Shorted something on my 98 B5
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9
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From: Melbourne, Australia
Shorted something on my 98 B5
Hi All, in a bit of a drama here so hope someone can help me out.
First time post by the way
Scenario background:
I was diagnosing my stereo wiring as the amp recently started to cut out when turning the volume to a certain level. Turn the volume down a tad and it stops cutting out. All i could think of is its either my amp about to die or something earthing out somewhere(least likely).
I traced it to the main power fuse(between the battery and amp). Pulled it out and its slightly melted, so not enough power going to the amp when the volume is turned up.
Pulled the fuse out and accidently touched the body of the ECU with the positive wire under the hood. See the pic below, you can see where it arced:
Current scenario:
Now i cant start the car!
Ignition turns on but instead of getting the usual quiet whining prior to turning on (fuel pump? throttle body adjusting?) i get a constant clicking from the fuse box area. If i turn the key more the motor does turn over and all other electrics seem fine, but wont start.
So i checked all fuses in the main panel and all ok. Pulled apart the fuse area to get behind it and found the clicking from one of the relays circled in the pic below:
I pull it out and no more clicking from that area, but, there is still clicking when the ignition is turned on coming from under the bonnet!
Traced it to the throttle body as per below:
If i pull the circled plug from the throttle body and turn the ignition on there is silence so i am fairly certain its either the relay or the bit on the throttle body. Im assuming its a sensor but ill let one of you tell me what it is.
Hope this is enough of a description and someone is able to let me know what to do next or what part it is i should be trying to get asap.
Thanks in advance!
First time post by the way
Scenario background:
I was diagnosing my stereo wiring as the amp recently started to cut out when turning the volume to a certain level. Turn the volume down a tad and it stops cutting out. All i could think of is its either my amp about to die or something earthing out somewhere(least likely).
I traced it to the main power fuse(between the battery and amp). Pulled it out and its slightly melted, so not enough power going to the amp when the volume is turned up.
Pulled the fuse out and accidently touched the body of the ECU with the positive wire under the hood. See the pic below, you can see where it arced:
Current scenario:
Now i cant start the car!
Ignition turns on but instead of getting the usual quiet whining prior to turning on (fuel pump? throttle body adjusting?) i get a constant clicking from the fuse box area. If i turn the key more the motor does turn over and all other electrics seem fine, but wont start.
So i checked all fuses in the main panel and all ok. Pulled apart the fuse area to get behind it and found the clicking from one of the relays circled in the pic below:
I pull it out and no more clicking from that area, but, there is still clicking when the ignition is turned on coming from under the bonnet!
Traced it to the throttle body as per below:
If i pull the circled plug from the throttle body and turn the ignition on there is silence so i am fairly certain its either the relay or the bit on the throttle body. Im assuming its a sensor but ill let one of you tell me what it is.
Hope this is enough of a description and someone is able to let me know what to do next or what part it is i should be trying to get asap.
Thanks in advance!
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Australia
I have checked every fuse in the fuse panel and the hidden ones i could find behind the panel. Every fuse i have found looks ok so far.
Any other places there might be a hidden fuse perhaps?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 9,703
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Relay 372 is your Fuel Pump relay. If it's clicking it's shot. You also need to get a Bentley Manual for the car. It has all the electrical schematics for the car.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Australia
When i remove this possibly faulty relay and turn on the ignition there is also constant clicking at the throttle body, just like the relay.
Would this be normal with the absense of the relay or a faulty relay? Or do i need to get the throttle body looked at too?
Cheers for the heads up on the manual too. Will be getting it asap.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,284
Likes: 100
From: Fallbrook, CA
I believe that you'd be wasting time and money on the fuel pump relay. The common factor between the relay and throttle body actuator is the ECU, which probably has a fault. I'd start with changing that.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Australia
Ok, so got a second hand relay and nothing. Still same issue.
Tested for power to the fuel pump and the test light is lighting up. Not as much light as i thought but there is power.
If i diconnect the power from the fuel pump with the ignition on the clicking at the relay stops with the circuit being broken.
Spoke with a techy at Injectronics(car computer testers in Australia) who suggested the computer will have a blown link between the computer connector plug(computer harness) and the circuit board.
Apparently thats common and should be obviously visible if i open the computer.
Opened the computer and no obvious damage and no burnt circuit smells. So looks as though the computer is ok.
Any other suggestions?
Tested for power to the fuel pump and the test light is lighting up. Not as much light as i thought but there is power.
If i diconnect the power from the fuel pump with the ignition on the clicking at the relay stops with the circuit being broken.
Spoke with a techy at Injectronics(car computer testers in Australia) who suggested the computer will have a blown link between the computer connector plug(computer harness) and the circuit board.
Apparently thats common and should be obviously visible if i open the computer.
Opened the computer and no obvious damage and no burnt circuit smells. So looks as though the computer is ok.
Any other suggestions?
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Thread Starter
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Australia
Just as you said, its not the relay and the fuel pump has power so a dead end there.
As mentioned in my previous post there is nothing obvious in the ECU and the advice from a techy only went so far.
I need an ECU to test with before i buy one to be sure.
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When you turn the key on do you get all the lights on the dash like normal?
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