Strange electrical fault

Rolandtheroadie

I'm thinking some relay or the likes, but before I join an Audi forum, I thought I'd throw it out in here.

Brief history. Couple of times my battery had discharged overnight. Checked for current drain and managed to isolate the cause (whatever it is was inside the fuel pump, some sort of heater). Left the fuse pulled.

Roll on a couple of weeks, and my wipers are on when I'm in the house with the keys. Turns out all the electrics were working (windows, indicators, mirrors etc).

They eventually couldnt be operated after a couple of ignition on ignition off cycles. Now before I leave the car, I check whether or not things work with the key out.

So has anyone ever experienced this before? And what was the cause.

It's an Audi 80.

Strider590

Those things were legendary for electrical issues.
In the same way that the Golf mk1/mk2 earn't VW a reputation for reliability, which they no longer deserve.... The 80 earned Audi the "legend" that the electronics are programmed to go into meltdown a few days after the warranty runs out.

There are probably loads of quirky little systems in place (gimmicks/gadgets/etc) which after all these years.
Didn't they have auto rain sensing wipers, for example?

In which case, considering the fuel pump thing, which should come on with the ignition and the wipers which should only work with the ignition on, I would hazard a guess that your ignition is not turning of....... Possible sticking main relay (one of the big heavy duty f*ckers).

atrixblue.-MFR-.

scotsman4th wrote: »

I'm thinking some relay or the likes, but before I join an Audi forum, I thought I'd throw it out in here.

Brief history. Couple of times my battery had discharged overnight. Checked for current drain and managed to isolate the cause (whatever it is was inside the fuel pump, some sort of heater). Left the fuse pulled.

Roll on a couple of weeks, and my wipers are on when I'm in the house with the keys. Turns out all the electrics were working (windows, indicators, mirrors etc).

They eventually couldnt be operated after a couple of ignition on ignition off cycles. Now before I leave the car, I check whether or not things work with the key out.

So has anyone ever experienced this before? And what was the cause.

It's an Audi 80.

time to start tracing wires back from barrel to fusebox, examin the ingnition barrel switch (the black box on end of barrel) i had one of these that decided it wasnt going to turn electrics off only the engine was a quattro that one, and the indicator wiper stalk hub thingy(i call them comms units) steering wheel removal for that one the pins were covered in greeny blue corrotion causing a contact problem not sure if they followed the same wiring curcuit.

Rolandtheroadie

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

time to start tracing wires back from barrel to fusebox, examin the ingnition barrel switch (the black box on end of barrel) i had one of these that decided it wasnt going to turn electrics off only the engine was a quattro that one, and the indicator wiper stalk hub thingy(i call them comms units) steering wheel removal for that one the pins were covered in greeny blue corrotion causing a contact problem not sure if they followed the same wiring curcuit.

Sounds like a good bet, Other things i've noticed is the horn works with the alarm but not when you press it and the electric windows sometimes dont work. I was aware of something behind the steering column for the windows not working so I'll start dismantling tomorrow.