My ignition switch died the other night on my '97 A4 V6 right after starting the car and trying to turn on theheadlights, which did not come on.What happened instead isit made the engine sputter a bit and stop dead. The starter would also not crank after, the headlights would still not turn on but when on the switch was onthere was whatsounded like a buzzing relay noise, and the radio would no longer turn off with the key off. I could feel in the switch the spring was gone.

I put in a new ignition switch, and the lights now work, no buzzing, the radio turns off, everything seems fine now, but still the engine does not crank. I have not tried to roll start the car to see if the engine runs or if it is just a starter problem.

There was a light electrical burning smell for a moment when the switch died, coming from behind the dash board,but no smoke. No fuses in the box are blown, but there is a cluster of relays behind the fuse box, where I imagine the buzzing sound and burning smell came from.

Seems like something shorted in the relay box when the switch went, but what relay would cause the starter not to crank?

Iwould hope it is just a relay which I can replace, but if not, what else back there could have short circuited when the wires in the ignition switch shorted to cause this problem?

 

First you should have taken it to the dealer because there is a recall for the ignition switch on a 97 A4, and B forget checking the relays and go directly to the starter and check for voltage. If there is voltage replace the starter if not, (which i doubt) replace the fuel pump relay and ecm fuse next to the ecm.

 

Same thing happened to me. I assume what happens is that the ignition switch keeps the starter engaged (not sure why I didn't hear/notice it) and it burns out the starter. Also, the starter is kind of a pain to change on the 2.8 because you have to move lots of stuff to get it out.