My Saab does the same, sometimes has a real gurgle depending on weather conditions.

Before removing the panel just check where the loom goes into the door, they are on big block connectors under that big rubber sheild.Signs that this may be the problem are if anything else on the door is not working i.e. the central locking or speaker. Give them a good push and if you here a click that will tell you they had worked a bit loose.
Removing the door panel is different for the model years, is it the old Audi100 shape or the new A6 shape?

tracey - Like FiF, I can't find any description of your normal car usage (miles per week, where & when driven, etc.) except that you want to carry dogs.

In HJ's test of the Mazda2
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=88
he says >>"
I rate it at about third in the class, jogging for position against the Polo, but behind the class-leading Honda Jazz and running-up Toyota Yaris. However, it does have some advantages over the Yaris. The Mazda 2 boot is bigger even with the Yaris rear seat slid forward. The loading sill is lower, so it?s ideal for people with small dogs and anything which needs to be wheeled into the car. And it?s arguably more fun to drive.

So, depending on exactly what you are looking for in a shopping car, it could be on your shopping list.">>
Clearly, he thinks the Jazz/Yaris/Mazda2/Polo(i.e.Fabia in disguise) are in a different class to Micra for carrying dogs.

The Micra test is at
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=69
Remember HJ rates its brakes as first class - because they saved him from running in to a Jag, but the Fiat behind HJ was unable to stop crashing in to the Micra!
This is how HJ starts and ends the Micra test >>" ?Ahhh....cute. It?s like a baby.? Those were my wife?s words when she first caught sight of the frogeyed new Nissan Micra. Smart girl. She summed it up straight away. ....
...... I?ve already recommended one to a lady wanting a car for her 17 year old daughter. Blokes might hesitate a bit, because it?s not a blokey car. On the other hand they might want to put over their caring sensitive, unaggressive nature, so it could be a bird puller too. Especially of girls who believe that inside every frog there's a handsome prince.">>

Thanks Dave, thats exactly the conclusion I had come to.

The full story is that I did not fancy paying Subaru £1000 to fit an aircon kit as my car is 1998 and has done 119000 miles and I could not justify it, but I stumbled acrooss a specialist who had bought some ex-dealer full kits (Subaru garage had become an ex-Subaru garage) and they sold me a full kit for under half the Subaru price.

Unfortunately in between being despatched and arriving at my house the box had been opened and several items removed or switched for second hand ones. We assume the dodgy courier or his thieving mate had helped himself and then made the box looked damaged (unfortunately the box was clearly labelled "Subaru Impreza aircon kit" which obviously attracted some unwanted attention).

One of the items that looked not new was the compressor and having left it out in the sun all day and turning it every half hour whilst draining it I still only got 15 ml out of it, and internet searches reveal the compressor/whole kit should have 160 ml in it and therefore I have concluded that the compressor has been swapped in transit. The supplying specialist has been fine and has hopefully put new Subaru parts in the post today.

So hopefully when the new compressor arrives it should have a full 160 ml of oil in it and be ready for action.

My main gripe with all this is how much of a struggle it has been to find out basic info about the Subaru kit. Many thanks again Dave for making enquiries, you and others on another site have given me essential information...

Ian

Possibly a faulty idle speed control valve - had an identical car in exhibiting the same symptoms a few weeks back.

About £120ish for the part.