ETs... any ideas on Audi electrical oddity?

[LeeH]

The screen that runs virtually all of the systems in my car (MMI) went out last week.

Just didn't launch when I started the car. Eventually, after about 15 minutes of driving, I hit the power button one more time and it started up. It ran fine until I powered down the car, then the system did not come back up again.

Did some reading and found that a common issue with Audi wagons is that the washer fluid line that runs to the hatchback nozzle will start to leak where the tubing goes through the hinge. When this happens. fluid runs down the headliner and into the Bose amp at the top of the electronics bay.

I pulled the amp and did find where a couple of drops of blue liquid had pooled on one corner of the amp's circuit board. I hosed it down with contact cleaner and gave it a light scrubbing with a tooth brush. After it dried, I put it all back together and it started right up. Yay... until the next morning when I started the car again and it did NOT start right up. Hmm... pulled the amp, scrubbed it, reinstalled and got the same results. It worked fine, this time for a long drive, but did not restart when powered down. There doesn't appear to be any signs of residual corrosion on the board at all.

A friend suggested that maybe it wasn't the board, but one of the cables that tie into the box. So today, I just disconnected it, hooked it back up again, and it worked... until I killed the power, then it wouldn't start up. So I tried cleaning the pins on the connectors, It did run fine after that... until I had to stop to go into a store, then it wouldn't start.

Any suggestion on what to check? Replacements Bose MMI amps run $300-$600. I've tried to find on locally to test, but no luck yet. I don't mind buying one if I have to, but don't want to spend the money only to hook it up and get the same results.

I can't figure out what it is about disconnecting and reconnecting that make it work. There's a reset that can be done (think Cntrl, alt, del) from the control panel, but it doesn't help. Once it's running, it keeps running. Hitting bumps, wiggling wires doesn't seem to affect it once it's up.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Lee, have you looked into the VAG-COM diagnostic software? There's probably a code stored in the system that would help you, and you can try doing activations real time when the problem occurs.

[LeeH]

Don't have a VAG-COM. From what I've read, it usually just shows that the MMI won't boot. Don't think it offers any real help.

What's really odd to me is that once it's working, it seems completely fine. Moving the cables around doesn't affect it. Really wish I could track down an amp locally that I could plug to see if it does the same or not.

[craigster59]

I've got an Audi/VW VAG-COM I'd sell for $40 shipped. Might be handy to keep around (also does OBD II and is upgradeable).

[t-tom]

What year Audi?

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by craigster59

I've got an Audi/VW VAG-COM I'd sell for $40 shipped. Might be handy to keep around (also does OBD II and is upgradeable).

Which one?

[fastfredracing]

And , so it begins..... I jest

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Which one?

This one.......

Car Code Reader Scanner VW Audi Scan Tool Maxscan VAG405 VAG 405 OBD II OBD 2 EO | eBay

[1990C4S]

PM sent. And now back to our regularly schedule Audi electrical problem thread....

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

and , so it begins..... I jest

+1.

[Tobra]

Can't you just bypass the Bose amp entirely? Bose automotive stereo equipment sort of sucks ass, in my experience anyway.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Most of the newer cars are on a fiber optic network, you can't just bypass a component because every piece communicates with the rest of the system.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

And , so it begins..... I jest

Yet it wasn't in green....


Beautiful car Lee, hope you get it sorted. Let me know if you need an extra set of hands on anything.

[LeeH]

Yeah, what Matt said. Everything runs through the Bose box. Really, much more than just an amp. I'll probably just hang out on eBay until a cheap one "buy it now" price hits. If that doesn't fix the problem, someone else will need it eventually.

The thing that has me baffled is that a full disconnect usually makes it work until it's powered down again. Any thoughts on that behavior?

[porsche4life]

How do all the solder joints look? Get a magnifying glass and go over all of them. May be a few little cracks. We had motorcycle with weird electric issues and finally tracked down some hairline cracks on the circuit board in the CDI

[Shifter]

What year A6?

Maybe these guys have a part they will let you test with?

Porsche Corvette Mini Audi Used Auto Parts for Porsche-Corvette-Mini-Audi - 20th Street Auto Parts Arizona 1-602-258-2020

And if you replace it, you have to get it reprogrammed at the dealer, I believe.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by Shifter

What year A6?

Maybe these guys have a part they will let you test with?

Porsche Corvette Mini Audi Used Auto Parts for Porsche-Corvette-Mini-Audi - 20th Street Auto Parts Arizona 1-602-258-2020

And if you replace it, you have to get it reprogrammed at the dealer, I believe.

I contacted 20th St. Automotive and they did not have one. Said pretty rare for them to get one.

Yeah... really wish I could just plug one in to see if it operated the same way or not. The programming is Audi's "component protection." From what I've read, it sounds like not all the speakers will work until the dealer assigns the box to the new car with their computer.

[Shifter]

Originally Posted by LeeH

I contacted 20th St. Automotive and they did not have one. Said pretty rare for them to get one.

Yeah... really wish I could just plug one in to see if it operated the same way or not. The programming is Audi's "component protection." From what I've read, it sounds like not all the speakers will work until the dealer assigns the box to the new car with their computer.

Well, if you didn't tell them what year, I bet they would have a hard time helping you also.

How about a part number?

[GH85Carrera]

I know it is an German car but you might try injecting a dose of this British cure all.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by Shifter

Well, if you didn't tell them what year, I bet they would have a hard time helping you also.

How about a part number?

Well... I did tell them what year. Just didn't tell you!

It's a 2008.