Ok folks...I already searched for an answer but I came up blank...so here is the problem.


Got up yesterday and went to unlock my car as to grab some food from the store. The car won't unlock -maybe the remote battery died- unlocked it manually, got in and tried to start it. Nothing. Dead battery, so I bought a new one. Replace the old battery with a new one and as soon as I reconnected the posts the radio comes on in the car. Key's are not in the ignition and haven't been for nearly 8 hours. that's not the problem...there is a noise coming from the right side of the compartment close to the filter. Fan? Not sure, but it sounds like it. thought maybe the problem would work itself out after driving it a while. nope...still there. Anyone have an idea what is causing the noise...could this have drained my battery previously? 99 A4 2.8 Avante Thanks for the help. I just want to go to the beach but I don't want to get stranded there.

 

if the radio comes on without keys... it seems like there is problem with the key hole (especially if it doesnt happen before). there might be something stuck.
as for the fan sound, i can't say for sure but it might be from some electronic device.
good luck

 

Did you get old battery checked first,just cos it was dead doesnt mean its f**ked.

 

Try to get vag'd.

 

ok...so I wrong about the fan sound. It was about 2am and I was tired. The sound was more like a vacuum and it actually turned itself off after about 5 minutes. Then it came back on again when I unlocked the trunk. Having no clue what so ever I went ahead and took it to the beach figuring the worst that will happen is that I will have to get it towed back home. The problem went away for a while and when I parked back into the driveway it made the noise again for a minute or two then quit. Still perplexed...but in the words of Bobby Bouche..."No momma, the search continues."

If this sheds anymore light on the problem or narrows it down, fantastic...if not, too bad for me. I will let you know what happens and what the problem is if it doesn't fix itself for the next person that may have the same problem.

 

By the way...of course I got the battery checked first. it just died of old age. and it was time for a new one. But a good question if I was green to car repair.

 

When the battery naturally died in my car it did some weird stuff like opening the sunroof and turning on the dash lights with out the headlight switch. So it could just be part of the system freak out that it does when the battery dies.

But, something to check out would be your ignition switch. The ignition switch being busted would not be noticeable most of the time, but can in the near future have bigger problems. The first sign would be key in ignition door alarm when the key is in your hand, radio on without key, and that vacuum sound could be your heating/ac which if you have ever tried comes on after about 30 seconds when the key is on, but the car is not. In the future a bad ignition switch would leave your starter motoring when the key is not turned to start (park and neutral only), not allow you to use the headlights, oh and royally screw up a lot of parts on your car for a 30 dollar piece of plastic with a spring.

 

Ok...here's an update. I got up the next day and the car was dead again. This is starting to get a little frustrating. I have an appointment to get it checked out and I will let you know what is going on in case this happens to someone else out there. Good idea about the ignition switch though...I will also make sure that they check that out too. Thanks

 

hmmmmmm, something is drawing power, do you have any aftermarket stereo stuff?

 

yes I do...but it's been in for a couple of months and is basically a factory item. I took out the old changer and replaced it with a Phatbox. It suppose that is the problem but I will have them look the whole thing over just to be sure tomorrow. My money is on the alternator, but who knows.