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Audi A4 2002 and later, S4 2004 and later, RS4 2007 and later (B6) Xenon dipped beam 2004 A4


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Last Post: Mar 1, 2010 9:00 AM Last Post By: norse
norse

Posts: 32
Registered: 06/23/08
Xenon dipped beam 2004 A4
Posted: Apr 26, 2009 7:05 AM
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"Old faithful", my wives car has never let us down - until now. Lost right side dipped beam. New bulb, but still no light. Measured current to the bulb, fluctuating from zero to approximate five volts.
The old bulb was discolored and had probably short so I tried to find fuses. There are no fuses at loc 20 and 21 and has never been! I know that some of these cars - our is German version - has a different layout according to kind of illumination. My VAG dealer says the right fuse is no 31, but not so on our car. So where are the fuses located? And where is the controlunit for the illumination?? Behind the fusebox? Are there fuses for right and left side? But if a fuse has blown, there should be no current at all. It seems as if our A4 from january 2004 has the same layout for dipped beam as the 2005 model. The xenon bulbs has a "box" where the electric connector is located as from 2005 on. And to top it all, no faults in memory.
So....???
diagnosticator1

Posts: 155
Registered: 03/22/05
Re: Xenon dipped beam 2004 A4
Posted: May 1, 2009 5:15 AM   in response to: norse in response to: norse
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There are no fuses for the headlights. The Central Vehicle Electric Control Module controls all of the exterior lighting circuits. It is located to the left of the pedals, above a horizontal row of relays. You can scan the CVECM for fault codes, but may not show any stored DTCs. Regardless, make sure the harness connectors are all OK, especially at the headlight housing.
The failure of the CVECM is not uncommon, and when it happens it is manifest in unique symptoms for each module failure, but generally is by strange behavior or complete failure of operation of one or several lighting functions.
Besides the power supply to the headlight from the CVECM, the ballast for the effected low beam (Dipped,) headlight could be the problem component. It is located mounted to the headlight housing on the bottom. There is no direct diagnostics available, if suspected faulty, a replacement will be the only way to confirm. Did you measure voltage at the HID lamp base harness connector? If that is correct, the ballast is the most likely suspect, but be aware that there is very high voltage used with HID lamps, so extra caution is required. To isolate the ballast as the failed part, try swapping the ballast from the left side headlight and test. If the right side dipped headlight works with the left side ballast, then that proves the right side ballast must be replaced. To avoid a auto headlight range control system error, test with both headlight electrical connectors attached to the headlights, the ballast on the left side does not need to be present during the test,(but being absent temporarily used on the right side, a dipped headlight warning for the left headlight will occur during the test,) to evaluate the right side headlight.
norse

Posts: 32
Registered: 06/23/08
Re: Xenon dipped beam 2004 A4
Posted: May 2, 2009 5:26 AM   in response to: diagnosticator1 in response to: diagnosticator1
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Thank you, I will investigate as you suggest.
Norse
rensho

Posts: 31
Registered: 04/28/08
Re: Xenon dipped beam 2004 A4
Posted: Nov 19, 2009 12:59 PM   in response to: norse in response to: norse
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Any more info on this, and or results?

My 2005.5 A4 xenon with adaptive, dips on either left or right. There is little rhyme and reason to how and when it turns off. Turning the light switch off/on, will resolve it for good, or only for minutes. This is a huge safety issue.
norse

Posts: 32
Registered: 06/23/08
Re: Xenon dipped beam 2004 A4
Posted: Mar 1, 2010 9:00 AM   in response to: rensho in response to: rensho
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Sorry for no reply, I have been abroad for a while. The main reason for my malfunctioning lights were moist in the lamp due to leaking gasket in the ballast. The ballast was corroded inside. But your problem is somewhat different from mine, it seems. Bad contact or ground?
Good luck!
Norse

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