How safe is fuse removal?

[avuthless]

Good day mates!

Its a bit odd question, but my car has these random errors. Like light range control defective on ignition after night. But if i try to start the engine, shut it down and turn ignition again - error is gone. And it comes on seldom. Then i have brake pads warning (ridiculous since i had them replaced few months ago). Also random warning...

My car (before i bought it) had stood for almost two years under the clear sky (t has some rusty parts too). I'm suspecting fuses. or some other wiring parts. So i would like to go through all the possible fuses in the car and see if any of them are bad or rusty, but i do not know if it is good idea to go through all of them.

There are some under the hood, some on both sides of panel (where air is sent to doors), and off course some are in the boot.

So my question is:
Can i remove all of those fuses and put them back in with car turned off? Is it safe to do so? I am afraid that some failures or damage may come like: computer memory loss, some unwanted resets, maybe airbags could shoot.. (i don't know).

This is the only place i trust to get a decent opinion :)

[Guest 2]

Before you go pulling fuses get a fault code scan.

[avuthless]

Yeah i wanna do that, but first i gotta buy Ross Tech cable. Tried scanning with cheap OBD2 (ELM327 WiFi) china scanner but it can not find any faults. Thanks for advice, i just thought if its safe - its the least i could do at the moment.

[Guest 2]

It is safe removing them as long as you remember which goes where, its only a fuse.

Don't pull them until you scan it.

[avuthless]

Well i do now that much about fuses. :approve: Just to be clear on my background on cars. I performed numerous electrical repairs on cars like Mitsubishi Galant EA0, audi coupe (1986), Mitsubishi spacestar (2001), opel astra (2002). Also i performed numerous mechanical repairs for all sorts of issues on older cars. On my audi A6 i performed such tasks: Changed all disks and brakes, updated firmware, updated Navigation, replaced burnt brake fuse (i do know i can safely remove lighting, horn, fans fuses, but there are much more than that and the electronics involved are something new to me),all filters, oil, belts, temperature sensor (antifreeze temp. sensor), cleaned engine by removing fuel filter and running engine on special substances, etc.

So to narrow my question: Are there any fuses i must avoid removing? Light, brake and other fuses are okay (those that i know i can remove safely).

Thanks for your time really! Can you tell me why should i scan before i change fuses?

[avuthless]

On the other hand, fuses are meant to protect electronic parts so removal of one should not cause any damage (that would just make no sense). It is is kinda silly question :D

[Sam]

Removing a fuse does nothing other than stop whatever is fused from working when power is supplied.

What are you hoping to achieve by removing fuses though?

[avuthless]

Since i think the car may have some oxidation/rust in some electrical components. Removal - check - install could help me find any corrosion on fuses. If i do find none - then VCDS is my last hope.

[Sam]

Aaah, then no, no major issues whatsoever with removal and checking of fuses, think of it as replacing a battery. You may need your radio code, you may not, just make sure you have it to hand in case.

Water is the main source of issues with a lot of VAG cars.

Remove the plenum cover (open the bonnet, it's the cover running left to right just forward of the windscreen) and check it's not full of water. It's not as common on the C6 but it still happens.

[avuthless]

Thanks for suggestion!

Radio code? Damn... Where should i look for it? MMI 2g book, documents and all other stuff is there, but i did not knew that MMI 2g needs some code...

[gupsterg]

There is no radio code for MMI 2G.

[avuthless]

Thanks :)

[Sam]

Et voila, no radio code needed!