Windows/Remote Not Working

[Tweetdriver63]

I know there are threads for many similar issues, but starting a new one seemed like the best thing to do for quicker resolution.

My car was parked outside for the last week (all week) in SE Tennessee, and there were some heavy rains from the Hurricane Helene. When I got back to it, I found that the remote locking/unlocking doesn't work and gives two immediate beeps when the button is pushed. The rear trunk carpet was wet (not soaked) and a few small puddles under it. The carpet under the driver's seat is also wet. I suspect a drain got clogged or at least overwhelmed.

My car has a history of getting water on that floor a few years ago that killed the immobilizer. I have a set off another car that I got on eBay, and I put the immobilizer in a waterproof box. Drains were all cleaned back then, and the rear driver's side drain also had a leak somewhere in it such that, even when clean, some of the water made its way into the floor somehow. A drain hole was installed in the floorboard as an extra precaution.

Current symptoms:
Windows do not work using the buttons, and do not lower when the roof is lowered/raised.
Windows DO lower as they're supposed to when the doors are openend/closed.
Convertible top works fine.
Doors do not lock/unlock using remote. Pushing the button causes double alarm horn beep.

(I already had the double beep symptom due to the fuel filler door lock not working, but that double beep sounded maybe 10 seconds after locking the doors with the remote. It is now immediately when the button is pushed.)

Just looking for any thoughts before I proceed with anything other than drying the car out.

EDIT: I checked all the fuses related to these issues. What I found is that the C3 fuse was blown. Also, there was a 10a fuse in that spot when the diagram calls for a 15a. I tried replacing the fuse, but it blows the new fuse as soon as contact is made.
Also, I wasn't accurate describing the wetness. It isn't nearly as wet as I said. Nothing more than some dampness, and some condensation on the underside of the rear trunk lid.
Finally, one thing I forgot to mention is that not long ago, I had an issue with the windows. They weren't lowering when the top was raised/lowered, and there was some noise and sticking in the driver's side window when raising/lowering it. Those things all went away after a very short time (only happened on one drive). Now I'm thinking that was just the first symptom of whatever electrical issue is causing this, and it seems likely to be something to do with that driver's side window.

SECOND EDIT: There actually is quite a bit of wet on the passenger side. I'm going to need to use my shop vac to suck as much of it out of that carpet as I can. May have a passenger side drain issue, but there's nothing on the floor on that side that I know about that should cause the other symptoms.

[Smallblock454]

Windows do not lower using the buttons.

What does that mean exactly?
Using the comfort function of the remotes
Using the buttons in the middle console

Do the windows lower "an half inch", when you pull the handles inside or outside?

What model year is your car? (There are some differences concerning the wiring).

Did you check if there was water getting in the "waterproof box"? This would have been my first step. In general 2 beeps directly after closing means a bad alarm control module.

Also please check, if you have water standing in the doors. Had a customer with a bad windows seal. Water came in through the drivers door.

[Tweetdriver63]

"Windows do not lower using the buttons.

What does that mean exactly?"

Sorry, I should have said using the switches. The ones on the console. But then again, what other switches or buttons are there that raise/lower the windows?

By the way, they also do not raise/lower by holding the key turned either way in the door.

"Do the windows lower "an half inch", when you pull the handles inside or outside?"

They lower a little. They don't lower a half inch, but they really never have in the 8-1/2 years I've owned the car.

It's a 2001.

" In general 2 beeps directly after closing means a bad alarm control module."

My understanding is that two beeps just means there's a malfunction, vs one beep meaning something isn't closed all the way. As I said, I already had the two beeps due to the failed fuel filler door lock, but the beeps have changed -- gone from beeping about ten seconds after locking the doors with the remote (They did lock), to beeping immediately when the lock button on the remote is pushed. The doors don't lock and the marker lights don't flash. Obviously, this behavior is due to the blown C3 fuse.

Also, I don't think this problem is really due to water ingress. As I said, the only place there's actually water of any significance from the rain is on the passenger side floor, and only in the footwell part (not under that seat). The rest of the dampness seems to be more from condensation. Additionally, and again, as I already said, "not long ago, I had an issue with the windows. They weren't lowering when the top was raised/lowered, and there was some noise and sticking in the driver's side window when raising/lowering it. Those things all went away after a very short time (only happened on one drive). Now I'm thinking that was just the first symptom of whatever electrical issue is causing this, and it seems likely to be something to do with that driver's side window."

When that previous window issue happened, which was about two weeks ago, the symptoms were: Windows did not lower when the top was raised/lowered. Driver's window made some noise when raised/lowered with the switch on the console. Both windows worked with the console switches. Remote door locking also worked.

I have to figure out what is causing the C3 fuse to instantly blow as soon as it makes contact in the fuse blox, and I'm thinking it is related to the prior driver's door window behavior. Maybe a short in that motor or in the door wiring?

[Smallblock454]

C3 on your 2001 car controls the alarm control module, the interior lights and the power windows.

The comfort function of the key fob allows to lower and raise the windows via the key fob remote.

Thinking is not doing / checking. But it's good to think before you check and do.

[Tweetdriver63]

Originally Posted by Smallblock454

C3 on your 2001 car controls the alarm control module, the interior lights and the power windows.

The comfort function of the key fob allows to lower and raise the windows via the key fob remote.

Thinking is not doing / checking. But it's good to think before you check and do.

According to the manual, and my experience, the comfort function allows raising and lowering the windows by holding "car key in door lock in the unlocking [or locking] direction until the windows have reached the desired position." I see nothing about being able to do the same thing using a button on the remote. Obviously, I can't test it now, with the current situation with my car, but are you saying the comfort function can also be activated by holding the lock/unlock button on the remote??

[Tweetdriver63]

Update:

I dried out the interior and trunk. Left the trunk open in the sun, and well as lowering the top and letting it sit out. That's after using my shop vac to suck up a quart or so of water from the passenger side footwell carpet. Overnight, when the top is up, I've left a chemical dehumidifier (DampRid) in the passenger footwell to absorb the moisture in the air. (I have been leaving one in the floor behind the passenger seat for some time anyway, since I live in a pretty humid environment here in the South.)

All is well on the drying out front.

I did not open up either door panel to check in there.

I have also checked all of the drains and given them a good cleaning out, even if they seemed clear to begin with. All of them are good.

After doing all that, I thought that, just for the hell of it I would try putting a new fuse in the C3 spot and see if it would still immediately blow out. IT DIDN'T! Everything is working as it should now.

When I take the car in next month for other work (exhaust manifolds/cats, Circuit Werks resonated test pipes, tank pressure sensor, fuel filler door lock) I will have my shop check out anything they think could have been the culprit, and I'm now thinking I got water inside one or both of the doors that shorted something out, but has now dried out and is back to working order.

[Smallblock454]

The comfort function of the keyfobs allow to lower and rise the windows, if you press the keyfob longer.

If the problem with C3 did come from the water, i would remove the carpet on the passeger side and check all connectors and cables that might have been under water. Might work now, but there also might be corrosion on and in the connectors, which can lead to future problems.

Also from own experience. If the carpet feels dry from the top doesn't mean that it's dry from the underside, where there is foam / noise insulation.

[10/10ths]

……I’m with TweetDriver, Small Block, I don’t think your description of comfort mode is correct.

Has anyone out there been able to lower and raise their windows by holding down the lock button on their key fob?