Ok, I've had this 97 Z28 A4 for two weeks, it has 50K miles and is all stock.

My problem started two days after I got it home, the stereo reset to 1:00 and would never play for more than five minutes without a loud POP and shutting off (acted like it had no power/ground).

Out comes the stereo, I pierced all three wires (power/switched 12v+/ground) and turned the radio on...sure enough, sitting in my driveway it shuts off after five minutes, still has both legs of 12v+ and ground. So out comes the radio, I figure it just has an internal short. I ordered a new CD player off Ebay, will be in next week.

Tonight I'm leaving the county fair, and I get no dash lights! Nothing! Everything else works great, turn signals, head/taillights, brakes, courtesy. So I get home, out comes the test light...all fuses are good, I have 12V+ to the dash illumination circuit, but no lights.

Also, I keep hearing a weird clicking sound, like a large relay behind the cluster. Also, when I shut off the car I hear an electrical motor whir under the hood for about 2 seconds.

AUUUUGHH!!!! Help anyone? Chilton's manual for this car is a joke, the electrical diagram comprises 2 pages basically, and doesn't show where this circuit grounds.

 

umm......sounds like something shorted out

that "whir" noise....kinda sounds like a bandsaw cutting wood? lol

I noticed that, but i thought it was from the construction workers across the street. it's the ABS crap under the hood.