My 99 A6 Avant won't let me out.

History. A while back, opening the drivers door with the mechanical key stopped disabling the alarm. Still worked on hatch lock. And radio release worked.

Key radio control stopped working.

Thought battery dead so I replaced it. Unfortunately, without thinking about it I opened the other key to make sure I have the new battery in OK. Now neither electronic keys work. Tried methods to resync keys with no success. Procedures required driver door mechanical key to work correctly; since it had already failed, no joy.

Now no electronic key worked, mechanical key in driver door worked but did not disable alarm. So I just started opening the car from the hatch mechanical lock. Everything OK. Procrastinated about repairs. My copy of the electronic repair manual is off somewhere in aether land after 2 consecutive PC failures and no response from the publisher about reinstall. Audi dealer is 100 miles away. With traffic.

Yesterday. Get in car; notice car relocks when I am putting on my seat belt. Dismiss as "I must have hit the switch". Arrive downtown and try to get out. Every time I try to unlock, it immediately re-locks. Manage to get out. Return and go through similar problem getting in. Now lock system fails to respond to manual key in hatch. So go to driver door knowing it is going to trigger alarm. Physically open door, but lock begins to cycle at a second or two interval. Alarm sounding, lights flashing. Put key in ignition and it stops. Four way flashers still blinking. Apparently I turned them on manually when trying to turn them off manually. Turned off ignition. Now ignition is locked and can't start car. Locks cycling. alarm running. Main street. I am expecting a SWAT team any minute. Passing mechanic sees my plight and stops by. Asks for key through window. I explain that the electronic key does not work. He pushes it and it works fine; except it does not stop the locks cycling. Eventually they stop and I drive home. Fight my way out by trying multiple times to catch the lock cycle between the lock/unlock cycle.

If I can get in to take it to the dealer; getting out is problematic.

Heeeellllp!

 

Try pulling fuses 6 and 38 and see what happens.

Bob

 

Could you tell me what each of those fuses controls please? I would like to know what I am disturbing.

 

I went outside to try the fuse thing. Used the electronic key to open it. Worked fine. Tried it a couple of more times. Open/lock/open all doors/lock/etc. I noticed a couple of nights ago the frogs in the pond suddenly went quiet for a while late at night. Apparently someone snuck in and did an exorcism, or the demon possessing it crept out and went somewhere else.

So I did nothing to fuses. Now I have that ever exciting "intermittent" problem. Audi won't be able to fix it and it will probably recur at the least convenient possible time.

Any further thoughts about finding out what happened?

 

Fuse panels make interesting reading. Water can do the darnest things.

 

In researching, I note there is a related controller module under the carpet in front of the driver seat. Lacking access to my manual, there seem to be 2 bolts in the floor. I presume these need to be removed and the results will be a carpet that comes out. Is it tied down elsewhere? I have had pretty much continuous rain (Pacific NW) and no garage so laying down to look is unappealing. I want to check out contacts.

Another related question. Where is the switch located that tells the system it is an authorized user entering the car when the mechanical lock is used on the driver door? How to get to it? I think the failure of that switch months ago lead to my continued electronic key failure. The procedures I had for resyncing the key all depended on that manual lock working properly.

I hate intermittents. They are the bane of an ordered universe.