the light in/below the ashtray on the 95 A6/S6

[Franco Barber]

Hi,

Just FYI, now I know how to replace the little light bulb
that lights up the ashtray and the little storage cubbyhole
below the ashtray.

Takes a bare bulb with wires sticking out.
I didn't have the right one, but I was able
to take an instrument panel bulb and cut off the
bayonet base and make do with this bulb.

To get to this bulb you have to take out the ashtray.
To take out the ashtray you have to take out the trim around
the climate control head.  To get that out, it really helps to
take out the radio.  It may help to take out the two little
triangular pieces of wood trim on the left/right of the ashtray.

The wooden trim around the climate control head is attached to
a plastic carrier, so it's pretty sturdy.  It's held in place
left and right by two clips.  Because of the carrier, it's pretty
deep.  Maybe 1/4" on top, a little less on bottom.
Just start prying out on the top and bottom and when you've got
it going it pops out.

Once the trim is out, on the left/right bottom where the trim was,
you'll see the screws holding the ashtray in.
Pull them out, and the ashtray comes out.

Attached to the back of the ashtray are two wires with a connector
with the bulb.  It snaps into the back.  The connector holding
the bulb is square, but the orientation is important for light
output.  The sides that stick into the back of the ashtray must
be vertical.

There is about 4" of extra wire back there to give you some slack.

In my case, I had to replace the bulb because it was missing.
It was missing because the dealer tech who disassembled the whole
thing to get at the blower motor probably didn't stop to look
for the wires, connector, and bulb as he was pulling the ashtray out.
The ashtray has to come out for the center console to come out.
The center console has to come out to get at some clips that have
to be loosened under the dash that let the blower box come loose.

In his haste, he probably had the whole thing fly apart and the bulb
break.  Then he forgot to put a new bulb back when re-assembling.
By that time, he had probably lost the little wire back there.

I could have taken the car back to the dealer, and they probably
would have fixed this light thing free, but at a certain point you
just want to do it yourself to keep the car out of the hands of
those expensive German factory trained monkey lads.

Franco


--
Franco Barber                   feb at febsun.cmhnet.org
95 A6Q w/Gamma CD mit RDS!      Columbus, Ohio  USA
95 A6Q 5spd w/HCB-30 bluetooth car kit!