help, anyone please. I just went out and got in my car, started it up, and headlights dont work. its a 1998 audi a4 quattro 1.8t. I switch the headlights on, the only thing that turns on is my corner lights. i flip the high beams on and they dont come on, my fogs dont work, nothing works. The only thing that worked is when i pulled the high beam lever towards me they come on, but i cant drive around holding the high beams on just to see. i work graveyard every day, i cant drive to work without headlights. anyone have any ideas>???

 

Sounds like the symptoms that we had when our ignition switch failed. (The power for the headlights and some other items actually passes through the ignition switch.) On ours (2000 A6 2.7t) I had to replace the switch and a few wires/connectors.

There is a recall to “fix” this problem. Someday I’ll take ours in….

 

also the wipers, blinkers, and ac fan stopped working. I'm getting no power to the high or low beam fuses(# 18,19,20 & 21), but getting power to the head light fuse( I think # 3) Let me know what you find and I'll do the same.

 

should recieve new switch within next couple of days. will let you know what I find.

 

Check the wires going to and from the switch. If they are burnt or overheated, you should take it to the dealer for the recall work. I had already replaced the switch and fixed the wires before I found out about the recall.

I think the best fix would to put a relay in this circuit. There isn't a good reason to route that much power through the ignition switch. BUT... I have to much else to do to go back and change something that is currently working!

 

Combination switch (ie, the stalk that turns on the headlights) is a common failure point on these cars. It could well be that too, and you'd have the same symptoms. I agree on trying the ignition switch first - it's cheaper and easier to replace. If that doesn't do it, replace the combination switch.

 

new switch did it. under steering cowl. 4 small phillips head screws, 2- under 2- behind steering wheel. turn the wheel for access. 3- torx screws I think # 27. drop cowl plastic and there it is. two small flat screws that retain switch. shouldn't take but 20 mins. AUTOPARTSWAREHOUSE.COM 35.00 SHIPPED. GOOD LUCK

 

Do you have a part number for what you ordered? Was it the combi-switch?