yvk_99

I have 98 A6 Wagon.

Recently when I would start the ignition the climate control, outside temp display and headlights would not turn on....but the engine would start and the car would run....I would turn off the engine and start it again and everything was fine....

This happended couple times in a week....

Today it happened again the engine and the car started but without the climate control, outside temp display and lights.....

I tried turning it on and off but after couple of times the car just stopped starting on.....

Now when I try to turn on the ignition all I see is 'OK' light, but the car does'nt start at all.....

I also smelt a faint burning smell.....

When the car worked this morning there was also a funny strutting noise when I stopped the car.....

I checked the fuses they look good.....

What could be the problem ?

MikTip

Possibly the "Notorious" plastic ignition switch! I'm on my third......

Jretal

as for your climate control, there are illuminating bulbs behind it. I believe Kris Hansen has a write up on fixing it on his webpage.

other than that, can't tell ya.

Test the ignition switch to see if the power is transmitting to the starter... so test the starter motor as well. Also, check your battery.

VAP

and my newest addition has all the classic symptoms, ie; very sticky touch and hard to turn when steering wheel is not quite in a perfect place. I'm babying it but never leave home without the new spare sitting in the glovebox with a few necessary hand tools.

yvk_99

The climate control, the outside temp display and the head lights used to light up but only on the second crank....on the first crank only the engine would start.....

I am concerned about the starter...(funny clinking noise I got and faint burning smell)...


Now is the starter and starter motor one or two different parts....

Thnks for all replies

A6Gary

Starter = starter motor, no difference - one assembly. You need new igintion switch #4A0 905 849 B.

MikTip

Got Adobe Acrobat? ;O)<ul><li><a href="http://1.8t.org/~quattroman/Audi%20B5%2097-2001/">http://1.8t.org/~quattroman/Audi%20B5%2097-2001/</a</li></ul>

patience

A couple times on my car, it began by losing the spring action that disengaged the starter circuits. They disable power consumers to direct majority of power from battery to starter motor.

When the switch is bad, that way, the starter stays on while you drive the car... Can damage starter, drain battery, and of course you won't have climate control.

I overheated my starter motor and ended up replacing it along with alternator and battery. Can not gurantee that broken switch is what killed battery and alternator, but these problems occured in the same time frame as switch problem.


What you can sometimes do, while waiting to replace switch (get home etc), is GENTLY hand rotate switch away from start postion. If you do it right, and are lucky, the starter will disengage, climate and raidio will work and car will be drivable... It may turn off too. Try again-

all this try again stuff may kill battery and alternator... Dead, or dying battery may result in situation where you hear a clicking noise when you try to start car. It is starter solenoid closing, drawing enough juice to drop battery voltage below solenoid threshold- over and over. Usually gets weaker as it goes.

Hope this helps.

Oh, and the Porche Boxter ignition switch works- and is reputed to be stronger. Since I switched to the Porche swich a couple years ago, problem has not reoccured. Before that I replaced switch every 12 to 24 months.