A6 Water ingress problem? - but where?

[James H]

Hello all - I have been having a problem with my 1999 A6 tdi since the heavy rain started. First of all, it was that the alarm kept on going off for no apparent reason. I found that the drain holes under the battery and brake servo were blocked/restricted, and cleared them and thought the problem had gone away. However, since then, although the alarm has not gone off again, sometimes when I open the doors the windows wind down - sometimes on first click, sometimes not until the second click to open doors other than the driver's door. Sometimes it doesn't happen at all. Somtimes when driving along, the interior light will flash on briefly, at the same time as the central locking trying to operate. This morning it is worse than ever.

I have read plenty of other threads about water ingress and done some checking. The drain holes under the battery and brake servo are clear. Inside the car, there are no puddles. The carpet in front LH corner of the front passenger footwell did feel slightly damp the other day, but I have had that up, and there is simply no moisture at all under it - and the module, which I believe to be the comfort control module, is bone dry inside and out.

I can't find any trace of damp in the driver's side footwell. I have removed all the plastic bungs from under the floorpan - there wasn't any water in there.

The inside of the fan housing, accessed from under the bonnet, seems dry.

I am now at a bit of a loss, and don't want to have to go to an Audi dealer where my bit of a loss is certain to become a lot of a loss.

Any good ideas anyone? - please.


James.

[Crasher]

You need to get a fault code read of the convenience system. Do you know anyone with VAG-COM?

[James H]

No - unfortunately I don't know anyone with VAGCOM. However, since I made the posting this morning, I have been thinking more about the problem (note to self; must get on with work and stop thinking about stupd car) - turning the key in the driver's door lock does not unlock the central locking, though I am fairly sure that it should. The driver's door unlocks, but nothing else. The key (used as a key) does not disarm the alarm led, nor does it operate the "windows down" function, although using it to lock the door, it sends the windows up if they were down.

So - to cut a very boring story short, I am wondering whether the driver's door lock is defective. I don't know whether that could cause the silliness with the interior light going on and off, though.

Doubtless there will be more on this from me later.


James.

[Crasher]

You need to check the fuses. Send me your chassis number by personal message and I will tell you the fuse numbers to check.

[James H]

Will do. Thanks.

James.

[James H]

Crasher - I have tried to pm you but am told that because I haven't sent enough pms yet, I can only pm staff ..............

I don't know whether it is different if I was replying to a pm from you. Alternatively, do you have an email address you wouldn't mind me using? I promise not to try to sell you any double glazing or viagra or any of the other vexatious crap we get bombarded with.

James.

[Crasher]

I have sent you a PM.

[James H]

Well - the problem has now been sorted, I hope. The driver's door lock was apparently knackered and shorting out, causing everything else to go loopy. £264 lighter now, but let's hope that the issue has gone away.

James.