Car Windows Not Working at Gates - Anybody?

[Polar Bear]

I don't know if it's a problem with our car, or the gate electronics somehow, or just some sort of conflict between the gate electronics and our car window control electronics. Our car windows work fine at other times, but sometimes...not every time, which is kinda weird in itself...our car windows simply will not work as we approach a gate. It's a real problem when the card can't be held close enough to activate the gate.

Has anybody else experienced this? Any thoughts on what might be causing the problem?

[MSchad]

I've had a similar problem with my drivers side window. Most times it worked, but sometime not. Turned out to be the switch in the control panel.

[Polar Bear]

I've had a similar problem with my drivers side window. Most times it worked, but sometime not. Turned out to be the switch in the control panel.
So as far as you know, your problem had nothing to do with the gates? It was just an auto control panel switch?

[retiredguy123]

I think it is highly unlikely that the gates have anything to do with your car window problem.

[SFSkol]

/// misread the question

my reply had to do with window tinting

[retiredguy123]

I think the OP is saying that their window will not operate at the gate.

[Polar Bear]

I think the OP is saying that their window will not operate at the gate.
Yep. Could still be just a car problem. But very odd. Have never noticed the problem anywhere but near a gate, and even then only occasionally.
I think it is highly unlikely that the gates have anything to do with your car window problem.
I can't disagree. I just can't be 100% sure either. Might mean a visit to my mechanic if the problem persists.

I'll keep monitoring and see if I get any more clues. :)

[dewilson58]

But your power window is hard wired, it's not a radio frequency. I would have to agree with the posters saying Highly Unlikely.

Hope you find the answer.

[Inexes@aol.com]

You don't really need to put the window down at the gate. Your card can be read thru the window. Have done it many times when it's pouring down rain..... just hold the card flat to the window and the gate will open. At least it works for me....

[VillageIdiots]

Highly doubtful it has anything to do with the gate. My guess is you don't roll your window up and down that much, other than when you do go through a gate. The window switches in cars can get intermittent where they work sometimes and decide not to when you really need them to. I just had one replaced myself in my 2 year old truck. It was related to my rear window so it was never a problem at the gates but my problem was I could put the window down using the driver door panel but it would not go back up unless I used the switch on the door the window was in. The real fun part was that it only did it sometimes, so I expected the dealer to not be able to replicate the issue. But, to my amazement, it did it when I was standing there with the service adviser, so they replaced the entire master switch panel for me under warranty.

[Quietman]

The VGAG has struck again!! (Villages Gate Arm Ghost)

[SFSkol]

There has been a high incidence of Sunspot / Solar Flares activity lately. You could just have had good timing.

Solar activity | SpaceWeatherLive.com (https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/solar-activity)

[JoMar]

You don't really need to put the window down at the gate. Your card can be read thru the window. Have done it many times when it's pouring down rain..... just hold the card flat to the window and the gate will open. At least it works for me....

Don't even need to hold it flat....but you do need to be close to the reader so if you are using inside the car get as close as you can.

[justjim]

I think it is highly unlikely that the gates have anything to do with your car window problem.

Agree, spot on. :ohdear:

[dsnrbec]

I’ve found the newer gates work better than the older gates

[dmorhome]

works for me too hold card against window, and save that window mechanism, and $300 dollar repair.

[Taltarzac725]

You don't really need to put the window down at the gate. Your card can be read thru the window. Have done it many times when it's pouring down rain..... just hold the card flat to the window and the gate will open. At least it works for me....

I will have to remember that.:duck::clap2:

[rjm1cc]

You have a problem with the wiring but maybe if you are lucky it is the switch for just the drivers window. If you have a switch for lowering all windows try it and see if the window goes down.
It is not a gate problem.

[villagetinker]

What make, model and year is your car? The reason I ask it that there are so many differences in the various makes, models and manufacturers that what affects one may not affect another. As noted above, most cars still use a hardwired scheme for the window control, but I can see the day when these are on the cars computer system, and the mentioned $300 repair will be $1000. We have 2 2012 cars a VW and a mustang, and both have no problems with any of the gates.

[EdFNJ]

It's likely because you probably rarely open/close the windows anywhere OTHER THAN the gates so that is where you notice it. :D

[Ooper]

I, too, rarely lower the window to raise the gate unless the proximity sensor is mounted low and not level with my window.

[Bill32]

What dewilson58 said...

[Nucky]

Polar Bear, you will have to either go in thru the exit, knock down the gate arm or move to our neck of the woods where the gates are knocked down more of the time than they are up. :1rotfl:

Seriously we just went to the office upstairs at LSL and got two new gate cards. We didn't even notice but the back was ripping off one of them. We had a similar problem to yours and this solved it. Damaged cards are replaced for free.

You enter the office thru a little alcove near Starbucks and then an elevator to the second floor. Your windows are probably good.

Good Luck.

[villagetinker]

OP, I was thinking about this some more, so here is my suggestion. The next time your window misoperates, go through the gate, and a block away or so, try your window again, then turn around and go out and try to come back and see if window misoperates. In order to diagnose the problem, you will need to be able to reproduce it. If you can reproduce the problem at a specific gate, then I would try some other gates, keep notes on results. One of our fellow villagers may have a RF analyzer to see if the suspect gates are transmitting any radio interference. Also, if you can reproduce the problem, you maybe able to have the auto mechanic actually ride along an see the problem.
Finally, if you cannot reproduce the problem, you may have to wait for complete failure to have this fixed.
Intermittent problem are very hard to find and fix, I spent a lot of my career doing this.
Hope this helps.

[rustyp]

How does the autonomous car open the gate ? What if the gate RF interferes with it's software ?

[Rapscallion St Croix]

But your power window is hard wired, it's not a radio frequency. I would have to agree with the posters saying Highly Unlikely.

Hope you find the answer.

Many modern autos have an RF enabled window mechanism. On my Chrysler, I can hit the unlock on my remote, hit it again and hold down and my driver's window rolls down. It is still unlikely to be the cause though. The RFID system at the gates is low power and has a maximum range of about 1 meter. Additionally, the frequency is nowhere near the fundamental frequency of the car's remote system nor is it near a harmonic of that frequency.

The OP likely has an intermittent problem in the car and it has manifested at the gates because that is where we most often roll the windows down.

[ColdNoMore]

I don't know if it's a problem with our car, or the gate electronics somehow, or just some sort of conflict between the gate electronics and our car window control electronics. Our car windows work fine at other times, but sometimes...not every time, which is kinda weird in itself...our car windows simply will not work as we approach a gate. It's a real problem when the card can't be held close enough to activate the gate.

Has anybody else experienced this? Any thoughts on what might be causing the problem?

After the last time you agreed with one of my posts, I told the 'gate police'...that they could stop doing that to you.


I guess I'll have to talk to them again. :oops:





:1rotfl:

[Topspinmo]

But your power window is hard wired, it's not a radio frequency. I would have to agree with the posters saying Highly Unlikely.

Hope you find the answer.


Be nice to know what year and model car. Agreed hardwired, has nothing to with gates. Unless you’re key pad controls the windows which I highly doubt.

[mulligan]

If the card does not work, why not just push the red button ??

[dewilson58]

If the card does not work, why not just push the red button ??

I would rather wave my card for 45 seconds and have cars stack up behind me.

:1rotfl: