Hey this is my first post as I am in dire need of good advice. Ok, so i just purchased a 1999 A4(Standard Trans/2.8) in great condition. Car drove perfect. Recently the battery felt weak in this Cold northeast weather so I decided to change it myself. I have been a car enthusiast my whole life and have worked on many cars, but i accidentally did not make perfect contact between the battery terminals(this is what my mechanic explained as to why I fried my ECU and ABS computer/pump). So I was told the engine ECU would be around 1200, and ABS computer/pump to be at 4700!!! I almost had a heart attack seeing as I purchased the car for 6000. Well I went on EBAY and found numerous parts for much cheaper. I found an ECU for 90 dollars and multiple ABS computer/pumps for around 100-200(Go figure). No my questions are 1. Do you think it is plausible that the connection could have causes so much damage. 2.Could anyone point me to some parts you know would work to replace mine? I found many for 1998, but few for 1999. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

What do you mean about "not making perfect contact between the battery terminals"? As for parts, some may interchange between 98 and 99, but it's hard to say, given the changes that were made on these cars every year or two. What you could do for sourcing parts is go to the "for sale" area here and talk to some of the guys parting out cars - you may find a good deal from someone, and maybe even find a local seller. I agree with one thing though - that price is ridiculous. It may well be the list price for those parts, but screw that. Ebay as you said, or check the for sale area here on AudiForums, and I'm sure you can find the parts. I'm assuming you did verify that all fuses and fusible links are OK, right? That's why those parts are fried? Make sure (as in with an ohmmeter, not just visual inspection) that your fuses are all OK - it's possible that something blew out one or more fuses and/or fusible links, and that's why things aren't working now.

 

BTW, I see you're in the Saratoga area - I'm pretty sure there are some Albany-area members of this forum - maybe someone would be willing to meet up with you and help you with the car?