2003 Audi A4 Quattro ABS/brake light & Misc question

[general lopez]

Need help, I bought this car last September for $3500 with 120k miles. I have put 10k miles on it have dumped 2k in at this point. It was running real good until late may of this year and then its been problem after problem, some I think the shop I had working on it created. Now I have the ABR and brake light coming intermittently and it causes the speedometer to go out since there tied together.

The shop I had working on it thought it was the speed sensor so they changed it out and $300 later that was not the problem. They quoted me $2700 for a new ABR module not including labor, they stated thats how much the dealership sells it to them for. It just seems after almost 9 months of no issues once they made the first repair changing the crankshaft sensor, its been downhill with other issues heater hoses, crankshaft sensor, coolant sensor etc. There a good shop for my other non foreign cars but struggle with this one.

I talked to the only foreign car shop locally and they wanted a couple hundred to pull the ABR to get the part number and said they would not send it out to get rebuilt but would put a new one in. What concerned me he stated Audi's at that mileage typically have the turbos go out. Any truth to that?

What does everyone recommend, is rebuilding the ABR a bad move? I don't want to spend 2k plus to try and fix the ABR for a car this old especially at the rate I'm going with repairs. Can I get this repair done for under 1k?

Also had the check engine light go off again yesterday with the code P0507 air control system, but it ended up going away by the end of the day.

[hightime80]

They are ripping ypu off. Peopke get their ABS midule rebuilt all the time. Myself included i have had it done twice in 2 different b6s. And 300 bucks to pull the module? Noway. Its a 15 minute job. A little awkward but doable with a ling torx bit.

[Cybersombosis]

Save your money and do the work yourself. There are many videos and the forum here to help you. If you don’t think you can do it, you can. You just have to change your thinking. If you have deep pockets and like to give your money away, carry on.

For me, it all started with an oil change when the local Mr. Lube left me with a big puddle of oil on the street. I swore to never take it back to a shop unless absolutely necessary. 20 years later, I’m pulling engines and transmissions and rebuilding them. Who would have thought.

[general lopez]

No do not have the money to keep dropping on the car like that. I just talked to a Audi car specialist out of Chicago who was checking on my ABS being rebuilt. He finally got back to me and said his guy does not rebuild one my cars age. Does anyone have a place I could send it to be rebuilt that has a good reputation?

[9744RR]

ABS module is an easy swap 10-15mins. You'll also need a VAGCOM. I got my ABS module from a guy here on Audizine for $60. Search for ABS module and his name will come up along with a lot of other useful info.

[Cybersombosis]

I believe Module Masters rebuilds them. At least for the B5 I’ve heard.

[hightime80]

Search audi abs midule rebuild on ebay. Thats where i got mine done.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

ABS module is an easy swap 10-15mins. You'll also need a VAGCOM. I got my ABS module from a guy here on Audizine for $60. Search for ABS module and his name will come up along with a lot of other useful info.

I think that was me, yes? Any way, I've got a couple on the shelf. Just send me a PM. As others have said, realize that the module will need to be re-flashed. It's pretty straight-forward with VCDS.

[general lopez]

Thank you everyone for your responses. Also is the any certain Diagnostic Scanner that works best for Audi's? And is there any truth that the turbos go out around the 130k range?

[Turbo510]

I wouldn't be so certain about the ABS module without scanning it for fault codes, using an appropriate scan tool such as Ross-Tech's VCDS. They are about $200 and well-worth the cost. My advice is to change the brake light switch first. They fail and cause problems like you described- and only $9.62 at autohausaz for instance.

The turbo certainly could be bad at 130K. We had a Passat which needed it replaced due to a burned-out wastegate. An aftermarket unit costing about $120 worked fine as long as we had the car.

[Dr.B6Banter]

Like others have said getting a VCDS cable and the appropriate software will let you diagnose issues on your own and decide if you want to tackle it yourself or not.

Taking the module out is pretty easy, just have to finesse it out because its a bit tight and like others have said a long torx bit will help a lot. There are just 6 torx bolts holding it on (T25 I think). Removing the top part of the washer bottle gives you loads more room and it should just pop off when you pull on it (may be a bolt holding it on)

I'm assuming if the mechanics replaced a speed sensor, they did it because there was a code for one of the speed sensors. A code for one of the speed sensors with speedo intermittently cutting out is classic symptoms for a bad ABS module and its the exact symptoms I was having before I had my module repaired. The modules usually fail in the same way so unless you can find a replacement for really cheap and can code it to your car with a vcds cable having it repaired would be the better way to go. I think I paid around $200 to have mine repaired because I didn't have a vcds cable back then to just get one from the yard and put it onto my car.

[9744RR]

I think that was me, yes? Any way, I've got a couple on the shelf. Just send me a PM. As others have said, realize that the module will need to be re-flashed. It's pretty straight-forward with VCDS.

...

[general lopez]

I'm assuming if the mechanics replaced a speed sensor, they did it because there was a code for one of the speed sensors. A code for one of the speed sensors with speedo intermittently cutting out is classic symptoms for a bad ABS module and its the exact symptoms I was having before I had my module repaired. The modules usually fail in the same way so unless you can find a replacement for really cheap and can code it to your car with a vcds cable having it repaired would be the better way to go. I think I paid around $200 to have mine repaired because I didn't have a vcds cable back then to just get one from the yard and put it onto my car.

