All VW Power Windows Dead, Regulator Code Fix Guide

I had a nearly identical issue with my 2003 VW Golf last winter. My mechanical experience is basic, mostly routine maintenance and simple repairs. The window controls suddenly stopped working on all doors. After some troubleshooting, the root cause turned out to be a failing battery that wasnt providing enough power to the car electronics. The battery voltage was too low to properly operate the window regulators and other electrical systems. Had it checked at my regular workshop and they confirmed the battery was at end of life. Total repair cost was 290€ including a new battery installation and resetting the window control modules. After the battery replacement, they performed a window reset procedure to reinitialize all regulators. Everything has worked perfectly since then. To better assist with your specific case, could you share: Does the central locking still work normally? Are there any other electrical issues like dimming lights? Have you checked the battery voltage? How old is your current battery? These details would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced or if its related to the window motor or regulator systems themselves.

Just had my 16574km service done last month. I also noticed odd electrical behavior before the windows failed. The central locking works but seems slower than usual. I tested the battery voltage yesterday, reading only 11.8V which seems quite low. The battery is original from 2005, so your diagnosis about battery issues makes a lot of sense. The power window symptoms match exactly what you described. Will get the battery tested properly first before investigating the window motor or regulator problems further. Much cheaper to start with battery replacement and window reset procedure than replacing all window components. Thanks for the detailed info about repair costs. Will report back after getting it checked at the shop.

Thanks for the additional details. The 11.8V reading definitely confirms my initial suspicion about the battery being the root cause. On my Golf, the voltage was similarly low at 11.9V when the power windows failed. With a battery from 2005, you are actually getting impressive longevity. Most car batteries last 5-7 years, so replacement is well overdue. The gradual voltage drop explains the sluggish central locking and window troubleshooting issues you are experiencing. When my power window problems started, I also noticed the windows moving slower before they completely stopped working. The low voltage causes the window regulator initialization to fail, which then triggers the error codes you are seeing. Quick tip from my experience: After the battery replacement, make sure the shop performs a proper window reset procedure. My mechanic explained that without this step, the window switch functions may remain limited even with adequate power. The reset recalibrates the anti-pinch protection and full range of motion. Based on current prices, you should expect similar repair costs around 290€ for battery replacement and system resets. The fact that all electrical symptoms match my case makes me confident this will resolve your issues as well.

The situation matches yours exactly. After seeing the slow central locking and 11.8V battery reading, I am convinced the window regulator problems are power-related. A 2005 battery lasting this long is impressive but explains the electrical issues showing up now. Will schedule the battery replacement this week. Good to know the repair costs should be around 290€ including the window reset procedure. Much more affordable than replacing window motors or regulators in all doors. I checked my maintenance records, the original battery was never replaced during any service. The gradually failing battery causing problems with car electronics and window controls makes perfect sense. The window troubleshooting led to an unexpected but straightforward fix. Thanks for helping identify the likely cause. Will make sure the shop performs the proper window regulator initialization after installing the new battery. Knowing this fixed identical symptoms on your VW gives me confidence it will resolve my issues too.