ignition lock defective

[didkobandita]

Hi all
I had my A4 booked on Saturday for a break fluid change at my local Audi garage and something very strange or suspicious happened.
After the work has been done the technician came and asked me have I ever seen the light (the yellow key with the red cross) and the message "ignition lock defective" on the dash board? I looked him really shocked and I asked him why and he told me while he has been taking the car in to the garage the message came on the dash board. I have had never seen that message before and I am really surprised it came on in an Audi garage for first time. They made the record into the health check and into the system and I left the garage. Minutes after that the message "ignition lock defective" and light came on again and disappeared . I drove the car today for about 50miles and there was nothing wrong or there was no any message.
I read the posts regularly and I have read a lot about the message "ignition lock defective" and you guys had the drum lock changed under warranty but mine is about 5 years old now so there in no more warranty :)
My questions are:
Can I start writing to the Audi costumer services asking them to fix it free of charge because it happened in their garage?
Has anyone had this problem after the warranty and how much did cost to be fixed?
Thank so much
Any information is appreciated

[Guest 2]

Before writing any letters you may want to get a diagnostic done with VCDS to show the time and date when the fault occured.

It could've been an underlying fault or it could just be a red herring, best getting it scanned, the fault cleared and rescan a few days later or look out for the message.

Some early B8s had a common problem with the ingition slot, I think Fat Controller (maybe, not sure) his was/is failing intermittently?

You may want to look here https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=209563024277134815192.0004c505be14b22419db e&msa=0&ll=56.231139,-2.779541&spn=3.493691,10.821533&iwloc=0004c505cfcb6158e0447 for anyone local with diagnostics.

[didkobandita]

Should I pay for a scan and then send them report of it or first send them an email and then?

[Guest 2]

If a forum member does it it will only be a few £, like £10 or similar.

See what it says, clear all faults, rescan and if the fault still appears then start talking to your Dealer.

If nothing appears after clearing its one of those red herring faults which appear now and a again.

[didkobandita]

Thanks so much
I just sent PM to one of the guys who is the closest to me and I hope he will do it. I will wait for his reply and see.
Once again thanks

[Guest 2]

You're welcome, best getting the facts (if any) straight before going in all guns blazing ;)

[fat controller]

Negative on problems here - I think it was PhilK who had the problem with his shortly after he bought it?

Not sure if it is any good, but there were similar problems with the Passat push in key ignition locks, and Martin1810 had a well documented process to cure? I believe is was micro-switches that were failing?

[benshort]

Thanks so much
I just sent PM to one of the guys who is the closest to me and I hope he will do it. I will wait for his reply and see.
Once again thanks

Hi, I tried to PM you but got told...

To be able to send PMs your post count must be 10 or greater.

I do still have my VCDS. I'm in Rochester. Could scan your car one night next week.

[didkobandita]

Hi benshort
that is great I am in Bromley and I can make a journey to you one evening
You just let me know the best evening for you, a phone number and how much will cost me ?
my mobile is 07960371879 Del

[benshort]

I've just looked at my install of VCDS, version 12.12, and it has the following in the AutoScan file for the A4. The first column is the chassis number.

8D,Audi A4 B5 (1995 > 2001),01,02,03,08,15,16,17,25,35,37,45,55,56,57,67 ,75,76,77
8E,Audi A4 B6/B7 (2001 > 2008),01,02,03,08,09,0F,11,15,16,17,18,25,36,37,45 ,46,55,56,57,65,67,69,75,76,77
8K,Audi A4 B8 (2008 >),00
FL,Audi A4 B8 NAR (2010 >),00

Any one know if we get any sensible results?

[didkobandita]

I am not sure what all these means
my one is Oct 2008 and the chassis number starts with 8K..... if that makes a sense

[benshort]

I am not sure what all these means
my one is Oct 2008 and the chassis number starts with 8K..... if that makes a sense

The numbers tell the software what modules in the car to scan for...

Ross-Tech: VAG-COM: Audi A4 / S4 / RS4 Applications (http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/applications/a4s4.html)

Looks like the we could just use the one for the 8E chassis or do a scan to find all the modules (I didn't know you could do this up until now).

[Guest 2]

Why not just the 8K one which the OP's car is?

Or press Auto-Detect on the Autoscan menu ;)

[benshort]

Why not just the 8K one which the OP's car is?

Or press Auto-Detect on the Autoscan menu ;)

8K,Audi A4 B8 (2008 >),00

I asked because I'm not sure what the 00 in the modules means. Maybe its a shortcut for 'scan all the models'

[Guest 2]

Negative on problems here - I think it was PhilK who had the problem with his shortly after he bought it?

Not sure if it is any good, but there were similar problems with the Passat push in key ignition locks, and Martin1810 had a well documented process to cure? I believe is was micro-switches that were failing?

Bingo, just searched and indeed it was .. Whoops.

Threads which may be of use

Replacing the key fob (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?141719-Replacing-the-key-fob&highlight=)

Xenon lamp failure, private reg and general chat about my Avant... (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?141155-Xenon-lamp-failure-private-reg-and-general-chat-about-my-Avant&highlight=)

[Guest 2]

8K,Audi A4 B8 (2008 >),00

I asked because I'm not sure what the 00 in the modules means. Maybe its a shortcut for 'scan all the models'

It'll be fine, just use the Autodetect function and the program will select which modules to scan.

[benshort]

It'll be fine, just use the Autodetect function and the program will select which modules to scan.

thanks

[Guest 2]

thanks

You're welcome :) OBD port is above the throttle pedal, bright pink just incase you cant spot it and remember to clear all faults (Appllications on VCDS Main Screen, Erase All DTCs then igntion off and on a few times and rescan) ;)