Sudden Electrical Fault near climate control means battery will no longer hold charge.

[inertia]

I drive a 52 plate (2003) Audi A4 3.0 Quattro Sport
I was out tonght and smoke started coming from my head unit area.

I pulled over and unclipped the Climate control unit to get access and noticed the smoke was coming fromt eh 2 wires to the far rigth of the unit (as you look at it when its fitted)

these 2 wires are on the far right plug int eh Climate control unit.

I unplugged thonly this plug from the climate control unit and the smoke stopped, I notices the plug, wire, and the loom as far back as I oculd feel were very hot, I left them to cool and carried on driving, The climate unit functioned just fine with this plug out (wonder what sits for the wires are quite chunky)

Worse luck thought after getting home I feel the loom and wires and they arent hot, but they are still warm.

I decide to leave the car alone because its late and to deal with it today.

when I came out this morning the car has no power, I think the battery has drained, the dash symbols light up, and the climate control etc light up but it doesn thave power to do anything else.

I think this fault may have caused a short wich has drained the battery.

So I have a few questions, hopefully you can help

1 ) is there a fuse I can remove in order to charge my battery and keep it charged until I get chance to fix this fully ?

2) What does the plug on the far right (looking at the front of the unit) do ? I seemed to loose no functionality without it.

3) How can I troubleshoot this and repair it ? preferably after I have managed to isolate it and get the car running again.

Thanks in advance

Mark

[a8 tech]

photo please of the plug