A6Q Electrical Gremlins

[jwaterstreet at tds.net]

Wife's 2001 A6Q with 2.7T started blowing the S14 (10A) fuse, which knocks out interior lights, power windows won't work, alarm horn won't beep.  You know when the fuse blows as the dash displays three doors open (all except the driver's door).

I have the Bentley wiring diagram, have inserted test fuses in series with the red/blue wire going into the Control Module for central locking. (it blows at this point indicating the problem is either in the module or downstream).  Yesterday I put a fuse in series with the wire coming out of the module that goes to the lighting system.  It still blows the fuse going into the module.  I haven't tried any other wires yet.

I beginning to suspect the Control Module is toast.  Anyone else heard of this problem?  Anyone have a source for the module besides full price at the dealer?  I understand I will need to program it with VAG-COM or equivalent.

Thanks,  Jeff