The AM/FM button has been sticking lately. It seemed a little better today but tonight I can't power it up at all. I have a 5 day 2000 mile trip starting at 7 AM! I have no navigation, no radio, no CD... I checked the fuses in the trunk. They seem fine. The navigation DVD reader in the trunk has red lights so it's getting power so it must be the control knob unit in the console. Any suggestions I can try??? It's a 2004 A8L.

The old MMI shut off dance. My 04 is going to the dealer tomorrow to have the Amp replaced. They had the car for over a week because the MMI would not stay down long enough for them to do a diagnostic on it. They started pulling systems out of the loop until it failed constantly. I read somewhere that some of the Amps were having problems..something about the solder joints. What version software do you have?

I believe the software is pretty current. I had it updated to get rid of the lawyer screen a few months ago. Since I can't power it on, I don't know the exact version.

Do NOT use water or a similar water based product. First, look around the edges of the buttons, especially AM/FM from what you say, for any small stuff. Maybe go along the edges with something fine and not to sharp, like an edge of a business card.

If need be, try cleaning carefully with a rapid dry solvent that won't cause nightmares with the trim. For example, rubbing alcohol. Just make sure it is thoroughly dry before turning back on.

Make sure all the buttons are not stuck ( click each one and hopefully all will spring back up ). Then try rebooting the MMI system (press 3 buttons at the same time, turn the car on and off.

Well, in the end I had to go to the dealer and delayed my trip a few hours. It was $845 total but they squeezed me in that morning. They got the part from another dealer and had it fixed by noon. Worked fine for the whole trip. I'm going to be diligent about keeping it clean now.