Audi RS7 Door Handle Sensor Fix: Expert Tips Inside

I had a similar issue with my 2013 RS6 last year. Coming from someone with moderate experience in car repairs, the door electronics can be tricky to diagnose without proper tools. The locking system started acting up out of nowhere, and the door mechanism would not recognize the key presence. After some basic troubleshooting attempts failed, I took it to a workshop where they found a damaged wire connection in the door handle assembly. The door switch wiring had worn through due to repeated movement. The repair involved replacing the entire wire harness for the electric door system. Total cost was 95 Euro including diagnostics, parts, and labor. The whole job took about 2 hours. Before suggesting specific solutions for your RS7, could you share: Does the issue occur on all doors or just one? Are there any other electrical issues present? Does the central locking still work with the physical key? Have you noticed any warning lights on the dashboard? This information would help determine if your problem matches what I experienced or if it might be a different component in the door electronics system.

My last service was at 165000km, about 3 months ago. The door actuator issue occurs on both front doors, but the passenger side seems more problematic. The central locking works fine with the physical key and there are no warning lights on the dash. The sensor issue appears isolated to the keyless entry system, specifically the door handles. Had the battery in the key fob replaced already but that didnt solve anything. The question about electrical issues is relevant, sometimes the mirrors also fail to fold when locking the car, which could point to a related wiring problem in the locking system.

Based on those additional symptoms, especially the mirror folding issue, this sounds very similar to what I experienced before. The wiring fault affecting multiple components suggests a broader electrical connection problem rather than just a localized door handle electronics issue. When my RS6 displayed these exact symptoms, the workshop discovered corroded connections in the main door wiring harness where it passes through the door hinge area. The repeated opening and closing had gradually damaged the protective sleeve, allowing moisture to affect the wiring. The simultaneous mirror and door switch problems are a telltale sign. The fact that both your front doors are affected, with the passenger side being worse, matches the typical failure pattern of the door electronics in these models. The repair cost in my case ended up being higher than initially quoted, around 350 Euro total, since both front door wire harnesses needed replacement. The good news is that it completely resolved both the keyless access and mirror folding issues. A full diagnostic scan would confirm, but based on your description and my identical experience, I strongly suspect your door wiring harness needs attention rather than the door handle sensors themselves.

Thanks for the detailed follow-up. This wiring harness theory makes a lot of sense given the combination of door electronics issues and mirror folding problems. Getting both doors checked seems wise since the symptoms match your RS6 case. The cost estimate of 350 Euro is higher than I hoped but reasonable if it fixes everything. Going to book it in for diagnostics next week to confirm if its the same wiring fault pattern you described. The fact that your repair completely resolved similar symptoms is encouraging. Will make sure they check those door hinge area connections carefully since that seems to be a common failure point for the electric door system. One quick question, did your workshop recommend any preventive measures to protect the new wiring harness from moisture damage? Want to avoid facing the same door switch problems again if I end up needing the same repair.