Hoping someone has some ideas on a problem I encounters with my 2004 A4 3.0 L stick shift.

My wife was sitting in car and it was idling. Suddenly the radio went off and she said dash started to flash. When I cam out to car I decided to switch it off and restart it. It would not restart. The air conditioning fan and radio etc all seemed to be working fine but it would just click when trying to start.

I called AAA who came out. They jump started the car and it started straight away. I drove home and let it idle for 10 minutes and then shut it off. It restarted no problems.

My mechanic thinks it may be the battery but it has since been working without issues for the last 5 days or so without any work being done.

All of radio presets etc were lost so it seems to have lost total power for a period but when that happened it should have been running off alternator rather than battery so I am not convinced its the battery. Was thinking potentially a short of some sort but then why would after it was jumped that the problem went away.

Any thoughts as to best way to diagnose what happened or do I need to wait for it to happen again.

 

I would take it to Autozone and have them do the "free" battery load and alternator test. I would suspect a failing battery, although you don't mention age (the battery's, not yours). Also, make sure the battery terminal connections are clean and tight. It may be one was loose and the AAA guy moved it and it is making better contact, for now.

 

Thanks for the reply.

The battery is 4 years old and has a 8 year prorata warranty. Took the car to pepboys where I got the battery to get there thoughts and they wanted me to bring the battery into store to do a test on it.

Unfortunately when I went out to look at disconnecting I broke the hood release leaver and now can't open the hood. Have the front grill off now and am looking at all of my alternatives to getting hood up. Until I fix that I am in somewhat of a precarious position if the same issue reoccurs.

The loose connection theory is a possibilty. While the car is idling would that cause a power loss to stereo or would the stereo etc be running directly off the alternator.

 

Somewhere on this forum is a thread on how to open a stuck hood - do a search.


When the alternator dies, the car runs off of the battery until the battery is drained. Then you are done.


When the battery dies, the car could run off the alternator but probably won't start.


The issue could be a weak or damaged battery, or a bad connection to the battery. Both could be evidenced by dim lights, weak horn, or electronics not working properly. It is possible that the AAA guy either cleaned or tightened (or maybe just twisted or tapped the cables enough to improve the connection) and the problem diminished.


Whenever I suspect those issues, the first thing I do is remove, clean, and re-attach the battery cables. You need to be cautious as the Bose radio has an anti-theft feature and could lock up if it loses power (it thinks someone is trying to steal it). Autozone sells a small battery device you plug into the cigar lighter to fool the electrical system. If the problem does not disappear, then Autozone again and they can test your battery and the charging system. An 96-month battery should last more than 4 years, but there are no guarantees.

 

my 2004 a4 doesn't have the radio code problem. my b5 does.

 

Here are the fault codes produced from vcds I have recently replaced the thermostat and cleaned the throttle body. We just replaced the battery. I am new to the forum and could use some help.


Thursday,09,July,2015,17:11:55:33938
VCDS -- Windows Based VAG/VAS Emulator
VCDS Version: 14.10.2.0 (x64)
Data version: 20150311
Ross-Tech: Home


VIN: WAULC68E75A119136 License Plate:
Mileage: 168640km-104788mi Repair Order:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chassis Type: 8E (8E - Audi A4/S4/RS4 B6/B7 (2001 > 2008))
Scan: 01 02 03 08 09 0F 11 15 16 17 18 25 36 37 45 46 55 56 57 65
67 69 75 76 77

VIN: WAULC68E75A119136 Mileage: 168640km-104788miles
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine Labels: 06B-909-518-AMB.lbl
Part No SW: 8E0 909 518 BC HW: 8E0 909 018 A
Component: 1.8L R4/5VT G 0020
Revision: 00000000 Serial number: AUZ6Z0D0371843
Coding: 0016751
Shop #: WSC 06335 000 00000
VCID: 72E5C9E46E2BB3B168B-515A

1 Fault Found:
17072 - ECM Power Relay Load Circuit
P0688 - 004 - Open Circuit
Readiness: 0110 1101

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 01V-927-156.lbl
Part No: 8E0 927 156 AA
Component: AG5 01V 1.8l5VT USA 0505
Coding: 0001002
Shop #: WSC 06335 000 00000
VCID: 6DDFDA9877156C49B59-515A

