2001 A8L: Door locks not working, Central Locking Unit...or hose...?
 

I've done a "search" on this topic but information is very limited. Here is my dilema:

The door locks stopped working, neither the key fob or driver's door controls make them work. Pushing the lock buttons down manually takes quit a push, maybe 3 or 4 pounds of force. The alarm still sets when the things are "locked" with the key fob. But the doors don't actually lock. I tried to find the central locking unit in the driver's side rear fender area by removing the cd changer and nav. unit - but I'm not sure what his locking unit looks like...I didn't see anything that looked like such a device. With the trunk open I can push the key fob lock/unlock button and hear the noise of the unit, it runs for quite a while before it stops. I'm not sure where to go next, so any advice is apprecated. Thank You.

Sounds like a vacuum leak
 

You need to vag-com it first and see what kind of code you get.

I don't know what the central locking unit looks like, but did you take the cover off inside the trunk?

I would bet it's the thing with the green tubes going to it:

<img src="http://www.audipages.com/upgrades/sm_IMG_1800.JPG">

Re: No...I didn't remove that cover panel.....
 

I see I didn't dig in far enough yet. I would hope it's just a vacuum leak. I don't have a vac-com, but I do have a cheapie code reader, I'll see if it reads anything.

If there is a vacuum leak or hose problem, would all the doors be affected or would it just be the door of that individual hose? Does each door have it's own vacuum line?

If the hose is common to all doors, it would affect all doors

Re: I would think each door lock will have it's own hose...?
 

I would think each door lock would have it's own vacuum hose. Why would Audi use vacuum instead of just an electric solenoid at each lock - which would be much simpler? This system seems overly complicated for it's actual function. Just my 2-cents and probably not even worth that.

Each door has its own hose, but not at the pump
 

I'm sure there is a manifold downstream of the pump.

All the cars swapped over to solenoids (controlled via convenience CAN bus) around 02, the D2 kept the vacuum until it was re designed into the D3.

Re: Roger that...Thank You Paul

Here's how you take the inside cover off
 

<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/electrical_equipment/antennaremove.html">http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/electrical_equipment/antennaremove.html</a</li></ul>