major problem with A8

[kergan]

HI A little while back I was having problems with my electronic hand brake (it wouldn't lock on) it looks like that was down to the pads being worn. I was also having problems with the clocks/binacle, have changed them for new ones (will need to have the cp removed tho').
I have got a major problem in that there is no ignition at all and my remote central locking won't work. I put a fully charged battery on the car and the alarm goes off (can't stop that as the remote unlock isn't working , the key is ok light flashing every time the button is pressed), put the key in the ignition and it gets locked in, turn the key nothing... tried the MMi , the electric seats and radio it all works but no ignition. plugged a super vag K+CAN unit in and that hasn't helped accept that it does seem to be pointing to a fault with the control module for access and start control as its the only DTC I can't reset.

What I am in need of is someone in the kent area who can diagnose the faults with a VCDS and tell me what I'm looking at to get this car back on the road. The car is a 2003 (53) 4.2 D3 A8 with 94k on the clock. thanks for your help

[Axell]

Hi there my friend I have a 2005 A8 3.0 TDI D3 and I had exactly the same issues. I'm not from the Kent area but I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty what your problem is. Your super vag K+can is correctly pointing to your access and control module or kessy & sadly no amount of resetting or VCD is going to fix or reset it from all the symptoms you've mentioned which are exactly the same as mine mean that it is fried beyond repair unless it isn't water damaged in which case you can perhaps get it refurbed!? (I can supply you information where you can send it to get repaired or even swapped and coded to your car) Having said that the likelihood is that you have got blocked drains that run along the side of these cars and water has got into the compartment beneath your passenger side seat where your access and control 'kessy' module is located. Of course this is a design flaw in the car, but that's a separate issue. Anyway once the water gets into the plenum chamber and into the module all the functions that it is responsible for such as the ignition, ignition lights immobilizer, central locking, your key fob etc etc will show no signs of life & as you've found your battery will drain every single time you connect it and the alarm will go off. Best bet before you kill the battery totally like I did to a brand new £150 battery, is to disconnect it and leave it like that till it's had a repaired or new module fitted. Because my so called 'specialist' mechanic was an absolute waste of oxygen who couldn't recode a used module to my car I had to buy a new module which by itself cost around £750 and with all the idiots trial and error method all told it cost me £2500 plus as he charged £40 plus vat per hour for learning on my job at my expense. That was my biggest mistake had I known I'd never have given it to him but in my quite rural part of the northwest to find an independent specialist is nigh on impossible plus I was desperate, it should be a lot easier to get a good indy specialist. I'm taking this guy all the way via the DTI's new motorcodes legislation governing all garages now. I would have done things a lot different had I not been so desperate and had the benefit of hindsight which I'm hopefully trying to pass on to you. If you look on this site Audi A8/S8 (4E) - Ross-Tech Wiki it will show you that it's not actually rocket science to get a used module from anywhere (eBay being ideal at a cost of around £80-£120) which has the exact same part number which you can then get coded to yours and you'll be sorted. I'd advise you to instead send your own module off to one of the many companies online who refurb or if Its not repairable clone your module details onto one of their own and swap it for you at a cost of around half the cost of new one. If your own one isn't water damaged it can definitely be repaired & is by far the best bet. If you can't find any companies who do these repairs online let me know and I'll send you some links. Hope all this helps, had someone advised me I wouldn't still be having problems having spent all that money but that's another story! Anything else you need to know just let me know I've researched this so much I could write a book as you can see above!! ;-) All the best mate...


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[kergan]

Thanks Axell going by what you have said I.e the water in the passenger side (its like a bath, I have 2 sponges in there soaking up the water) I will have a look at the unit this weekend and see if it is fubar. Aren't A8s great (until they go wrong). Top gear used to say "to be a petrol head you HAVE to have owned an Alfa Romeo, The joy of driving it knowing that soon it will end in smoke by the side of the road waiting for the recovery truck".. They need to own a 10 year old A8. The emotional rollercoaster is enough to send a man Insane. I'll let you know how I got on. Thanks again.

