Flasher unit DIY repair (part 8Z0 941 509 B)

Well guys you all have my admiration as I went a bought the part from Audi today and I'm damned if I can remove my unit.

Got the tray out no probs but the cable attached to the relay wont budge - I'm nearly drawing blood and I can just about hear the clips undo but wiggling the cable makes no difference, other than when I hear the clips click back into place.

Even if I get the cable unclipped I have no idea how Im going to press the clips down to remove the faulty unit.

The space you have to work with is minute and mine is mounted the opposite way round to those pictured (the cable connector on mine is on the left).

Looks like I may have to visit the local stealer to get them to do it, as I'm only going to end up damaging the interior if I carry on.

What kind of financial damage am I looking at for Audi to do it? Couple of hours labour?

Paul
 
well pjrouse and A2rushy I'm with you guys-- the job is a right pain. i gave a good pint of blood i reckon lol. it took me about 1.5 hours to get the job done--good job i don't have a swear box in my car !
if its any help i ended up using some long screw drivers to release the unit from the dash mount. be carefully as the strips that locate the flasher unit are quite easy to snap.
i wish i had known about the komfort blinker part as i would have replaced it with one of those but I'm not going through all that again.
cheers mike
 
Right, I'm presuming that someone has taken the bits out before as the cubby came out pretty easy as did the aircon unit..

That and the fact I found this...
thing.jpg



Anyway, this might be useful for others if they have to wait for the replacement relay to turn up. I bent the connector back a bit inside the relay, seems to have fixed it, not sure how much mileage I'll get from this but it'll give me a few days to get the part.

Have circled the bit I bent.
Its easy enough to pop the relay open, take off the two metal clip things and then you cna get to the clips that hold the relay together, small flat head screwdriver, wiggle, pull and your in..
Then literally just stuck a screwdriver in the gap and just twisted the screwdriver a bit to increase the gap between the contacts.

relay.jpg
 
Hmm, you went and did all the job to take the whole thing out and pop it open, but you didn't change the relay...:( Even though you moved the bridge closer, it will soon fail again because the bridge has been electrically corroded and will not have a sufficient area of contact.
If you have a minimal soldering know how you could change the relay (1-2E max price) and get yourself a brand spanking new flasher unit. The relay is the only mobile part of the flasher and is the only thing that you can really repair yourself in case it goes wrong.
In case you have any doubts about the specs for the relay, take the whole thing to your local electronics shop and ask them to give you a replacement.
If you read my post above, you should see all the steps required.
 
It literally takes about 2 minutes to take the dash bits out and get to the relay, then about another minute to get the relay out, as I said, I presumed someone has been in there before..
I opened the relay up a bit, not closed it, and as I said it was a temporary solution until I had the part, I was simply giving suggestion to people here that they could do the same as a stop gap..
As it happens I'm still running with my temp fix and it still works.
 
Right, I'm presuming that someone has taken the bits out before as the cubby came out pretty easy as did the aircon unit..

That and the fact I found this...
thing.jpg


...


LOL, you found yourself an ICELink hidden in there!
 
it is and I have one too! But the ipod dock connector end seems to be yanked out and you don't have the harness at the other end to connect to the headunit...
 
Indicator relay has broken in mine too. Actually it has been for a while now. I have seats with heaters so it seems to be quite hard to even get to the relay. Now that I have to do this anyway I was motivated enough to go for the confort blinker too. So I ordered one today. Regarding the broken relay I'm still thinking whether I replace it with new unit or then just solder a new relay there.

Now that I need to remove the box anyway I try swapping the seat heater wires with each other as they have been somehow wired wrongly: The driver side seat is currently controlled by the passanger side knob and vice versa. Not bad once you know where the correct knob is but I'm tired of explaining it to every new passanger trying to find the knob :rolleyes:
 
I got the relay out today. Removing the storage compartment was somewhat different than shown in many pictures of this thread. This is because of the seat heaters which make the removement procedure somewhat different than the larger box without the knobs.

