Fairly sure that I have a flasher problem. For the last two weeks, it was working intermittently as I posted a little while ago. Now if I lift the stalk halfway, the blinker works. If I lift the stalk all the way, it stays lit. Several people wrote that they had similar problems, and it was fixed with replacing the flasher.

Anyways, does anyone know the part number for the 4 way flasher, and if so, is it something that I can change, or should I let a shop do it?

britoki
97 1.8T QS AT

Brian,

just got my car back with the same problem fixed. They replaced the flasher relay (part # is at home) and it works again. Except that mine never flashed, regardless how I had the stalk. It was always on.

At the same time my cruise didn't work, and that problem still persists. I think they need to replace the stalk.

The shop needed to order the relay but said that it was otherwise a straightforward fix (took an hour from the time they had the relay).

-= Stan -- 9 warranty stops in 12 months

I was lucky...mine went away!
They replaced it anyway

alas you don't want to know what it costs. It's not hard to change, but after finding out that they wanted $395 for the one on my old 5K I took the switch apart and fixed it myself. Repairing the switch itself is not a job for the faint of heart, changing it out is pretty easy though.

I may have to dig into the stalk to find the problem though, as per the note above.

thanks
brian

I haven't done this to a A4 yet, but most cars are about the same. You might try cleaning the switch first. Start by going down to the local electronics store and getting some contact cleaner. Then pull the covers around the switch. They call this thing a combination switch, you will see why when you see it. Put the straw (a small tube) in the hole on the can's button, then try and spray it into the contacts (use a flashlight and look into the hole the lever goes into). Work the switch as you do this. I've been able to fix quite a few this way, and if it works it will save you the price of the part and taking it apart any further. If that don't do it you need to pull the wheel, I'm not sure quite how to do that as this is the first car I've ever owned with airbags, and I haven't had to work on it yet. I suspect someone up here might have done it by now, and be able to offer pointers.

put an old towel over the rug when you do this, saves a cleanup.

I got some contact cleaner and gave it a good working. And it does work better (I get more blinks than stay-lits, but the problem still persists.)

Thinking it through, I better not try to get the combination switch out myself especially since there is an airbag involved.

I appreciate all of your help with this Dave. Maybe it is the flasher and the stalk thing is tricking me into thinking that the problem is there? I don't know at this point

I figure the first time I pull the airbag I'm going to the dealer and ask the service manager if there is anything I should know, after all an error with that could result in broken bones as well as needing an expensive new air bag.