Thanks again everyone for the help so far. Would the speed sensor code still be showing if they replaced it with a new one? I ran a regular scan myself yesterday not a ross tech scan, and the speed sensor code still comes up. its the only code showing. i didn't know if it still shows that code if the ABS is bad or if it should show a different code for a bad abs system. Just want to make sure the shop didn't replace the speed sensor with a bad one and thats why the ABS issue is still happening.

[general lopez]

I wouldn't be so certain about the ABS module without scanning it for fault codes, using an appropriate scan tool such as Ross-Tech's VCDS. They are about $200 and well-worth the cost. My advice is to change the brake light switch first. They fail and cause problems like you described- and only $9.62 at autohausaz for instance.

Tried this today, and swapped out for a new one, unfortunately it did not work, thank you for the suggestion though.

[general lopez]

So I have a update, I bought a module from DPD from the boards here (TY) and took it to my mechanic who swore they could reprogram. Well they said they hooked it up to my car just the electric hookup and didn't take it apart and install. They tested there software to reprogram and couldn't do it. They told me just come pick it up they couldn't reprogram it with no charge. Unfortunately now i have the brake light flashing along with the ABS/ESP being permanently on. I am now getting the code 01044 control module incorrectly coded, never got that code before.

Did the shop mess up my current ABS module, where it needs to be programmed now on top of being rebuilt? Having trouble finding a shop that can reprogram the new one, so I may need to send the old out to be rebuilt.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I don't like making judgments about someone I've never met, but from what you've indicated your mechanic doesn't sound terribly competent. What is he using to try to reprogram the modules? Regardless, it sounds like he's given up, and maybe that's for the best. I would try to find someone local to you who is handy with VCDS. It's really not that difficult. I'm no mechanic and I figured out how to reprogram several ABS modules.

[Cybersombosis]

You should really get an eBay cable and the free version of VCDS and do it yourself. No time like the present to learn and you will save yourself the headache of sending it to the garage let alone the money you’ll save. If programming is as simple as the below link, then there really is no mystery to it.

[general lopez]

I don't like making judgments about someone I've never met, but from what you've indicated your mechanic doesn't sound terribly competent. What is he using to try to reprogram the modules? Regardless, it sounds like he's given up, and maybe that's for the best. I would try to find someone local to you who is handy with VCDS. It's really not that difficult. I'm no mechanic and I figured out how to reprogram several ABS modules.

Completely agree, I'm done with them

You should really get an eBay cable and the free version of VCDS and do it yourself. No time like the present to learn and you will save yourself the headache of sending it to the garage let alone the money you’ll save. If programming is as simple as the below link, then there really is no mystery to it.

What type of cable from ebay? And where do I go for the free software?

[Cybersombosis]

Just look for a VCDS cable on eBay or Amazon. I bought my last cable for $6 Canadian. Go to the Rosstech website and download VCDS lite, the free version. You’ll have to run it on a Windows machine.

[general lopez]

Just look for a VCDS cable on eBay or Amazon. I bought my last cable for $6 Canadian. Go to the Rosstech website and download VCDS lite, the free version. You’ll have to run it on a Windows machine.

Thank you

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Just look for a VCDS cable on eBay or Amazon. I bought my last cable for $6 Canadian. Go to the Rosstech website and download VCDS lite, the free version. You’ll have to run it on a Windows machine.

Are you sure you can use the free version of VCDS to do the ABS coding? My recollection is that it won't do that, but maybe I'm wrong, or maybe they give more away now?

[Cybersombosis]

Sorry you are probably right. With the money the OP spends on mechanics, they can buy their own tools and licences. $99 for a VCDS lite licence.

[Dr.B6Banter]

Are you sure you can use the free version of VCDS to do the ABS coding? My recollection is that it won't do that, but maybe I'm wrong, or maybe they give more away now?

I was able to code the ABS module in my car from auto to manual with my eBay cable and freeware vcds lite but there was a recent post of someone trying to do this swap with the unregistered version of vcds lite and they weren't able to do all the coding if I recall correctly.

[9744RR]

To reprogram the ABS Module, you'll need the VCDS/VAGCOM with a full license. One lap around the block/parking lot will be enough to reprogram the module. It's worth the investment if you have a VW/Audi

[general lopez]

To reprogram the ABS Module, you'll need the VCDS/VAGCOM with a full license. One lap around the block/parking lot will be enough to reprogram the module. It's worth the investment if you have a VW/Audi

So will the $99 version work?

[seanf86]

So will the $99 version work?

yes, you need a full version for it to re program an abs module. You can do it with some other scan tools as well, I've got an Autel scanner and it does just as much as vcds on the B6s I just programmed an abs module with it a few weeks ago.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

yes, you need a full version for it to re program an abs module.

Your answer is ambiguous. The $99 version is "VCDS Lite" i.e. NOT the "full version".

Going from memory, I believe VCDS Lite will NOT program the ABS unit, but I may be wrong. Best to check with Ross-Tech.

[general lopez]

Your answer is ambiguous. The $99 version is "VCDS Lite" i.e. NOT the "full version".

Going from memory, I believe VCDS Lite will NOT program the ABS unit, but I may be wrong. Best to check with Ross-Tech.

Bought the $99 this morning. It allowed me to fix my current ABS module with the proper soft code so i could reset the steering angle calibration, and fix what the shop messed up. So now i have the brake light off and back to the just ABS module going in and out with the speedometer. Plan to change out the ABS module this weekend and hopefully it allows me to program the new one i got. Is it a standard login code (04277) to access the basic settings in the new Abs module? My other codes to login and the soft code ABS module should be what they are now currently, correct?