Hey gang...first time posting on here but hoping to find some resolution to a new problem. I own a 2006 A4 2.0T and have not had any problems at all until this past week. First, my EPC and CEL lights came on earlier this week. Took it to Autozone and they pulled a code for either an engine control module error or an ignition control module error. I'm assuming that is not something that I can fix but will have to go to the dealer (damn, wish it was still under warranty).

Also, tonight on my way home from a friend's house, my left xenon headlamp wouldn't come on...dash gave me a warning of "left headlamp dip" and the bulb malfunction symbol popped up soon after. Does anyone have any ideas on how to troubleshoot that or again...if that is a dealer issue?

Any help/advise could be greatly appreciated...is this one of those things where i should go ahead and buy the VagCom?

means your bulb is out

Thanks....obviously this is my first car with HID. I figured these bulbs were supposed to last the life of the vehicle. Ironic that the answer would come from someone in the same state:)

Xenon (HID) bulbs are rated at 3000 hours which will last most people a long, long time. However, if you leave the headlights on at all times while driving they will burn out sooner and since it sounds like you have decent miles on that 2006 already (you say it is out of warranty) I would guess the time is up. Other conditions affect the life of a bulb no matter how it is illuminated.

Speaking of, how is your 2006 already out of warranty? Just hit the 50,000 mile mark early?

Yes...I just hit 52000 last week. Never had ANY problems out of this car until now...I guess its like they say...they get past the warranty and get paid off....and things start going. Keeping my fingers crossed the CEL and EPC lights (Engine Computer Module Error according to Autozone) is just a simple fix....

On the headlamps...are these easy to replace...are they any different than any other headlamp replacement? The Audi manual said "requires special tools and should be performed by an Audi Dealer" but they say that about the oil and everything else too. Is there a good place to get replacement bulbs on the net?

Exact same thing happened to me at about 30,000 miles. Took it to the dealer, and they replaced the bulb under warrantee. Def have to replace with another HID light. Obviously don't try halogen

Yeah, I wouldn't mess around trying to replace the bulb yourself. If I were you, I would buy 2 bulbs from anyplace but the dealer(dealer charges waaay too much) I would reccomend buying the bulbs in pairs, just so the color matches(so you don't have one bulb a little different color than the other). If you buy the bulbs from vvme or whatnot, you can have the dealer install them and calibrate anything necessary for about 60 bucks.

just saw that I had a reply on here today and remembered that I haven't updated on what happened. So...I replaced the left bulb, and it didn't fire up. I then swapped the good bulb on the right side to the left side and the left side still did not light up...took the new bulb and put it on the right side...fired up fine. Ended up that my headlamp module went out. New bulb off the internet $125....dealer having to install the headlamp module $695.40....There goes my income tax refund LOL. While I was there they at least re-flashed the memory for the recall they have on it.

Oh...and by the way..the bentley manual was very good at explaining how to get to the headlamps...if anyone needs to change out the bulbs...would highly recommend it to show you how to remove the airbox, how to remove the fluid tanks ect.....

Thanks for your post aublutiger. I'm have a similar issue on my 2006 A4 2.0T with Xenons. Most of the time my headlight just flickers (when stopping), but twice now it has gone out and I got the same message you did on the dash. Restarted the car and light came back on. Took it to a dealer, but he says he can't reproduce it. Looking at what this cost you I think I might take it back and insist they fix the problem before my car goes off warranty.

Hey..yes, mine was flickering also....and then one evening I noticed that although I was inside my house watching TV...one of my headlights popped on and off. Essentially...the dip error comes on when the bulb doesn't fire. To replace the bulb yourself is not that difficult to do...I bought one from a local parts store for around $120. I followed the directions in the Bentley manual and was able to change it out within 30 minutes. However, mine was not a bulb issue...but a headlamp module assembly. My headlamp module repair was $695...it requires removing the front bumper cover, then removing the headlamp assembly and changing out the module....my guess is that your headlamp module is about to go out....

$695 ... ouch! Thanks for the heads up!

Can anyone here please point me to some audi documentation that gives the expect life of the bulb. My audi dealer replaced my bulbs under warranty but I get the sense they are having lots of troubles with these lights and getting repaid by audi. So he asked me if i had seen where audi advertises the life of the bulb. If you guys know of any references to the life expectency could you please point me in the right direction.

thanks.

I have an A4 2.0T (2005.5) that also started having the flickering (left) headlamp issue at about 30k miles. Iteither stops flickering or results in the Headlamp Dip Error message...switching the lights off/onreigites the bulb, butsometimes this has to be repeated a few times.

The dealer just replaced my bulb which is supposedly not covered by warranty - $407 job.We'llsee if this works - I'll report back in a few weeks with an update.

Just to let you folks know there is also a TSB about the head lamp flickering, shaking and vibrating. They have some foam peaces they put in there to stabalize it. This caused my dip error message and shorter bulb life. I got them to replace the bulb under warranty when they fix the unit.

Noffy,
Do you have the TSB number? I am currently in a fight with my Audi dealer over this. My 2006 A4 had the vibration problem and they fixed it under warranty. However, they now want $550 to replace the bulb that was ruined by the vibration.

I am having the same kind of fight with my Audi dealer. They are claiming that the bulb is not covered under warranty, but if there is a TSB that says there is a vibrating problem, I should be able to argue that the bulb is going bad because of a faulty part that IS covered under warranty. Anyone know the TSB number?

Update: After searching on some other forums, I found these TSB numbers.

2018544/1
2013829/6

I sent an email to the service manager at my dealer requesting that they apply the TSBs to my car AND replace both headlights under warranty, because the problems listed in the TSBs could have damaged them. We'll see how it goes.


Update 2: The dealer is going to replace both sides under warranty. Woohoo!

You are lucky. My dealer has replaced the module, leveler and the headlight assembly. However, he refuses to replace the bulb under a TSB. Ugh - I refuse to pay $400 for a new headlight until he is sure that is the problem... from what I have read on these forums, a new bulb does not fix the "headlight dipped" problem.

Update: After searching on some other forums, I found these TSB numbers.

2018544/1
2013829/6

I sent an email to the service manager at my dealer requesting that they apply the TSBs to my car AND replace both headlights under warranty, because the problems listed in the TSBs could have damaged them. We'll see how it goes.


Update 2: The dealer is going to replace both sides under warranty. Woohoo!whats the development with this??..did your dealer already fixed it.??i had this problem on some of my auto body parts (http://www.usautoparts.net/) before,,good thing the dealer took responsibility with it..