Car won't shut off
#1
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car won't shut off
97 A8 lost power on 1 or 2 cylinders on a recent road trip. I limped home and parked it for 3 weeks. When I went to move it in the driveway, the ignition witch would not turn off. Had to disconnect the battery to stop engine. Any one ever had this problem?
#2
Well, I do know that if anything is
blocking the transmission selector lever from fully moving into park, the switch won't turn off all the way. It is strange that it wouldn't cut off the engine though. Something most likely broke off inside the ignition switch housing preventing it to move properly.
#5
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Well, I do know that if anything is
Actually I misspoke, along with not proofing my post. Been gone all afternoon trying to replace the water pump on my 740il..... the absolute worst car I have ever owned in my life. I'm trying to patch it together to trade on a new car. I'll keep the A8 since it has no value and I still love the car when it's running.
The key will not turn to the off position in the ignition switch. Can the switch problem be attributed to sitting for a month without starting or could it be connected to transmission problems or even electrical? I want to get it running again so I can take it to the bastards in Dallas that rebuilt the transmission and force them to rebuild again under warranty. This will end up in a lawsuit, but it's the principle that matters here.
The key will not turn to the off position in the ignition switch. Can the switch problem be attributed to sitting for a month without starting or could it be connected to transmission problems or even electrical? I want to get it running again so I can take it to the bastards in Dallas that rebuilt the transmission and force them to rebuild again under warranty. This will end up in a lawsuit, but it's the principle that matters here.
#6
OK, this has happened to me a couple of times
on my A6. As I stated, there could have been a coin that slipped in between where the gear selector shifts into park and the "wall" there. If the gear selector doesn't go fully into park, and I'm talking only a <i>hair</i> off, the ignition switch will not go to the off position. [Edit] You will have to remove the center console to get the obstuction out. A couple of other things to try is jiggling the steering wheel and jiggling the selector lever.
One last possible scenario is that something sticky like a soft drink or such was spilled into the gear selector area and is now impeding the selector. Do a quick search of the forum archives using "stuck key" to see others' misadventures with this problem.
As for the tranny rebuild, I have heard quite a few stories from those bozos down there. I'm sorry about that fiasco and I do hope you get it resolved!
One last possible scenario is that something sticky like a soft drink or such was spilled into the gear selector area and is now impeding the selector. Do a quick search of the forum archives using "stuck key" to see others' misadventures with this problem.
As for the tranny rebuild, I have heard quite a few stories from those bozos down there. I'm sorry about that fiasco and I do hope you get it resolved!
#7
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: OK, this has happened to me a couple of times
Thanks a lot for the response. I will try all of the above as soon as I get the other car repaired. The A8 was dropped at the stealer several weeks ago, but they are not eager to mess with it since it won't shut off. I need to get VAG but have held off because I am a mac person and all diagnostic software runs on windows. I recently bought Windows to run with Leopard OS X and am told it will run well.
Trending Topics
#9
That hasn't been really true since the early eighties. With all of the...
...electricity running from the alt through the battery to the power distribution center, disconnecting the battery not only kills the car, it'll send an nasty spike through the system.
NOT recommended (unless in emergency situation).
NOT recommended (unless in emergency situation).
#10
AudiWorld Member
Sorry, gotta call BS on that one ;) Just took a minute and tried it on my S8, A8 and Silverado HD
None of them died or even hiccupped. But you had me wondering since I don't normally make a practice of disconnecting batteries on running vehicles.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
quarterdeck
A8 / S8 (D2 Platform) Discussion
2
08-31-2008 01:12 AM
Pre95
Audi 90 / 80 / Coupe quattro / Cabriolet
3
01-31-2008 03:17 PM
berlina
Audi 100 / A6 (C4 Platform)
3
11-20-2007 07:19 AM