Dr.Aronis

Tried to make the title include it all.

2003 RS6, new problem. I have a short somewhere in the dash. Only recent work was replacing the connector at the head light switch and I replaced the battery about 3 weeks ago. The car was fine for three days.

Then I got a "Battery" Icon warning (the yellow battery symbol) and the word "Fuse" over the odometer and the in dash voltmeter is pinned to the left (zero). The car runs fine. No power issues. Car starts fine 12 hours later.

I found fuse "15" (10 amp) was blown and if I replace it it blows immediately.

Bentley manual shows fuse 15 connecting to the dash instruments, but not specifically to the Voltmeter.

So is it a blown component? Or a new short somewhere?

I wish I had a good diagram of where all the wire harnesses are routed in the car to figure an approach to track down the particular short.

I'll do a Vag Com Scan and post more.

Thank you for any input. (RS6.Com people seem uninterested LOL)

Mike

I

Boston Driver

I would think that the wiring for the headlight switch might be making contact with the metal supports under/inside the dash. Open up the lower dash panel to inspect the wiring. That was a common thing in the C5, in fact there was a serevice bulletin (or recall) during which Audi service technicians simply put a piece of adhesive felt on the dash support to protect the wiring form the sharp edges.

Removing the lower dash panel is easy...there are a ton of references for how to do that. Take a peek and let us know what you find!

Boston Driver

You might be able to see if that felt is there by just removing the fuse cover and looking in from there.

Boston Driver

Here is an old pic (ignore the old fog jumper wire...). See the felt piece near the top right of the picture?

Boston Driver

Better pic here:

Dr.Aronis

I took down the panel.

I inspected the wire harness to the head light switch and every other wire I could see and there were no frayed wires or damaged insulation around any wires.

No felt either! LOL.

Mike

Dr.Aronis

I looked over the bentley manual again with regard to fuse 15, and it does not show much! Dam it!

Mike

Boston Driver

What connector was replaced at the headlight switch? I'd take a closer look there since the switch is part of the instrument cluster, since the light switch activates the cluster lighting. I still think something with that connection or the harness itself. I'd also recommend you put some of that felt so that the harness does not make any contact along that frame as pictured. That is a known source of dash fires in all models of this platform.

Boston Driver

Dr.Aronis

Boston Driver,

That thread is dead on...LOL....but ends.......before any answer is posted....

Mike