Dash Display flicker and momentary stutter at startup

[rraj2k9]

Hello every one,

When I start the car, there seems to be a very small but identifiable stutter as well as the dash LCD display flicker very briefly. When it started happening a few days ago the display would flicker but now it would go blank and come back up. When I open and enter the car the display would be on without any issues, only when I start the car. But I don't notice the speedometer display nor the MMI experiencing this.

Once the car is started and driving never experience any flicker.

As for the stutter, this does not feel any much more different than what it used to be, but ever since the flicker started happening noticing the stutter a bit too.

Since my car is under CPO I am going to let Audi figure this one out, but I won't be able to get the car in till next week and I have a road trip planned for our long weekend this week. Should I be concerned about taking the car on a road trip with this issue.

Appreciate any advise.

[LYKUNO]

More info might be helpful. Is the "stutter" an audible sound? If you just put the car in the "accessories" mode (i.e., push the start button without your foot on the brake (if equipped with start button), or just insert the key fully into the ignition, without starting the engine), do you observe the same issues (stutter and LCD display flicker)? Or does this anomaly only occur when the engine is started?

It doesn't seem likely that the issue would prevent starting/running, to the degree that it would prevent using it for a road trip, unless the "stutter" is something that occurs when the engine is cranking over (perhaps the starter going bad?). How old is the car, how many miles, and is the battery original? Can you check it (VAGCOM) for any codes that may have been triggered on the electrical/electronic components? What are the results from that? You might want to consider scanning it before leaving for your road trip. Do let us know what happens.

[rraj2k9]

It's a 2011 with 98000Kms. I am not sure if the battery was replaced but I bought it CPO'ed at 71000KM, so I am asuming the battery would have been replaced.

So today I went out to start the car and get some more info and now the car would not even start. When I first started it, the engine cranked and then died. It showed an error stating "Adaptive Headlight failure". But all the instrument cluster and the MMI screen powers on and comes up. The audio also comes up.

Now the car is not even cranking. The gas pedal is in a completely pressed state.

I am getting the car towed to the dealership today.

[LYKUNO]

I'd suspect the battery is going (or has gone). I've got a 2011 still on the original battery, so it's probably getting close to needing a replacement. I'm not surprised to see erratic errors coming up (i.e., the adaptive headlight failure) - low voltage conditions can cause weird symptoms. Keep us posted on the resolution.

[rraj2k9]

Yeah everything points to the battery. Little by little most of the powered systems are going away now.

The Audi roadside assistance / CAA was here and they could not get it cranked, even with their truck. Looks like the battery is gone and my parking brake is engaged, so can't move the car to get it hooked to the tow truck.

Any one know how I can manually dis-engage the parking brakes ?

If I were to swing by the dealership and grab a new battery is it as simple as taking the old one out and putting the new one in ? I am reading about coding the new battery, would it be an issue ?

[LYKUNO]

Wow, at least it didn't die on a long road trip! There are a few links out there on the battery replacement and coding (here and here).

As far as releasing the e-brake, I'm surprised that using jumper cables wouldn't have provided the voltage needed to release the brakes. I've heard that the alternative is "... you have to remove the EPB mechanisms from the back of the calipers via two torx bolts." Hmmm, there's also a RossTech Wiki on opening the rear parking brake (this is for an A6 but may be similar for S4) here. Perhaps others here can chime in with a better solution.

Edit - a possible solution to releasing the e-brakes at this thread. I would consider trying this as a last resort.

[rraj2k9]

Wow, at least it didn't die on a long road trip! There are a few links out there on the battery replacement and coding (here and here).

As far as releasing the e-brake, I'm surprised that using jumper cables wouldn't have provided the voltage needed to release the brakes. I've heard that the alternative is "... you have to remove the EPB mechanisms from the back of the calipers via two torx bolts." Hmmm, there's also a RossTech Wiki on opening the rear parking brake (this is for an A6 but may be similar for S4) here. Perhaps others here can chime in with a better solution.

Edit - a possible solution to releasing the e-brakes at this thread. I would consider trying this as a last resort.

Hey LYKUNO,

Thanks for the info on the EPB module. I am going to try it out and see.

Yeah, tried boosting with my wife's Ford and the tow truck nothing was able to boost the battery. Either the battery is completely dead or neither of them are generating enough power to boost this battery. Going to see if I can grab a portable booster to boost the battery.

All the battery replacement thread talk about coding but I do not have VCDS, but then again they say it might not be an issue in the short term. If I can get the car started then I can get it coded at Audi.

What is even more frustrating is neither of the tow trucks that were sent by Audi Road Side Assistance (CAA) had the necessary tools to jack up my car and put them on tows.

[rraj2k9]

Ok So finally this has been taken care of.

In the morning I called the dealership I take it for my regular service, and their response was until Audi Road care can tow your car to the dealership it's not out problem. So I called another dealership and the service manager took down my number and called Audi Roadside personally. 30 minutes later the big flat bad truck shows up at my doorstep and in a matter of seconds he was able to boost my car. I then drive the car to the second dealership with the tow truck right behind me.

So now I have my car back with a brand new battery and the 100,000 KM service completed and ready to take on the long weekend road trip.

So if you ever get stranded some where needing a boost for this car or a tow, just ask for the big flat bad truck. Looks like those are the only trucks that are strong enough to boost our cars.

[14S4GWM]

"Jumping" a car in US and it's "boosting" a car in Canada?