2006 Audi A6 won't start

[Kent McLean]

Vic Norman wrote:
> My wife's 2006 A6 decided not to start today. Turning the ignition key to start has absolutely no effect - no ignition lights showing, nothing. Pretty much what you would see if  you tried to start the car while it was in gear.

Audi’s are know for ignition switches going bad. On the earlier cars (1989 200 and 1996 A6 come to mind), the switch is in two halves - the key goes the front half, and the back half contains the electrics. There’s a small plastic collar between the two that breaks, causing the problem you describe. There is also a shift interlock integrated in with the switch.

Here’s a link to how to replace a switch on an A8. Your A6 should be similar.

  http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/electrical_equipment/ignswitchreplace.html

If that’s your problem, get an OEM switch from the dealer; the aftermarket ones don’t last.

—
Kent McLean
’02 VW Beetle TDI and lots of ex-Audis, including Bad Puppy