Hello everyone! I bought a '03 Audi A6 3.0 Quattro just 3 days ago with 46,500 miles on it. It was running ok for the past 3 days. This morning (my first day at my new job) the car failed to start and I had to call for a cab and I was late (what an embrassment at work)!

Though the battery had a little juice the first time I tried to start, it was not enough to crank the engine, I think, I only heard a few clicking sounds. On subsequent tries, nothing happened, I wasn't even able to turn the key. The dashboard lights were really dim and the central locks worked slow when I pressed the button on the key fob to lock/unlock the car. I battery voltage on the instrument gauge showed about 8.5 volts (red region).

The car is on factory 4 y/ 50 k warranty for 2 more weeks, so I am planning to bring it to an Audi dealer here in Houston and hopefully they can check the battery and a few other things which I think are not working (for example: the cruise control) and fix them for me.

I just graduated from college 2 months ago and I've been driving a '96 Nissan 200 SX (153,0000 miles) for the past two years. I have not had any problems with that car in the two years I had it. I worked like a charm and I only changed oil every 3 months. I traded in that car to get this Audi. This morning for about 30 mins I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life and started cursing myself, what a way to start my new job.

Just wondering if any of you have had similar problems like this. I know that these German cars are really high tech when it comes to electronics to the extent that if something goes wrong a mechanic next door can't diagnose the problem, and your only option is to bring it to an Audi dealer. Did I make a mistake in buying the Audi by trading in my reliable Nissan? Please be candid in your replies. Thanks.

 

There are a couple of possibilities, the 1st is a dead battery, the 2nd is a bad alternator, and the third is a short/leak that is slowly draining your battery. Most likely your battery is just bad.

Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff. Is there anything else I would want to get checked at the dealer since I am on the 4y/50 k warranty for 2 more weeks? How about things like timing belt (that seems to be an issue with Audis), brake light switch and my key fob. My car does not chirp when I lock it, is that bad? I am sorry if the questions sound really nOOb but I have had the A6 for only 4 days now.

 

the dealer can run an alternator test. make sure they DO that when you go so you odnt have problems in the future. the battery looks like the culprit, but if its alternator thats an issue you want addressed before your warranty runs out

 

When you bring the car in , just tell them all of your concerns and they SHould take care of it.

 

you might also check to see if there are any loose or corroded cables on the battery end or possibly somewhere ells - alternator... Something I have always done is just before the factory warranty is up I pay for a complete inspection of the car, so far the dealers I have worked with have found several things to cover under warranty. so far it has always been a good deal. The complete inspection has cost less the $100 and they have always found things to repair that would have cost far more than that.

 

Guys, thank you for your inputs. I brought my car to the Audi dealer in Houston and they are working on it. The service representative said in addition to the new battery, they had to change a CV boot and the brake pads (I hope all that is covered in my warranty).

I have been driving a loaner car given by the dealer for the past couple of days; its a 2006 Audi A6 Avant with 5000 miles on it. Boy, it is a lot easier and more fun to drive than my '03 A6 sedan. It isinfinitely easier to park in tight spaces; I don't need any effort to turn the steering wheel at all unlike my own car with which I struggle to turn the steering wheel, especially if it is at a stand still. So I talked to the service manager and he said there have been a lot of improvements since '03 (C5) and that the newer cars have better steering '06 (C6), so it is just easier to drive the newer ones and that there is nothing wrong with my older car, it is just the way it is. Does anybody know anything about any steering improvements made on the C6s?

 

I don't. However, I have read some of those that fancy themselves as the sportier types unplug a power-assist feature. Perhaps that's been done on your car, or maybe a fuse blew that disabled the assist.

 

I got my car back from the dealer today. I didn't have to pay for the battery,CV boot or the brakes pads. Everything was covered under warranty. I only paid for the oil change.Overall the service at the dealer (Audi West Houston)was pretty good with no hassels. They even gave me a new A6 for two days as a loaner. After I got back home, I saw that the right side door handle in the back seat was not working. I could open the door from the outside, but I not from the inside. I got to go back and get it fixed this weekend before my warranty expires next Wednesday!

 

Is it the Child lock out?