madone_si
02-24-2013, 03:31 PM
Hi all
Thought I would write this up as this seems to be a common issue with Audi's, some VW's as well.
Audi A4 B6 Avant Headlight/coming home lights/compass issues with Fix details
Battery on my Audi B6 A4 Avant USP, died last weekend, due to me leaving lights on inside after working on air ride setup as per my build thread. When I recharged the battery and connected back, I found the following functions not working.
1. My Main headlights always on, even though the control headlight switch was in the off position (My switch OEM ID is 8E0-941-531-B) I have the AUTO option for internal/External lights with coming home feature, so when I unlock Audi with remote, my front and rear fogs come on.
2. My mirror with auto light senor for coming home switch as well as auto dimming mirror was died, with no power
3. Digital Compass in mirror was dead too
As usual I did a search on our forum and internet and found a lot of various different threads, which a lot of them were making reference to checking fuses, relays, replacing control headlight switches and even expensive Mirror ($600 from dealer!!!), so from reviewing those threads, I tried out the following, as I could not see how my battery dying could impact Switches or mirrors, but more likely fuses, relays or even the Central Electrical control Unit.
1. Checked the Fuses - not issues found
2. Checked Relays - no issues found
3. Using VAG.com check for any errors - Thanks to Dave at Meister Werks (https://www.facebook.com/MeisterUS) he can help you out on any of your VAG.com services, great local guy in Seattle area.
Found one issue as below:
Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8E0-907-279-8E2.lbl
1 Fault Found:
01800 - Light Switch (E1)
27-00 - Implausible Signal
This could mean a few things,
1. Switch itself is broken, common issue
2. cable isn't connecting or has cut in it.
3a. I pulled out the switch from the dashboard and disconnected the cable and checked connections in switch, which they were all clean and no sign of burnt. Also checked the cabling and no sign of any issues. Placed the cable back into the switch.
3b. Cleared 01800 error and rerun test on VAG.com, no more errors appeared, so I think maybe one of the connections where not making a solid connection from cable to switch pins.
4. So I know that on B6 A4's there is a software configuration for lights options, so looked up details relating to ''Central Electronics'' as per Audi A4 Manual via the http://www.ross-tech.com website and found the following pages very useful;
Ross Tech Audi A4 (http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Audi_A4/S4/RS4/Cabriolet_(8E/8H))
Which you then click on [09] - Central Electronics which takes you to the following page
Central Electronics (http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Audi_A4_(8E)_Central_Electronics_(8E2/8E5))
It was here that gives you the details of how various Audi A4 code settings should be.
Looking in VAG.com as the ''Central Electronics'' settings, it clear my settings were reset back to default settings, as they were not correct.
Using the below details, changed my code setting from 00001 to 01013 and everything returned to how it should be, with lights on off position, lights all off, set lights to AUTO and testing outside and going through tunnel, the lights are now coming on automatically outside and inside the car. The coming Home switch is working with Mirror working with Digital Compass as well. You will notice that Digital Compass should come back with 'C' on display, to get compass working again, you need to drive Audi in circle 3-5 times and then the compass will switch back to showing N,E,S,W, ETC.
Coding
0?xxx: Light Sensor
0 = Light Sensor not installed
1 = Light Sensor installed
0x?xx: Trailer Hitch
0 = Trailer Hitch not installed
1 = Trailer Hitch installed
0xx?x: Headlights
0 = Halogen Headlights
1 = Xenon Headlights
0xxx?: Country
1 = Rest of World
2 = Northern Countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark)
3 = USA
4 = Canada
Now if you try the software configuration changes and your still having issues with;
1. lights, that will result in that your Control Headlight Switch is faulty and needs replacing.
2. If lights work properly but Mirror with Digital Compass still working, check Fuses, cabling to Mirror or it maybe the Mirror itself is dead and requires replacing - its going to be expensive to replace!
Hopefully this helps others out.
Other threads/sites I found useful:
VAG.com information on error codes:
Meister Werks (https://www.facebook.com/MeisterUS)
ross-tech.com (http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page)
Threads on same subject:
Headlight switch info (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/523116-Headlight-switch-info-(-)?highlight=b6+light+switch+issues)
Headlight and mirror issues (http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a4-a4-cabriolet-s4-forum-b6-chassis/80514-head-lights-always-auto-dim-mirror-not-working.html)
Thought I would write this up as this seems to be a common issue with Audi's, some VW's as well.
