06 S4 Shuts on & Off

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

Hello AR! I have a 2006 Audi S4 with 79k on it. I recently returned from a deployment but while I was gone, my father encountered a problem where the vehicle didnt start at all. He took it to a mechanic, they reprogrammed the computer + ignition relay. I drove it back from NJ to NC without a problem, until the next day, this happened. I encountered a problem where my car wouldnt start. It eventually started on like the 3rd time and then while I am driving, 5 minutes later, I shifted to 2nd gear, and the car just died. There is times where it takes like 8 times to start the car. There is also times where I start the car, idling and just randomly shuts off with the battery sign shows up, or the e brake sign is flashing. A different symbol shows up on the dashboard everytime it stalls out. Is anyone familiar with this problem? I was going to go get this checked out but mechanics here near my base loves to rip Marines off and was giving me crazy prices.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

#2

Ah also forgot to mention, when I turn the key to the ON position, the check engine light does not show up and the car doesnt start. But there are times when the check engine light is on and the car starts perfectly.

#3

Welcome to AR you’ve come to the right place.

Can you give us more information on what was done? Did you get any documentation from the mechanic? If the car didn’t start and the fix was reprogramming the computer and a starter relay. Those two things dont go together as a fix for anything.

Did they get you any codes From the car?

You’re in the right place I’m sure between all the guys here and your information they can help keep you from needing to take the car back.

Thanks for your service.

#4

OK first welcome.

Hyden had some good questions. To add to those. Can you help explain doesn’t start. Is it like you just turn the key and then nothing happens or the car just cranks and cranks. Have you had to jump start the car and the check engine light can sometimes not come on but what you want to look for is the epc light. That tells you the car and the ecu are talking.

#5

The only thing my father said he did at his friends mechanic was that they reprogrammed the computer. I drove over 500+ miles after I first picked up the car and I didn’t encounter any problems. My car is JHM tuned and I remember reading somewhere that I can ship my ECU to them and they can take a look at it?

I turn the key, to the on position, the engine just cranks but doesnt start. The only thing I noticed is the car starts when the check engine light + all of the lights are on the dash. But when I turn the key to the on position and the check engine light isnt there, the car does not start. Ill go take a look and check for the epc light and keep you informed.

#6

sorry if im terrible at explaining. im not that great when it comes to cars.

#7

I’m not going to pretend like I know exactly what’s going but yes you should see most, if not all of the dash lights when the key is in the on position. Unfortunately I can’t just go check for you since I don’t have my car but I know the check engine light comes on. Sounds like an electrical issue maybe? You’re definitely in the right place for help.

#8

So this would be pretty crazy…but is your car Brilliant Red by chance?

If it is, this may be my old car (based on location, tune, year, approx miles)

To add to that it will be a JHM soldered ECU…and that could possibly be the root cause of your problem because we’ve seen some of the chip boards become loose and cause weird electrical problem. I never had any start issues and if this is my old car the battery was brand new when I sold it, so that can be ruled out.

Let us know man, you’re in the right place for advice. I could also send you my (VCDS) scan cable if you need it. It may provide us a more detailed explanation of what is going on. Unfortunately I live in Philly now otherwise I’d help you out in person.

#9

haha yup, this rick im guessing?

#10

yes i felt like its an electrical issue as soon as i saw different dash lights every single time the key is on the on position.

#11

Yes it is man, sorry to hear you are having troubles. I’m also glad your back stateside safe. I never had an issue like this, but I hope we can help you work it out…jacksonville is a horrible place for car service.

Let’s see if anyone else has input, but this kinda sounds like a loose ECU chip issue. Not many things will cause the car to dies while driving. The worst part is the problem is intermittent and probably isn’t giving you a fault code we can read.

I feel like the reason you arent seeing all the dash lights when you turn the key on sometimes is because the cluster is losing communication with the ECU.

#12

Unless I’m mistaken someone feel free to correct me. But your mechanic lied to you. If you have a jhm ecu they didn’t flash or reprogram anything.

I would try to pm euroswgar the vin. If it matches his old car than you’ll know what you’re working with. If it’s an older ecu board sending it to jhm should fix the issue.

One of the fantastic things about this site is the members. I saw nobody responded to your posts on Audizine. Here on Audirevolution you can ask anything and the members here are able to help and seem more than willing to help.

#13

Here is an old thread that may help us…

http://audirevolution.net/forum/index.php?topic=576.msg11519#msg11519

#14

thanks man, yea i think i still have your number lol. im glad its a ecu problem, been trying to figure it out for a few days. gonna check out the link you posted and keep you updated.

yeah audizine seemed dead. i contacted JHM and they told me to check out audirevolution. Great site and very helpful members.

#15

Crank position sensor was also brand new…so I’d eliminate that as a probable cause.

#16

Yeah I really feel like it’s the ecu. I’m going to Contact jhm tomorrow to see if I can get my ecu shipped over there

#17

I had the exact same problem once before I went to the flash method. Chip was lose and would sometimes get slightly dislodged causing the car to stall (or not start sometimes).

I’m not 100% convinced it’s this due to the fact that you say sometimes it doesn’t start but then it does after x tries (assuming the car isn’t moving, there’s no reason this would happen as the chip didn’t move) BUT, with all that said, it does sound like an ECU issue and the best option is to see if you can send it to JHM. If you’re chipped, ask them to switch you to flash while they’re checking the ECU for issues.

#18

You should be able to remove the ecu and push the board back on if it’s loose. Either way even if it’s something else this is good to do. Switching over to flash. You really hit the jack pot here if you have swagr’s old car. But all of this still leaves me wondering what the other mechanic actually did to the car.

#19

so decided to give her a start today and she started fine. decided to take her around the block and after I switched gears, rpm almost drops to 0 but stayed alive. i put the gear into neutral and while i was rolling going about 30 mph, the car was idling lower then 5x. Parked the car, and was idling the same about 5x… sounded like she was fighting to stay alive. shut it off, started it again and now idling at regular rpm. does this still sound like an ECU problem ?

#20

Had this problem occur last fall. Turned out it was a JHM loose chip problem. Car eventually wouldn’t start. JHM was very helpful making it correct. All I had to pay for was shipping the ECU to JHM & labor (~$120.) to have the ECU flashed.