S3 Christmas Tree...... :o(

[spuddie007]

Morning All,

Have I had a horrible one or what?

So, came home last night and the hazards turned on on the S3 byu themselves about ten minutes after getting in. Went to turn them off, wouldn't happen so I tunred on the engine and then tried, they went off.....so I trotted off to bed!

This morning I woke up and the hazards were on again, so tried turning the engine and no power, the hazards had obviously been going off all night (

Called the AA, around ten minutes before they turn up the alarm went off and wouldn't turn off, they boosted the battery and got the engine running, but the alarm wouldn't turn off and same with the hazards and interior lights. Managed to get on the road to the stealer around 3 miles away but the engine died three times but started again after a few turns of the key.

On the third time a cop car was passing, and seeing an S3 wiht tinted windows, not going anywhere with the lights going off and the alarm sounding, they decided to come pay me a visit. Luckily all documents were in the boot as I was going to the DVLA today, I explained my way out of that one and luckily got away without any questions on my tints in front of the B-pillar ) They were highly amused by my situation.

So, all the dash lights and interior lights are on as are the hazards and alarm. The AA seemed to think it was the alternator - just wanted to get your views on this, or if anyone else has experienced an S3 in christmas tree mode, what the problem was?

The stealers have the car and are looking at it as we speak!

Any advice appreciated from you genius folk

Cheers
Spuddie

 

[spuddie007]

Poo - just read one of the other posts from Hass and Vagman1 - this isn't going to be cheap is it?

 

[Herby1]

Its cursed never ever heard of this before.lol

 

[spuddie007]

It definately looked like it was cursed mate - believe me!

 

[mad max]

number plate hasnt got 666 on it mate

 

[Herby1]

666 hahaha lol

 

[hass]

It definately looked like it was cursed mate - believe me!

its our pre Christmas gift

 

[spuddie007]

Not a nice gift - just got the car back from the stealers. It appears that the scuttle panel on the front windscreen under the wipers is not sitting properly and has been letting water in to the ECU, so the ECU has been hairdryered (it actually says that on the mastertech's report!).

The water triggered the hazards and airbag indicators which in turn trigered the ECU in to thinking the doors were opening and closing, which drained the battery. They have dried out the ECU and wiring and I've rebooked to have the scuttle panel replaced as they had to order it in, but will be some time this week. In the maentime, have agffer taped the scuttle panel and the window and need to hope for dry weather. Don't mind rain in the daytime as work has an underground car park )

Good luck with your's, hopefully it's not the same thing hass?!

 

[347]

i had this on my old 1.8 T

took it too an independant specialist , after two days of looking for broken wires etc found ecu to be full of water , dried it out slowly , then i sold the car sharpish , ahem !

 

[spuddie007]

I have another ECU that has been remapped (the original ECU) that I took out cos I found myself driving like a complete 'C U Next Tuesday' - so if the one in there does go, I'm sorted.........

 

[hass]

Not a nice gift - just got the car back from the stealers. It appears that the scuttle panel on the front windscreen under the wipers is not sitting properly and has been letting water in to the ECU, so the ECU has been hairdryered (it actually says that on the mastertech's report!).

The water triggered the hazards and airbag indicators which in turn trigered the ECU in to thinking the doors were opening and closing, which drained the battery. They have dried out the ECU and wiring and I've rebooked to have the scuttle panel replaced as they had to order it in, but will be some time this week. In the maentime, have agffer taped the scuttle panel and the window and need to hope for dry weather. Don't mind rain in the daytime as work has an underground car park )

Good luck with your's, hopefully it's not the same thing hass?!

thats too bad i'm not in mood to take my car to the stealer's since we don't have here any other audi specialist.

anyway thanks for the info and keep me updated and how much did the stealer's charge you ???

 

[hass]

**update**
Last night i return the hazard fuse and drove the car for 4 hours, since i get back home everything seems back to normal

 

[spuddie007]

£308 is what I was charged - no parts - all of this was labour, and I still gotta have the scuttle panel changed (

 

[Blunteh]

Mine's still at the dealers, they claim they've been testing it all day and are stll none the wiser as to what's broken... they're assuming the ECU's broken.

 

[spuddie007]

Mine's still at the dealers, they claim they've been testing it all day and are stll none the wiser as to what's broken... they're assuming the ECU's broken.

They said that any reocurrence on my car of the symptoms will mean a new ECU - luckily I have a spare chipped ECU (phew!) as they ain't cheap plus it's gotta be reloaded with software and keys recoded! Good luck mate - I feel for you! I really do.

 

[Blunteh]

*** !!! New ECU £869 inc
New offside headlamp as it won't adjust (nothing to do with the ECu failure) - £649 inc

New airbag ignition thingymybob (my airbag light's on, it was on before the ECU blew)... £385 inc.

I feel sick... just shy of 2 grand....

I'm questioning the headlight as surely I could have the motor's replaced as other forum users have had and they should at least be able to tell me if it's the sensor or motor that's shagged through VAGcom ? Can't they ?

I have no choice with the ECU.. the car's not moving without one and it's at the dealers....



edit: at the moment I'm intending to have the ECU fixed by Audi and then take it to Fontain in Iver for the headlamp and airbag to save on labour..

 

[dultanur]

you can check with vag-com to see if the headlight motors work.

 

[god_thats_quick]

That's a right pain, I can say Fontain have been great in my experience. Might be worth getting a quote for the whole lot and finding out how much it would cost to get it taken there?

 

[Blunteh]

TBH Fontain are only cheaper on labour and the pay I'll loose by the half day I'll need to take the car there will cancel out any gains.. so I think I may as well get the dealer to fix it all and be done with it....

 

[spuddie007]

Is that ECU cost including key recoding? I paid £350 IIRC for the ECU ""WITH"" recoding and the part itself. Audi Germany reimburse the stealer with £200 cost of the ECU for the exhanged unit, as it is reworked and resold as a spare............ I feel sick for you mate!

 

[Blunteh]

Ooh well.. I think I should invest in VAGcom for the future......

It's still a great car for the money I paid for it.....

 

[hass]

my car fixed its self , I just drive it to the limits and everything is back to normal

 

[Mo-S3]

Ouch!! thats some steap prices you have been given. The price on the headlamp is taking the pi$$ ! The motors are available seperately and should have been checked by them. Stealers!!