Audi A4 B6 Avant Headlight/coming home lights/compass issues with Fix details
Battery on my Audi B6 A4 Avant USP, died last weekend, due to me leaving lights on inside after working on air ride setup as per my build thread. When I recharged the battery and connected back, I found the following functions not working.
1. My Main headlights always on, even though the control headlight switch was in the off position (My switch OEM ID is 8E0-941-531-B) I have the AUTO option for internal/External lights with coming home feature, so when I unlock Audi with remote, my front and rear fogs come on.
2. My mirror with auto light senor for coming home switch as well as auto dimming mirror was died, with no power
3. Digital Compass in mirror was dead too
As usual I did a search on our forum and internet and found a lot of various different threads, which a lot of them were making reference to checking fuses, relays, replacing control headlight switches and even expensive Mirror ($600 from dealer!!!), so from reviewing those threads, I tried out the following, as I could not see how my battery dying could impact Switches or mirrors, but more likely fuses, relays or even the Central Electrical control Unit.
1. Checked the Fuses - not issues found
2. Checked Relays - no issues found
3. Using VAG.com check for any errors - Thanks to Dave at Meister Werks (https://www.facebook.com/MeisterUS) he can help you out on any of your VAG.com services, great local guy in Seattle area.
Found one issue as below:
Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8E0-907-279-8E2.lbl
1 Fault Found:
01800 - Light Switch (E1)
27-00 - Implausible Signal
This could mean a few things,
1. Switch itself is broken, common issue
2. cable isn't connecting or has cut in it.
3a. I pulled out the switch from the dashboard and disconnected the cable and checked connections in switch, which they were all clean and no sign of burnt. Also checked the cabling and no sign of any issues. Placed the cable back into the switch.
3b. Cleared 01800 error and rerun test on VAG.com, no more errors appeared, so I think maybe one of the connections where not making a solid connection from cable to switch pins.
4. So I know that on B6 A4's there is a software configuration for lights options, so looked up details relating to ''Central Electronics'' as per Audi A4 Manual via the http://www.ross-tech.com website and found the following pages very useful;
Ross Tech Audi A4 (http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Audi_A4/S4/RS4/Cabriolet_(8E/8H))
Which you then click on [09] - Central Electronics which takes you to the following page
Central Electronics (http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Audi_A4_(8E)_Central_Electronics_(8E2/8E5))
It was here that gives you the details of how various Audi A4 code settings should be.
Looking in VAG.com as the ''Central Electronics'' settings, it clear my settings were reset back to default settings, as they were not correct.
Using the below details, changed my code setting from 00001 to 01013 and everything returned to how it should be, with lights on off position, lights all off, set lights to AUTO and testing outside and going through tunnel, the lights are now coming on automatically outside and inside the car. The coming Home switch is working with Mirror working with Digital Compass as well. You will notice that Digital Compass should come back with 'C' on display, to get compass working again, you need to drive Audi in circle 3-5 times and then the compass will switch back to showing N,E,S,W, ETC.
Coding
0?xxx: Light Sensor
0 = Light Sensor not installed
1 = Light Sensor installed
0x?xx: Trailer Hitch
0 = Trailer Hitch not installed
1 = Trailer Hitch installed
0xx?x: Headlights
0 = Halogen Headlights
1 = Xenon Headlights
0xxx?: Country
1 = Rest of World
2 = Northern Countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark)
3 = USA
4 = Canada
Now if you try the software configuration changes and your still having issues with;
1. lights, that will result in that your Control Headlight Switch is faulty and needs replacing.
2. If lights work properly but Mirror with Digital Compass still working, check Fuses, cabling to Mirror or it maybe the Mirror itself is dead and requires replacing - its going to be expensive to replace!
Hopefully this helps others out.
Other threads/sites I found useful:
VAG.com information on error codes:
Meister Werks (https://www.facebook.com/MeisterUS)
ross-tech.com (http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page)
Threads on same subject:
Headlight switch info (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/523116-Headlight-switch-info-(-)?highlight=b6+light+switch+issues)
Headlight and mirror issues (http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a4-a4-cabriolet-s4-forum-b6-chassis/80514-head-lights-always-auto-dim-mirror-not-working.html)