Audi A4 problem Help

yeayeayea

Hello I Bought a 2003 Audi A4 1.9 Tdi yesterday, I checked the car out completly before I purchased it and everything seemed fine. It seemed like a very clean car and everything was running perfect. I drove the car back from cork to dublin and it drove great the whole way back.

When I got back I decided to wash it and thats when the trouble started. The car suddenly cut out and when I went to start it it wouldnt turn over. The battery light the abs light and the engine warning light were on. I got a friend of mine to push it and we managed to start it but these lights were still on and no electrics would work in the car at all. I got the car home turned it off tried to turn it on and it wouldnt start.

Does anybody have any idea what this could be im praying its just the battery because it wouldnt turn over at all. Thanks Very much.

sunnysoutheast

yeayeayea wrote: »

Hello I Bought a 2003 Audi A4 1.9 Tdi yesterday, I checked the car out completly before I purchased it and everything seemed fine. It seemed like a very clean car and everything was running perfect. I drove the car back from cork to dublin and it drove great the whole way back.

When I got back I decided to wash it and thats when the trouble started. The car suddenly cut out and when I went to start it it wouldnt turn over. The battery light the abs light and the engine warning light were on. I got a friend of mine to push it and we managed to start it but these lights were still on and no electrics would work in the car at all. I got the car home turned it off tried to turn it on and it wouldnt start.

Does anybody have any idea what this could be im praying its just the battery because it wouldnt turn over at all. Thanks Very much.

When you washed it did you use a hose/power washer or a carwash - i.e. loads of water at once?

A4s (and the related Passats) have a serious problem with water pooling in the battery area due to drains becoming blocked - google "plenum chamber drains" - this water can then overflow into the passenger compartment although the electrical symptoms are usually alarm/window issues. Check to see if the passenger footwell carpets are damp. Take off the battery cover (and if you're confident the plastic shroud - remove the rubber seal running across the width of the car first) and have a look in with a torch to see if there's water or signs of it under the battery or the brake cylinder.

It could just be a dud battery and washing the car not the cause, but you'll need to check the drains are clear anyway.

SSE

yeayeayea

Thanks very much for the answer, I think you might be on to something because it was a very powerfull power hose i used and the car cut out straight away. Thanks Again.

sunnysoutheast

yeayeayea wrote: »

Thanks very much for the answer, I think you might be on to something because it was a very powerfull power hose i used and the car cut out straight away. Thanks Again.

No problems, I learnt from experience.......let me know if it was the problem.

If/when you do get a new battery clear the drain under it when you take the old one out. Changing the battery is not really a job for the amateur on these cars BTW.

SSE

yeayeayea

My dad picked me up a battery this morning and hes going to fit it for me when I finish work. Just one other question for you if water has got into the battery area and if i manage to drain it should the car be ok or will i need to get any electrics replaced. Thanks Again.

sunnysoutheast

yeayeayea wrote: »

My dad picked me up a battery this morning and hes going to fit it for me when I finish work. Just one other question for you if water has got into the battery area and if i manage to drain it should the car be ok or will i need to get any electrics replaced. Thanks Again.

It depends, the water gets in through the ventilation system and runs down into the floorpans under the carpets - the problem being that it then corrodes the units down there - this a generic flaw affecting older Passats, A4, A6, some Seats etc. - so there are different units. I had to get a new convenience unit for a 99 Passat a few years ago and that cost me hundreds. Newer cars apparently have the units in waterproof boxes.

I'd suggest trying the new battery and checking the drains and carpets. If the carpets are damp then it might be worth taking the car to an auto electrician to take a look.

Also I'm not sure how handy your dad is but replacing a battery in these cars is fiddly, you need some fairly specialist tools to get some of the parts off as access is difficult. You need to take the whole plastic cover off.

SSE