A6 TDi 2.7 Quattro Tiptronic - electrical gremlins

**Slaine** · 18-03-2010,03:22 PM

I'm having intermittent electrical issues with my 2005 A6 Avant.

It's completely standard and I don't have any upgrades or accessories. During the first cold snap of the winter the battery died. I just put this down to be a five year old battery on a car that (presumably) uses a lot of juice. i replaced the battery and then thought nothing more about it.

I use a motorbike to commute and then it snowed so I suppose two weeks went between me using the car again and it wouldn't start. Everything was dead. Maybe this was just a duff battery so I got it changed. It happened again for a third time. I went the jump start route and the battery recharged well enough.

Forward a couple of months and I have been using the car regularly with no issues other than the radio staying on when I locked the car once. I thought that was weird but it's never happened again.

I went to start the car about two weeks ago and it started (just from the sound of the starter motor turning over) but the entire drivers dash was dead as were the windscreen wipers and indicators. The MMI was working (inc satnav) and the lights were working.

I got it to a local indie. They checked it over, turned it off, turned it back on again and everything was fine.

After another week of use (mainly limited journeys) the battery was dead again. Another jump start and all was well.

The car is now going back in to the indie for an extended bit of investigation.

Has anyone encountered anything like this? It's such a nice car when it's working but I'm losing confidence in it at the moment.

**MFGF** · 18-03-2010,06:04 PM

Hi,

Yep - heard of this before. If memory serves, there was a software glitch with earlier C6s that resulted in the radio remaining on and draining the battery. An update to the MMI software should cure it. I think there are details on the forum somewhere...

OK - found the relevant post. Take a look here - looks like my memory is not too shot after all!

MF.

**singhl** · 18-03-2010,09:03 PM

The main thing is to get the MMI upgraded - this includes the update for the radio.

Get the battery manager done for completeness - my local audi dealet would not do as I asked, but stoke audi did as requested, was about £90...

The MMI updates can be done yourself when you get the software.

**Slaine** · 20-03-2010,09:56 AM

Thank you guys - this will be great info for the garage.

**Slaine** · 21-04-2010,02:51 PM

Update:

The MMI upgrade has fixed the issue but it also wiped out the bluetooth telephone capability. I've taklen it back in to the indy (WVC in Byfleet) and they've claimed that it's not their problem as they sorted out the issue using an Audi specific upgrade.

They're claiming that the only way to sort this out is with a £440 upgrade piece from Audi.

My initial reaction is that they are taking the **** - they broke it they fix it. Has anyone else had this sort of experience?

**singhl** · 21-04-2010,03:02 PM

See this thread - might help

http://audiforum.us/mmi/6898-mmi-ver...installed.html

**Slaine** · 21-04-2010,03:52 PM

Thanks singhl - much appreciated.

**Slaine** · 21-04-2010,04:05 PM

Sadly the guy at the indy still has no clue. I get the impression that they don't see a lot of these. A lesson learned but it looks like being an expensive £400 one.

**singhl** · 21-04-2010,04:52 PM

Looks like the bluetooth is a common problem - it did not get upgraded as part of the MMI and thats why it does not work.

They just need to do the MMI upgrade again - look on the forum link above at other posts, it is a great site for MMI problems.

PS - what version of MMI are you now on?

**Slaine** · 22-04-2010,10:07 AM

To be honest I don't know. i assume that's in the setup screen somewhere...?

They did try the MMI upgrade again (as per the info from the link you gave me) but it didn't allow them to re-do it. They think that the actual phone part of the system is knackered.