1 Fault Found:
18258 - Powertrain Data Bus
P1850 - 003 - Missing Message from ECU - Intermittent - MIL ON

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 8E0-614-517.lbl
Part No: 8E0 614 517 A
Component: ABS/ESP allrad 4529
Coding: 04277
Shop #: WSC 06435
VCID: 264DE5B4C2639F11343-513C

1 Fault Found:
01826 - Sensor for Steering Angle (G85); Supply Voltage Terminal 30
35-00 - -

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 08: Auto HVAC Labels: 8E0-820-043.lbl
Part No: 8E0 820 043 AC
Component: A4 Klimaautomat 1424
Coding: 00000
Shop #: WSC 06335
VCID: 62C5B9A4EECB233118B-515A

1 Fault Found:
01206 - Signal for Duration of Ignition Off Time
27-00 - Implausible Signal

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8E0-907-279-8E2.lbl
Part No: 8E0 907 279 F
Component: int. Lastmodul USA 0517
Coding: 00003
Shop #: WSC 06335
VCID: 356F32F80FC5E4898D9-4B32

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 15: Airbags Labels: 8E0-959-655-84.lbl
Part No: 8E0 959 655 K
Component: Airbag 8.4EP 1001
Coding: 0010607
Shop #: WSC 06335 000 00000
VCID: 3F8350D06DF92ED9575-515A

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 16: Steering wheel Labels: 8E0-953-549.lbl
Part No: 8E0 953 549 N
Component: Lenksáulenmodul 0611
Coding: 01041
Shop #: WSC 06335
VCID: 3E7D2DD43AF327D15C3-4B32

2 Faults Found:
00474 - Control Module for Immobilizer
49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent
01044 - Control Module Incorrectly Coded
35-00 - -

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 17: Instruments Labels: 8E0-920-9xx-8E2.lbl
Part No: 8E0 920 950 P
Component: KOMBI+WEGFAHRS. RB4 D42
Coding: 01231
Shop #: WSC 00001
VCID: 366D35F412C3EF91843-5178
WAULC68E75A119136 AUZ6Z0D0371843

3 Faults Found:
01176 - Key
07-10 - Signal too Low - Intermittent
00668 - Supply Voltage Terminal 30
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent
01314 - Engine Control Module
49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 46: Central Conv. Labels: 8E0-959-433-MAX.lbl
Part No: 8E0 959 433 BB
Component: Komfortgerát T7B 1612
Coding: 11788
Shop #: WSC 06335
VCID: 72E5C9E43E2BB3B168B-4B32

Subsystem 1 - Part No: 8E1959801
Component: Tőrsteuer.FS BRM 0205

Subsystem 2 - Part No: 8E1959802E
Component: Tőrsteuer.BF BRM 0205

Subsystem 3 - Part No: 8E0959801A
Component: Tőrsteuer.HL BRM 0205

Subsystem 4 - Part No: 8E0959802A
Component: Tőrsteuer.HR BRM 0205

4 Faults Found:
01330 - Central Control Module for Central Convenience (J393)
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent
01368 - Alarm triggered by Luggage Compartment Switch
35-00 - -
00955 - Key 1
35-10 - - - Intermittent
00956 - Key 2
35-10 - - - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio Labels: 8E0-035-1xx-56.lbl
Part No: 8E0 035 195 H
Component: symphony II PM6 0410
Coding: 00001
Shop #: WSC 26112
VCID: 2C59179CDC8FA541E27-50AC

5 Faults Found:
00532 - Supply Voltage B+
07-10 - Signal too Low - Intermittent
00878 - Connection to Speaker Front Left
36-10 - Open Circuit - Intermittent
00858 - Connection; Radio Intermediate Frequency (IF) Output to Antenna Amplifier
29-10 - Short to Ground - Intermittent
00858 - Connection; Radio Intermediate Frequency (IF) Output to Antenna Amplifier
36-00 - Open Circuit
01305 - Databus for Infotainment
49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent

End-------------------------(Elapsed Time: 04:56)--------------------------