I removed first the trim/frame of the storage compartment and then used wires as hooks surround the 4 snaps that keep the storage compartment fixed. I used a pulling tool to support the removal once the snaps were ready to come smoothly at the plastic edge. I don't think additional tools are necessary once the snaps are taken care of. I used it because I had done one while I was still trying to remove the box by applying more force :rolleyes:

One comment for anybody with the heater knobs: forget the pictures with a pulling tool and drilled holes on the back top face of the storage compartment. If you have knobs force won't help really. The snaps are different than those of the larger box without knobs: They need to be pushed towards the compartment tray.
 
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Never ceases to amaze me, how daft Helfrauds employees can be.

There's 4 slots in your radio, so why would 2 keys do? I once couldn't help myself when I saw 2 of their staff tugging away at a Golfs window winders - they were trying to remove them so that they could take the door card off and fit new speakers.

The force they were using was in danger of braking the handles clean off, so I asked if they were having a little trouble. 'Oh, no. The plastic has just jammed that's all!'

I went over to the car, squeezed the sides of the winder with a thumb and forefinger and they slid off.

I then walked away leaving a bemused pair of spanner monkeys behind me!

Priceless.

Cheers,

Mike
Been reading all the way through this thread and know I now need a knew Indicator Control Module.

Then I read your post Mike and just laughed....

I think it were the words 'Spanner' & 'Monkey' that did it for me, oh and immagining the same thing happening down at my local branch (I still go in there though - just looking....)

Thanks,
Justin.
 
I have been reading through this very interesting and informative thread.

And had a good laugh at the above post:D

Cheers

David
 
New Flasher Relay Unit - Still No Indicators :(

:confused:

I just spent £37, yep you read that correctly, £37 on a new Flasher Unit and it still hasnt fixed my Indicators (wifes going mad as she drives the car most now) so are most drivers around her :mad:

The problem I found was that upon opening my Unit, my car being a 2000 Xreg seems to have closed from view relays, not like the 'see-thru' ones posted here. So I couldnt do a visual check to see if they where not working. I couldnt hear them working either, so just presumed that the entire module was kaput! as it has quite a lot going on in there in addition to the relays. My problem for not knowing the basic electrical skills to check the unit.

Anyone out there had any 'Indicator' problems and nailed it down to something else? I,m wondering if its the Indicator Stalk on the steering column now?? Reason also being my 'main beam' isnt working either (Nightmare, having to run on spots and high beam - sorry everyone)

Has anyone tackled this problem and come up with any clear issues that they can pin point a failure to and advice on best approach to fix?

I need help quick as i am concerned with the fogs not giving enough light when night driving. I,ve pay,d the Stealership enough and now need a fix if there is a cheap one???? Please?

Thanks ALL.

Hound.
 
Just catching up with A2oc and saw your post. It could be the stalk switch, but I don't remember reading about any problems there. Have you managed to sort it yet? Also, do your hazard lights work?

Cheers
 
Hi Dev,

Thanks for your reply, yes I finally got it sorted by replacing the Flasher Relay (expensive but fixed).

I did suspect the stalk as I still have front light Low Beam problem (they dont work!) but as the indicators flashed when on WARNING but not normally by using the stalk I thought it was the Flasher Unit from help by others on this forum. As the Flasher Unit has fixed the problem it cant be the stalk, which I think is a better situation as you have to remove the steering wheel etc.

I have now sourced a second hand Light Switch (Rotary main switch), will post results when i pick it up to see if this unit is the light problem as the fuses are good and the bulbs are good!!!

Cheers, Hound.
 
Thanks Spike for Info, just posted a response above to Dev as i have fixed the Indicators with a new Flasher Unit.

Just trying to fix the Low Beam now! Any help on ideas if it isnt the main Rotary Light Switch, greatly appreciated?

Cheers, Hound.
 
Hazard light switch?

Hi everyone. Just been sold a hazard light switch (as recommended by GSF and Bedford Audi) in an attempt to get my indicators functioning correctly. The hazard lights still function but the indicators flash once or not at all. I was told that the hazard switch is also the relay? Any ideas? :confused:

Regards,

Paul.
 
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