselves. I also have had this problem. I'm due to visit the garage to have the problem looked at. I now check the car every night before I go to bed and if I park in town or car park when I walk away I find myself looking back a few times to make sure everything is okay, I shouldn't have to do this for a car of this price.
From M McBurney:
I read the article in MOTORS about the Audi A4 owner who was having window problems with his car. I own an Audi TT and this is a feature of the car I have become used to.
I haven't even complained to Audi because it is a known problem which Audi can (and will) do nothing about. I say this because I'm a member of the Audi TT UK owners club and it has an excellent bulletin board on its website which relates the difficulties many Audi owners are experiencing. There appears to be no one in Audi who will admit the problem exists, much less fix it.
From Ken Stanley:
I have a 01 A4 and the same happened to me. I couldn't understand it and put it down to someone messing or me being very forgetful but now I see it's a genuine fault. It has happened only twice which seems very strange.
In response to our queries Audi Ireland says its technical personnel have researched the matter and "can confirm that no general problem of this nature exists in relation to models sold in Ireland nor are our colleagues in Audi Germany aware of any technical problem in relation to this matter."
However, in the case of those who have experienced this problem, "we would ask that they visit their dealer so that we may carry out further detailed investigation as why the problem has arisen in their case.
"In researching the cases referred to by your readers, we would wish to examine whether the problem is due to some technical glitch, the possible interference of an after-market fitment or the inadvertent operation of the remote control feature - one which it is possible to permanently deactivate should owners so choose."Audi says it is also happy to to follow up on any reader¹s comments for individual investigation.
From Frank Peard:
You wrote an article recently entitled How Much will the motorist take? As you predict, this docile creature will take whatever is handed out. The trouble is that motorists are not organised in any way to protect their collective interest.
If the farmers or trade unions saw themselves collectively hammered the way motorists are, all hell would break loose. Rural motorists who operate over long distances and bad roads for their daily needs are particularly punished. The unorganised motorists are going to have to pay more and more tolls in the future on motorways.
We strongly agree with you. Motorists need to find some way to offer a strong unified and independent voice. Unfortunately the motorists in Ireland are such a diverse community, while they may all agree on the problems at hand it is unlikely they will agree on any solutions. As a result it would seem the Government practices a divide and conquer strategy. And it works.
• Send your queries to Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet St,
Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie