Loud crackling noise through speakers

[cfowler]

I have a 55 A6 Avant 2.7TDI SE and after using it today experienced a very loud crackling (a bit like squeezing a balloon) and it wouldn't stop even when taking the key out of the ignition, it seemed to pass through the speakers and only die out after a couple of minutes. The car has a standard Bose MMI set up with CD player. Any suggestions as sound has disappeared from driver side speakers? I tried to reset the MMI and it made no difference.

[Flying Scot]

Firstly, stop using your rear wash/wipe or you risk having to replace the electronics in the boot compartment.

Secondly, read this (arm yourself with the attachments further down the thread if you plan on proceeding to step three)

Thirdly, don’t waste you time heading for the local dealership. Even in warranty Audi are not interested and from what I understand they have now removed the rear wash wipe system entirely from warranty cover unless you can prove that you have only ever used Audi screen wash in the correct dilution.

Have fun!!

[cfowler]

I have a 55 A6 Avant 2.7TDI SE and after using it today experienced a very loud crackling (a bit like squeezing a balloon) and it wouldn't stop even when taking the key out of the ignition, it seemed to pass through the speakers and only die out after a couple of minutes. The car has a standard Bose MMI set up with CD player. Any suggestions as sound has disappeared from driver side speakers? I tried to reset the MMI and it made no difference.

Flying Scott

Many thanks indeed for your advice, seemed to have had a lucky escape. Even managed to reset the DSP to get the rear speakers back.

Christian Fowler

[elsol]

hi there! just joined the forum to try and find some info on the EXACT same problem!!!
thanks flying scot for going to all this trouble and posting all the info on the previous post.
I have a 2006 2.7tdi SE manual avant which has had its fair share of problems. i've had 4 new clutch plates, 1 whole new clutch assembly (all in the first year of ownership) 2 new BOSE units and 1 new radio unit. The radio unit from the water ingress via the broken connector pipe for the rear wash wipe. This happened for the first time December 08. The car was 3 years old in April 09, so is now out of warranty. The radio decided to pack up this saturday due in my mind to the frozen rear washer...i have contacted my dealer, heritage in salisbury, and it's going in next tuesday...
they did mention that the previous time it happened was over a year ago and that it was out of warranty, AND that it isn't something they've seen other than on my car...hhhmmmm not too sure i believe that!!! at least now i'm armed with all the info you posted...i'll let you know how i get on next week...

just on another note, you mentioned you were going to try and sort it out yourself before you went to the dealer...do you have a link to view detailed instructions of how to take the interior trim apart??

many thanks!

[cfowler]

Hi Elsol

Suggest you go through the links that Flying Scott sent yesterday, it seemed to be pretty comprehensive from earlier web postings that I certainly missed initially.

In terms of your speakers have you tried to reset the sound system on your central console, that restored my rear speakers.

Sounds from the service that you are getting that it might be worth finding a good local Audi/VAG specialist.

hope this helps

CFowler

[Flying Scot]

If my experience of this issue is anything to go by, then resetting your stereo will have no effect. The problem is a break in the rear wash/wipe hose around the boot lid hinge area where the hose leaves the main body of the car and enters the boot lid.

Every time you use the wash wipe, water will enter the void behind the vertical section of trim and give your electronics a free shower, therefore I would advise not using the rear wash/wipe at all.

I initially took my car to the local dealership who blamed the fault on one of the wash nozzles being blocked and blowing the hose connector off causing the water to enter the boot lid and flow down into the electronics every time I opened the boot.

They initially charged me £112 to replace the nozzle and when the valet guy brought the car to me at the reception he commented on the noise from the stereo…..enter one upset customer to the service manager’s desk. The manager I spoke to was very helpful and took it upon himself to carry out an inspection on the system personally and he called me by 9am the next morning to explain the issue. They then charged me about £30 (parts only, labour free) to repair/replace the hose section at the hinge.

Audi are well aware of this issue, yet they refuse point blank to cover it under their warranty program.

Apart from this issue, great car, 70k miles to date and ready for another 100k at least

[elsol]

hi, you're right, i'm sure that resetting the stereo will have no effect at all. This has happened before as i said in my previous post, but when the car was under warranty, and replaced / rectified very quickly.
I'm defo going to take your info with me next week when i go in, but i must admit i do get on quite well with my local dealer, even if it didn't come accross very well in my last post!! I have even negotiated a 25% discount on the cost of servicing if i stay with them and don't go to the local independant...
A couple of interesting points will be however, if the last time the rectified the problem they followed the technical update bulletin and rehoused the connector, and if my stereo/radio/Bose is damaged whether they will replace that...we shall wait and see!!!
I do love my car though even if it has had plenty of problems. It's funny because major problems don't seem to bother me with car ownership, whereas the minor ones like rattles and squeeks just drive me up the wall!! My wife's 118d for instance suffers from terrible squeeks caused by the type of rubber bmw use in the door seals; but will they do anything about it??? oh no!! however, i am really tempted to replace the A6 for a new Skoda superb estate...ALL that kit, 4WD, AND a massive boot compared to the A6...and for less than 25k

[elsol]

hi there!
news on my water ingress problem on my A6 Avant...amazingly, my local dealer, Heritage os salisbury, carried out all the work FOC!!! including a new amplifier and digital receiver, and a new cover for the wash pipe...
everything now works fine, and i'm very very happy with them for it, and they defo deserve a pat on the back!
of course, being a slight cynic, it could be that audi are by now well aware of the problem and don't want a problem on their hands, or 2, i took the print outs from Flying scot's post on the problem, either way, it's all fixed even though the car is 11 months out of warranty.
Just on another note, had an A3 s-line running 18inch wheels and DSG as a loan car. one word. HORRIBLE! why was the steering wheel squared off??? why does it have to run so badly??? and as for the tyres in the snow, woah nelly, don't get me started!!! I know i might be an old fart, but why do so many people want blinged up audis?? what happened to the old understatedness of them? i love my A6 SE on 17inch wheels with air suspension, in my mind (apart from the A8) it's the last of the classic audis...

[cfowler]

Sounds like a happy ending, getting mine sorted out soon hopefully at an independent.

[IVB]

I have this same problem... and thanks to this thread, I found the washer leaking. It's booked in with Derby Audi on the 24th Nov, I hope they sort it FOC including the amplifier that it's leaked onto!