Sup guys.
I am new to this forum and I am very new to Audi as well.

I been driving my Mitsubishi Eclipse for 5 years. modding it till last week I got my Audi A6.

I paid for the car, but I haven't got it yet until this weekend.

But I do have a question.
When the car started, it has 3 lights on.

Check engine light, ABS light, and Brake light.
The previous owner went to get the car inspected and they said the alternator needs to be replaced.
So I think the alternator have triggered the check engine light maybe?

Next will be, the shop said, once the alternator is fixed and reset the ECU, all the lights will be gone.
Is that true or not?

I want to figure this out before I pay my last set of payment this weekend.
Please help!

BTW, this is a 1998 Audi A6 2.8L AWD
Thanks again in advance.
Gilbert

 

Hmm, maybe, but I would be very very cautious. I would get a garage to read the codes. The ABS light should be seperate from the primary system, and relate only to the ABS system. My ABS light is on, and the Check engine light off. I have a fried ABS ECU, cost to replace $1400 + labour. (I have 3rd party warranty, but I need to really argue to get them to pay, and have yet to build up the tollerance to yell at them.)

In Canada, the ABS falls under the standard car safety inspection. They are legally NOT ALLOWED to sell the car as 'certified' with it not working. Not sure if you have similiar laws where you are. When an A6 goes on the hoist, the ABS light may come on for 1-2 km at most, before the computer resets itself. This is normal. Anything longer, and there is an issue.

I say check it out by a dealer.. spend the money to get a 3rd party to review it. Once you drive off the lot and took the keys, your bargaining power is severely diminished.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. OK, So you saying, if the ABS light is on forever, there must be a problem.
Let me get something quick first.
I have a ODB-II scanner, so I can scan the car and see what code pops out for the check engine light correct.
And for the brake light, it is prolly the brake fluid is low or something.
But for ABS light, I cannot scan it with anything, only back to dealer to konw what's wrong with ABS?

ok, now I have a question, if it's the ABS computer is no good, can I just get a used and plug it in myself? it should be plug and play right?
Second, when I test drive the car this weekend, can I slam on the brake and see if the car / the brake pedal shakes? if it has that force-feedback at the brake pedal, and I feel ABS kicks in, then it must not be the ABS computer failed correct?

Or I should ask you FootIntheGrille, when your ABS computer is toasted, does your ABS work at all? so if I drive it and test the ABS, and it does kick in, then it's not the computer that is toasted right?
But if ABS DOESN"T kick in, then I definitely need to get a dealer to take a look at it.

The reason I have to get all the possiblility that the car might have a problem with first because I have to drive 300miles to that place to pick up the car, and I really cannot afford to wait and wait and wait, so I try to find out what can be wrong with the car first before I go there on Friday.

Thanks alot for your input.
Help is appreciated.

 

The ABS light and the brake light are linked. If there is an ABS issue, the red brake warning light will also come on. If the ABS light is on, it will mean that there is no ABS. I believe the computer turns it off as they would not want the ABS to interfere with regular braking.

The main computer will diagnois the ABS system as well.

I am not sure where the ABS ECU is located. I read something about under the rear seat for some VWs, but can't located it for the Audi. (Never really tried hard either) I could also be that big module where all the brake lines run too. The computer says that its an ECU electrical failure, but this could also mean a break in a wire. From what I understand, ABS ECU failure is not that common on these cars, and kinda rare. Audi dealer says that its the ECU though.

The ABS light will also come on if there is a sensor failure, and thats alot cheaper to repair. As I understand it, dirty wheel sensors can cause the light to come on, and that could just mean a cleaning. Plug in your OBD and read the codes, a sensor will show up as a different code.

 

That will be GREAT!
Thanks alot.

I only have a generic ODB-II scanner that support ISO format.
So will all those specific error code be able to pull by my scanner? or must be a DEFAULT Audi scanner?
Thanks alot.
I hope it's sensor.
Gil

 

Hi, I also read that it can be the pump of the ABS.
It's a really common issue. is that true?

So the cause of the ABS Light to be ON, can be on due to couple reasons:
1) Faulty ABS ECU ($1400)
2) ABS sensor failure ($150 each wheel)
3) ABS sensor dirty (clean them)
4) ABS Pump/motor is bad ($500)

If the pump is bad, will a code get thrown by the ABS ECU or the ECU?

Thanks again.

Also I found out there is a distinated LIGHT for bad alternator in the dash but I am not sure if that's for the 1998 Audi A6 2.8L, is that true as well?
If so, then the Check Engine light is for something else.
Please let me know what you guys think.
Thanks again.
Gil

 

Not sure about your model. I have a 2000 A6. I haven't read of them being problematic, and did ask for my model year, and people here responded with the same opionon. Dealer also said its not that common on my model.

ODB II is a standard across the automotive industry. All OBD II readers will read all ODB II codes. There are codes that are standard to all cars regardless of make and model. Blocks of codes are allocated to specific components. (e.g. Engine, ABS, Emmission Control, General....) But, when the code gets more specific, its meaning could be unique to the make, model and year.

Your OBD II reader will read all the codes thrown, then you need to lookup the code to see what it means. Do a search on the internet, or here for the code plus Audi. I downloaded a PDF document containing all the codes from some place, and no, i can't post it now, because its on my home computer. Its easy to find, and the codes are generally standard across the VW line as they use the same core software/computer.

No idea how specific the code will be. Generally, older cars throw more generic codes, and new and newer models get more specific as more sensors and sht get added to the car.

Costs could vary, but you are likely in the ball park.. I would have thought the ABS pump would have been more though. like $2K