[Axell]

No thanks needed my friend if I've helped even 1% then I'll be happy. I'm really sad to hear you do have water in the passenger side footwells it's unfortunately a fair indicator that the kessy is probably not repairable;-( But all is not lost my friend don't lose the will!! Hopefully between us we can make sure that you make the right choices and get it back up & running in no time! My car hasn't been right since and today the garage it's currently in told me that due to the amount of inactivity the car has had there's a chance rust in the fuel tank or on the head of the injectors may possibly have damaged the piston rings causing a lack of pressure and stopping it from starting!? I'm finding it hard to believe because mechanically it's been like a rocket no issues at all so without him even checking the pressure in the cylinders how can he just say that!? I thought just ffffff...perfect what more could I f*****g ask for!? Honestly broke my heart but not giving up I will get a proper pressure test done and take it from there! Your right about the wonders of owning one of these monsters because when they go they GOOO and nothing beats the feeling however crappy a day you've had getting into the beast and flying off literally can't keep the smile off your face!!! One day I'll smile again!! Lol! As for Alfa's he was spot on I had the most beautiful & pretty rare racing green 166 3.0 V6 monstrosity of an Alfa and u know what it may have had a heater that worked only when it wanted & a clutch that was great for weight lifters as well as other eccentricities but I never ever heard an engine or experienced the sheer exhilaration of driving any car in my life than I did with that and believe me when I tell you I've had every variety of beastly car old and new from Porsches to mercs to touregs you name it I've had it but that alfy was something else! The sound of the engine was enough for me the only car that ever came close to sounding like it was the 'Eleanor' car in gone in 60 seconds!! Lol! Best of all can you believe my alfy never broke down a single time over 2 years in the end my job meant I had to tone it down a tad bit that was the only reason I had to sell it super car it really was! ;-) Anyway you check out your kessy and tell me what you see and you can decide from there where to go with it I've got all the info you need mate! I'll see if I can private message you my mobi number because a txt is far more easy to catch my attention than on here as I'm not on that often!
Speak soon my friend ace chin-up


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[niall campbell]

you need to look under the wiper blades area, its called the scuttle area and fills up with leaves etc

You need to find the draining holes and clear them. Then get the garden hose and with a low pressure from the hose try and wash all the rubbish out

I actually take the rubber draining hose out, I am convinced they actually cause the blockage .................. but as rubber they serve a purpose in directing the water away

Check out youtube in how to drain the holes

Hopefully draining the holes and drying out the electrical boxes with a hairdryer , contact cleaner etc & your good to go

[snapdragon]

If you need to clean any waterlogged connectors or PCBs, we use this at work - it's expensive but the best...
DEOXIT - D5S-6 - CONTACT CLEANER 5 OZ. CAN | CPC UK

[kergan]

I'll post some pictures of the scuttle area/plenum chamber.. I can't see any wqater or drain holes.

[JulianHicks]

What I am in need of is someone in the kent area who can diagnose the faults with a VCDS and tell me what I'm looking at to get this car back on the road. The car is a 2003 (53) 4.2 D3 A8 with 94k on the clock. thanks for your help

Hi KerGan; not sure where you stand with this issue but if/when you need some VCDS assistance:

a) I am in the Kent area - Ashford
b) I have a VCDS with the appropriate connector for an A8
c) I'm available pretty much any time - no job at the moment
d) I have an A8 too - 2005 3.0 TDI - 222k on the clock

JulianHicks

[kergan]

If the kessy is where it should be I.e. UNDER the passenger seat ( as it ain't under the carpet in front of the passenger seat) I will need to remove the front passenger seat but to do that I need to open the front door but I can only open the drivers door and boot with key. Can anyone tell me if it is possible to open the front passenger door without having power?? please

[kergan]

it won't let me post any pictures