[s-cars] Avoid after market ignition switches and Autocheck question

[Robert Rossato]

The three beeps occur when the more serious warning lights come on in
the Auto-check.  These are coolant level is low, engine temp is high, or
oil pressure is low.  I'm thinking you're low on coolant level.

Bob

> -----Original Message-----
> From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com 
> [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Bill de Alva
> Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 6:52 PM
> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Subject: [s-cars] Avoid after market ignition switches and 
> Autocheck question
> 
> 
> This is an update to a post I made several months ago.
>  I had two after market ignition switches fail in one
> month. Word to the wise...  go OEM when replacing the
> electrical portion of the ignition switch in Audis.
> 
> I have not been able to bring my autocheck display
> back to life.  I found a rather complex trouble
> shooting protocol in the Bently manual.  I do not have
> the required test equipment, so it may just stay dark.
>  
> 
> A new symptom appeared recently after replacing the
> ignition switch for the second time.  A short time (2
> - 4 minutes) after starting the engine, three longish
> (1-second) beeps come from the area of the instrument
> panel.  Often the three beep tones will repeat one or
> two times with about 30 seconds pause between.  This
> only happens when the engine is cold or the first time
> the car is started each day. 
> 
> I'm fairly certain the beeps are intended to call call
> one's attention to a warning on the autocheck display
> (which is dead).  My first thought was low washer
> fluid.  Topping up that tank did not stop the beep
> tones.  Fuel, oil, temperature and lights (running,
> brake, turn and headlights) all appear to be ok.  What
> else should I check?
> 
> Does anyone know if there are distinct beep tones for
> different errors that would normally be displayed on
> the autocheck or does any error produce the three
> tones?  I assume there may be error codes that could
> be read with the proper diagnostic tool.  Can anyone
> recommend an aftermarket tool and or software + laptop
> patch cord that would allow me to read error codes?
> 
> Thanks in advance for any help!
> 
> Bill
> '95 S6
> '91 200 Turbo Quatro
> 
> 
> Bill de Alva wrote:
> 
>     Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2005 21:13:00 -0700 (PDT)
>     From: Bill de Alva
>     Subject: '95 S6 Electrical Problems Compounding
>     To: S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> 
>     Hi All,
>      
>     I have a growing list of electrical problems. 
> First, my ignition switch went bad.  The spring broke
> so the switch did not return from the start position. 
> I lived with this for a couple of months, remembering
> to manually turn the switch back each time the car was
> started.  There is a service bulletin on this problem
> that convinced me that I did not want to tackle
> replacement of the switch (involves removing the
> steering wheel and dash).
>      
>     So... I had my local mechanic replace the switch. 
> Just before delivering the car to my mechanic, the
> autocheck display died.  My mechanic checked the bulbs
> that back light the autocheck display and replaced the
> display with a used one from a wrecked car.  The
> display is still dead.
>      
>     I drove the car for a couple hundred miles with
> the new ignition switch.  Yesterday, when I turned the
> car off, the fresh air blower stayed on.  The back
> light to the emergency flasher switch also stayed on. 
> I had to pull the fuse for the blower to keep the
> battery from going dead.
>      
>     I somehow suspect all these problems are related. 
> Obviously, the most pressing problem is the fresh air
> blower staying on.  I suspect the blower problem is
> related to the ignition switch replacement.  I know
> the heater control module has a self diagnostic
> function but I doubt that will help as the blower
> still runs when the heater control is off.
>      
>     My instinct is that electrical problems of this
> magnitude would best be dealt with by a mechanic
> equipped and trained for all the diagnostic procedures
> described in the manual.  Unfortunately, the service
> manager at the nearest Audi dealer told me he no
> longer has any mechanics trained to service the '95 S6
> and recommended several independent mechanics instead.
>  I've used several of the recommended mechanics, most
> of whom seem to be very good at dealing with
> mechanical issues but somewhat lost when it comes to
> tracing electrical problems.
>      
>     Any suggestions regarding the source of the
> problem with the fresh air blower or the name of a
> mechanic expert in electrical problems would be
> greatly appreciated.
>      
>     Thanks again for any help,
>     Bill de Alva
> 
> 
> 		
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