The steering lock / immobiliser repair that hasn't worked. Yet!

[Philipn]

Hi All,
Newbie to the forum here.
I have had my A6 for 10 years now and it's always just worked....3 weeks ago it stopped working with all the symptoms of the 0288 fault of the steering lock immobiliser module having failed (Car unlocks with fob, MMI powers up - hazards and main beams work, but the car is otherwise totally dead). The key turned in the ignition does nothing at all.
I follow a load of threads - buy the relay and switches, remove the module (not easy..) - break open the box (also not easy!) and replace the components and test the motor. Re-assemble and refit.

It still hasn't solved my issue - but I cannot look at fault codes now as the car is electronically dead. MMI now opens with a message saying components are missing or something.
I have taken the battery out and checked it as well as fully charging it.
Is there a way of waking up the diagnostics?
I have tried - hazards on, main beams pulled on, foot on brake - but that doesn't appear to have done anything. Any ideas???

currently I am close to calling the scrap yard....

cheers
Philip

[VAG-Abound]

I think another poster found putting 12V back into the cigarette lighter from battery (with a fuse fitted) got power to the CAN system to allow fault reading.