cliffcoggin

Thank you for that moment of amusement. The reality is that they plugged the car into a computer and computer said no. End of investigation. Take the car to an auto electrician or an independant VAG specialist for testing. If a new battery is needed ensure he codes it to the car.

A new relay will be money wasted if the current one is fine. It will be cheaper to do some testing before throwing money at the problem. After all it may be the switch that is faulty.

The first step should be to get it plugged into a diagnostic machine and let us know the results.

If you are still on the original battery there is a fair chance that it is dying and needs to be renewed. I suggest you get it professionally tested because a simple voltmeter reading is not sufficient to tell you its state of health.

I rather doubt that winter tyres are worthwhile in Wiltshire at any time of year, unlike spartacus 68's part of the world.

That was lucky. Is the release mechanism now easy to operate or will you face the same problem again?

Mirror heaters are usually on the same circuit as the rear window heater. Have you done any testing with the meter as advised four months ago? We would appreciate an update on your progress with this problem.

Thank you Stephen, and the same to you.

I don't like the direction this topic is taking, and as there is little useful to be added to it I am locking the topic.

To my mind that is a good reason to return to them for the new battery, even if it means paying over the odds for it. Good reliable garages are hard to find.

I very much doubt that power is draining from your battery, but why not check for yourself with the multimeter shown in your photo? That's what it is for. More probable is that your battery is clapped out, and needs to be renewed. After all it is five years old, the same age at which the original battery was renewed. (The simple voltage test after a run that you showed is meaningless.) Make sure you buy a decent quality battery, and get it coded to the car.

Thanks for the update Chris.

Any progress on this James?

You have not answered the question, which was " what brand is it, and ideally where did you buy it?"

That fact alone should stop you right now.

Sam. It is very possible that your car's wiring loom will not have the appropriate wires and connectors for the wheel you want to use. Unless somebody can confirm otherwise you should visually check that such connections do exist before buying a new wheel.

Lucy. If you can not get a service history, whether from the vendor or Audi or a previous owner, I suggest you walk away from the deal. That's not to say the car is definitely dodgy, it may actually be pukka, but without evidence to prove its condition I would not commit several thousand pounds to its purchase. Bear in mind the well deserved reputation of used car salemen being unscrupulous lying scoundrels.

I vaguely recall a similar topic from a year or two ago which I believe was traced to the instrument cluster. I may be wrong so search the forum before taking action. Are there any error messages or warning lights showing?

Thanks for letting us know.

Well done Mike, I admire your perseverance and dedication, not to mention your detailed guidance and reporting here. I hope anybody who follows your hints adds his thanks to this topic. Personally I would not consider spending more than a year in changing, to put it crudely, one radio for another no matter how much better the new one may be, but then my requirements of a car are much less than they used to be years ago.

You are preaching to the converted here David. You need to get your message to the gullible public.

Agreed. It doesn't sound tinny enough to be an exhaust knock.

Follow your nose.

Hmm, I smell a rat. Joking aside, there may well be a mouse, a bird, or some other rodent corpse rotting inside the car. Are there any rodent droppings in the car? In case you are not familiar they resemble black beads about 3 mm across. Mice in particular will try to burrow into upholstery so it is worth taking the seats out of the car for a thorough internal examination of the stuffing. Also look under the carpets and look into any insulation under the dash. The same applies to the boot. Good luck with finding the cause, and do let us know the outcome.

Good man. I wish others were as obliging as you.