Trouble comes in bunches. I fixed the massive oil leak and now the high and low beams stopped working.

The problem started when I noticed that the headlights went out when I turned on the right directional signal. I could make them go back on by wiggling the switch a little. I stopped for gas and turned the lights off. When I restarted neither the high or low beams would go on. If I used the light flasher they worked. Since it is both high and low beam lights I figure it isn’t a fuse because it would mean that 4 fuses blew at the same time. So I think it is the switch.

Bentley says that I need to remove the steering wheel to get the switch out and it tells me to disable the air bags before messing with the wheel.

It then gives conflicting instructions. In one place it says to remove the battery ground strap. In another place it says to disable the airbags by disconnecting the airbag voltage power supply connector in the passenger side foot well. In a third place it says to disconnect the air bag at the connector in the steering column.

Do I really have to remove the steering wheel to replace the switch and if so HOW DO I DISABLE THE AIR BAGS ????

 

To disable the airbag, just disconnect the battery.

 

I disconnected the battery and touch your finger to the door catch to release the static before you touch it.

 

The Bentley manual for the 1997 A6, under air bags, clairifies that only the older air bags, sometime before 1996, need to have the airbag power disconnected in the area of the passenger footwell. However, this information is omitted from the sections on the instrument panel or the ignition switch.

 

Sometimes a bad ignition switch may result in electrical problems similar to what you are having. The part of the ignition switch that breaks is the electrical contact assembly, which is located behind the instrument panel. It is a cheaper part than the turn signal switch assembly.

 

Thanks, I am 98.75867% sure it is the turn signal/light switch because if I turned the right signal all the way on - beyond the detent - the lights went out, but if I just pushed it part way the signal worked and the lights were OK. I have a used switch assembly comming from Force Five and it only cost about $40.00.

I see what your talking about with Bentley --- I dislike the way they describe things. The guys at Force Five said that I didn't need to disconnect anything except the air bag wire when I got the stearing wheel apart but if I wanted to be extra safe disconnecting the battery would be the best way to go. Give my luck over the past few days, I'll disconnect the battery - drink a beer or two (Sam Adams Double Bock) and take things apart.

I might never get things back together but I'll enjoy the beer!!

 

Something is definitely bad with the switches on all years of Audi. My '90 100 I gave to a grandson will turn off all the lights if you put on the high beams and hit a bump.

Bought a boneyard replacement for 25 bucks, gave it to my mechs to replace for him, they said I bought the wrong one. Sent him home. When I asked if they replaced it they told me that the one I bought didn't have (or did have) the "4-way stalk" on it, explained to them that they were all made in 2 halves. Pull 2 screws to split the left and right halves apart, slip the part you need into the good part and replace the screws.

Anyhow, my mechs do not remove the battery cable. Pull the horn pad, disconnect the airbag connector, pull off the wheel, then the light switch assembly.

Assemble in reverse.

Mine own '97 A6, when you turned on the left turn signal, high beams went on. Illegal as well as annoying. There, again, 25 bucks.

Again, you don't HAVE to disconnect the batt, but if it DOES go off, you didn't hear it from me. They assure me they never do, but they never told me that they don't have to do that "since the '94 model year" of anything.

Keep your face out of the way. I think it would be like getting hit with a good right hook if things go wrong.

Live large.

Cheers,

George

BTW, a month or so ago, my lights quit on me. High beams worked. PITA driving down the road with finger on the stalk to get home, besides blinding people. Got home, shut off the ignition, restarted, everything OK ever since. Think a relay didn't pull in. Restart might have been in order from the start.

 

Also, when the airbag is off DO NOT place it face down. If, in the VERY rare chance, static causes it to blow, a face down airbag, will launch itself like a rocket... possibility of much damage to anything (anyone) in the way.

Odds are it will not do anything but just place it face up without anything on top of it.

 

m0000,

You got a point. That big bag blowing up when attached to the wheel makes a big poke you in the jaw balloon. 2 pounds of bag base upside down will blow that 2 pounds up in the air like a cannon ball. Your head's in the way, kiss your tush goodbye.

My mechs hang it on the rearview mirror if there is enough wire. They don't like to unplug them. Unfortunately, when they changed my switch out, my "Airbag" light came on and they cannot get it to go out, and neither they nor my boneyard can say why.

They both say they did not break the clockspring, but the light is on, and I don't know how to get it to go off.

Cheers,

George

 

Thanks for the added comments... I heard about the clockspring but didn't think alot about it until it was mentioned here. One Audi World DIY write-up

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec162.shtml

said that it was best to use a piece of tape to hold the spring inplace because its position is critical. I'll see what happens when I begin taking things apart.