MN-A8

Didn't really want my first post here to be about a problem with my A8 but here it goes...

Picked up my 2005 A8 a few weeks ago and it has been great until last weekend. I noticed that some of the red dash lights went out (vent arrows, red lights on the headlight switch, parking light, ashtray lights and rear vent lights). I have determined that these are run by Fuse 29 (1 amp) but the fuse blows immediately after replacing it.

I have taken a few things apart (the ashtray and rear heated seat controls) looking for burnt out bulbs that were shorting the circuit but just as I expected, everything is LED.

Anyone have any suggestions on where I can start to try and fix this problem?

mishar

Welcome!

Check those middle armrests for lights when opened. I remember somebody having problem with short circuit there.

MN-A8

Never new there were lights in there. I think you may be on to something...

Are they in the armrests themselves? or under where the phone is supposed to go?

mishar

Inside armrests. Wire gets broken and creates a shortcut.

dvs_dave

See this thread:
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho....php?t=2831582

Sounds like an identical problem. Fortunately this guy shared his experience and how to fix it.

MN-A8

Well I took both armrests apart to investigate the short but did not see any visible openings in the wires. I think there may be a shot inside the center metal part that holds both rests up. The previous owner was dumb and put a lot of weight on one side and actually cracked the metal so the arm rest is little more loose than normal.



Ordered 25 1 amp fuses from Ebay so I have enough to use for testing but it looks like moving around the wires may have solved the problem and I now have a red glow in both armrests!

mishar

So it's there somewhere. Try to find it before it comes back.