Audi A6 2.7 TDI Intermittent Electrics

**Rolands** · 24-04-2012,10:49 PM

I have a 2006 Audi A6 2.7 TDI Quattro and from time to time the electrics start blinking intermittently. The headlights, tail lights, instrument panel, MMI, all start flickering, but to date I have not felt that the car engine or power is affected. It happens on rare occasions and to resolve the situation I pull over, turn off the ignition and remove the key and then re-start. it seems to do the to trick, but its not a good feeling.

If it was the alternator at fault, surely the problem would be a more consistent? is there a fuse that governs the above? The condition seems to be sensitive to the instrument warning panel indicator, as I have noticed that if the windscreen top up fluid or brake pad warning signal (need replacing soon) appears, it provokes the condition above.
Any ideas?

**Guest 2** · 24-04-2012,10:54 PM

Do you have an avant? Could be the rear washer pipe leaking all over the electrics in the boot!

**gupsterg** · 24-04-2012,11:55 PM

Another place can be the fuses/electrics in plenum chamber in engine bay, if drains are blocked car tends to get erratic electric problems when water ingress occurs... could be bad earthing as well
Attachment 16477

Remove rubber seal highlighted in red, lift cover marked by green arrow.

**gupsterg** · 24-04-2012,11:59 PM

The pipework is behind left boot trim panel, there are also fuses/electric stuff in right of boot trim... some posters have also had lose connections by battery and battery monitor module in spare wheel well in boot...

Do you have access to VCDS/VAGCOM? scan may help, these are all ideas for fault finding.

**Rolands** · 25-04-2012,07:09 AM

Originally Posted by A6_Chris

Do you have an avant? Could be the read washer pipe leaking all over the electrics in the boot!

Yes, its an Avant, but I doubt that its a leaking washer pipe as the condition still prevails in dry sunny weather. Nevertheless I'll keep this in mind and check.
Thanks for your contribution.

**Rolands** · 25-04-2012,07:11 AM

Originally Posted by gupsterg

Another place can be the fuses/electrics in plenum chamber in engine bay, if drains are blocked car tends to get erratic electric problems when water ingress occurs... could be bad earthing as well. Remove rubber seal highlighted in red, lift cover marked by green arrow.

Interesting thought. I will check this out and get back with feedback.
Thanks for your suggestion.

**Rolands** · 25-04-2012,07:18 AM

Originally Posted by gupsterg

I think Chris meant rear washer... the pipework is behind left boot trim panel, there are also fuses/electric stuff in right of boot trim... some posters have also had lose connections by battery and battery monitor module in spare wheel well in boot...

Do you have access to VCDS/VAGCOM? scan may help, these are all ideas for fault finding.

Another good suggestion

Thanks, will check this out and come back with feedback. I have a VAGCOM cable that I use for my wifes VW Passat, so that should also do for the Audi. Lets see what a scan comes back with. Cheers for now.

**gupsterg** · 25-04-2012,11:04 AM

From the way your original post reads you have had this a period?

If the rear washer pipe has leaked/split under carpet trust me it won't dry by itself the sponge is thick and water has nowhere to go read the posts here https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...Washer-Problem but this fault usually effects telematic/mmi functions.

Once you do scan if there's faults post scan as the super posters crasher/a8 tech and not mention other great posters maybe able to solve by just looking at it, your problem seems wide spread it maybe a control module

Here is link for SSP 326 which may help with overview of electrics and location of control modules www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_326.pdf

**Rolands** · 25-04-2012,02:53 PM

Originally Posted by gupsterg

From the way your original post reads you have had this a period?

If the rear washer pipe has leaked/split under carpet trust me it won't dry by itself the sponge is thick and water has nowhere to go read the posts here https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...Washer-Problem but this fault usually effects telematic/mmi functions.

Once you do scan if there's faults post scan as the super posters crasher/a8 tech and not mention other great posters maybe able to solve by just looking at it, your problem seems wide spread it maybe a control module

Here is link for SSP 326 which may help with overview of electrics and location of control modules www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_326.pdf

Thanks for the suggestions and references. I will check them out.
I actually acquired the car end Jan 2012 and prior to purchase had the Audi Centre do a full diagnostics test on the vehicle. Nothing came up then and the fault surfaced around February.

I will let you know how I get on. Cheers !

**Rolands** · 27-06-2012,08:51 AM

RESOLVED
Having done all the above, I concluded that the main problem was the connection to the battery where the positive pole connection was loose.
I have now driven the car for nearly a month and all is well.

Having taken out the spare wheel housing in the boot well and releasing the battery, I was able to get at the battery and check / tighten all connections in the area.
There are quite a few connections, so it was well worth while checking and giving them all a slight tighten. The main culprit was the the main + connection which could be slightly moved by hand.

I didn't find any water problems, but it was well worth while inspecting the plenum chamber in the engine bay as it did need a clean.
Thanks for everybody's help and contributions.