While the Tesla app connects your Tesla to your life and gives you innovative services and functions for better convenience as you drive, it may give you surprising messages.
Sometimes, the Tesla app on your iPhone may report that “window open” and, therefore, “car is not parked safely.”
At times, after you repeatedly open and close the windows, the message still pops up on your phone.
The situation is embarrassing, inconvenient, and potentially dangerous.
Fortunately, you can fix an opening window with some basic troubleshooting. There are various methods you can use to fix the problem.
This guide discusses the common reasons your Tesla app keeps saying window open and some solutions you can take to address the problem.
Why Does Tesla Keep Saying Window Open?
Reason 1: Bad alarm sensor
False alarm is the most common reason why your Tesla app keeps saying window open.
If you unknowingly left the window slightly open, this might trigger the sensor or alarm to send you such a notification.
Sometimes, the window might have failed to close because of the presence of a foreign object in the door frame. This can prompt the sensor to give such a notification.
Tesla cars are equipped with many safety features to make driving safer. Notifying you that you’ve left the window open is one of such benefits. However, the system might go wrong because of calibration errors.
You might have closed the window, but a malfunctioning sensor system sends you a notification on your mobile through the Tesla app that your window is left open.
The auto window function relies on electrical and sensor components to interpret when a window is open or closed.
If the sensor system or electric system is faulty, this may cause your car alarm system to malfunction, which can trigger a false alarm.
How to fix: resetting the windows
To resolve the faulty alarm sensor problem, follow the steps below:
- First, ensure there is no obstruction in the windows and they can roll up to their maximum limit.
- Reset the memory settings for the windows. You can do this: start the car. Close all the windows and doors. Open the windows by pressing and holding each window switch for a few seconds. Close the windows by lifting and holding each window switch for a few seconds. Conducting a reset procedure should restore the auto functionality.
- Realign the windows properly. Consult the car’s manual book on how to align windows back on track. Over time, windows can fall out of alignment, preventing them from closing and opening all the way.
- If the problem persists, consider taking your vehicle to a professional mechanic for a checkup.
Reason 2: Software Issues
Software updates might cause problems that render the car’s system not functioning properly.
According to the Tesla social forum, some car users recently reported their front window rolling down themselves by a few inches after updating their vehicle’s software.
Also, some Tesla owners disclosed that their passenger front side windows go down themselves by four inches after updating the car software.
How to fix: Update car software
- Get the latest software update as soon as it arrives in the market.
- Hard reboot your Tesla as this will help to fix malfunction issues, clear the car’s computer memory and error codes, and correct the software glitches that could be the main cause of software malfunctioning.
- After rebooting, you’ll need to recalibrate your window. Calibration will help relocate the default position and fix the window misbehavior.
- Consult your car manual book on how to conduct rebooting and calibration.
- If the issue continues, take your vehicle to the Tesla car center for help.
Reason 3: Climatic issues
Weather nature can contribute to this problem whereby your Tesla app keeps telling you the car window is open.
For instance, during summer, temperatures are significantly high. It becomes difficult to keep your car cool during hot climatic conditions because of a lack of proper parking space. Due to this, difficulty arises in cooling your car.
The cars are designed with automated power windows with temperature control, which uses a temperature microprocessor and sensor to control the electric motors fitted to roll down and up the windows.
Due to this advanced technology, whenever the temperature inside your car cabin falls below and rises above the pre-defined temperature, the windows open or close automatically to aid natural cooling.
The safety of your car is not compromised as the opening of the windows is just a few centimeters to aid the flow of air. As a result, the car’s alarm sensor will notify you of the window’s opening.
How to fix: enhance good car maintenance
- You don’t have to worry about the impact of weather on your car’s safety.
- Tesla vehicles are designed with an automatic window roll-down and up system to save windows in extreme temperatures.
- If you leave your car in a freezing environment, the frameless windows will open a bit so that the glass does not scratch or break when hit by any frozen material.
- The window rolls down a bit to save the glass. It does not open too much to make the car interior insecure. Also, Tesla vehicles have a new safety feature that automatically detects rainy weather. If it’s raining, the feature rolls up the windows automatically to their fullest to restrict water entry.
- While this safety feature may surprise many electric car enthusiasts, it’s designed to save you from repair costs and enhance comfort.
Reason 4: Slamming too hard
Slamming the door too hard can cause damage to your vehicle and interfere with the way windows open and close.
Some users can shut the door with force without thinking how much energy they are using. The more people shut the doors with force, the more your car suffers from wear out and damage.
With time, the force of damages and wear-outs can break power window parts, the door hinges, and door handle mechanisms. When the window control unit becomes jolted, this can affect the way windows roll up and down and cause permanent damage.
How to fix: prevent damage from door slamming
- There are several solutions you can adopt as preventative measures.
- The easiest approach is to remind the passenger not to shut the door with force. You can put up signs as reminders.
- Another is to install a rubber butyl-type gasket around the edges of the door. This will help soften the blow when passengers close the car door with force and keep the paint intact.
- One last approach is to install hydraulic smooth door closers. This will make it almost impossible to shut the door with force. If a person attempts to close the door with force, the mechanism will gently close it for you.
Reason 5: Faulty switches
If faulty alarms, software issues, weather issues, and slamming the door too hard don’t cause the window opening problem, then it is time to check the car’s window switches.
Switches can be a fragile thing and a possible reason for windows to keep opening themselves.
Due to several things like physical damage, wear and tear, or wiring issues, window switches can fail to work. As a result, this can cause problems with your window’s ability to close and open.
Faulty window power circuitry can cause the window to close or open without you using any command, either by pressing the switch physically or by using the command remotely through a mobile app.
How to fix: troubleshot window regulator
- If the window is not functioning properly, it is most likely that the problem is a nonfunctional switch.
- Use the multimeter to check if window switches work. Cleaning them can solve your problem.
- However, if the same problem persists, you need to replace the switch.
- Also, there could be an issue with the window’s motor, the window regulator, or the wiring leading from the switch to the motor could be malfunctioning. It is important to diagnose the entire apparatus thoroughly to identify the cause of the problem.
- Before opening up the door panel to check for interior electrical or mechanical problems, check whether the window seals and gaskets are worn out. Replace broken gaskets.
- Test for a blown fuse. A blown fuse is also a common reason for window problems. Use your car’s manual to locate and test the fuse.
- If the fuse works well and the window has its problem, continue diagnosing the status of the window motor and regulator as well as electrical and mechanical problems.
- In case you doubt your ability, contact a Tesla auto shop or a professional mechanic to help fix the problem.
Conclusion
A window that opens itself is not just a security risk but also a safety and convenience issue in bad weather or when driving on the highway.
It’s important to understand how the power window system functions. This will help you understand what could be causing it to malfunction.
User inexperience and some technical errors are the major factors causing Tesla windows to roll down themselves.
While the solutions discussed above can help you keep the windows closed, you still need to contact a professional mechanic to assess your vehicle.