Fixing a faulty Audi A6 air-conditioning system
Air conditioning is a feature your Audi shouldn’t be without. It keeps you warm in winter, and cool in summer and is an important safety feature which prevents your windows from steaming up.
But what happens when it’s faulty?
Mr T brought his Audi A6 to Fergies for an air conditioning service, but our Audi experts found an uneven pressure issue inside the air con system.
While his air conditioning was working, it wasn’t optimal and would likely worsen, causing visibility problems. The last thing Mr T wanted was to put his safety at risk.
Luckily, our Audi experts have plenty of experience working with Audi air conditioning systems and were confident they could solve the problem.
What we found
As the A6 had already undergone an air con service, our Audi specialists knew the air conditioning refrigerant levels were optimal, so the fault was something deeper.
Air conditioning refrigerant levels must be topped up over time to keep the air con working correctly. It’s one of the most common reasons why air conditioning stops working. But for Mr T, this wasn’t the case.
Our Audi experts used their specialist knowledge and the Audi manufacturer information to delve deeper into the fault.
At Fergies, we have access to the same technical information as the main Audi dealership. You get dealership-level servicing for better value.
Our Audi specialists suspected Mr T’s A6 required wiring and sensor checks to identify the root cause of the issue.
The diagnosis
Before our experts consulted the Audi A6 wiring diagrams, they performed a software evaluation to see if any fault codes returned.
Two fault codes revealed themselves:
- 00256 – Air con pressure/temperature sensor
- G395 – No signal/communication
While these might seem like random and vague codes to a layman, to our Audi specialists, they point them in the right direction.
At Fergies, we use a 15-step diagnostic process to solve any fault on the first visit. You save time, stress, and money spent on repeat repairs.
Now our Audi experts had confirmation that the issue was linked to a wiring or sensor fault, they began testing the components using an Oscilloscope.
An Oscilloscope is a specialist device which displays the voltage of the vehicle’s electrical components. From these readings, our experts can narrow down the cause of the air con’s fault.
The readings showed the air con sensors were working as they should, but there was “no communication waveform” travelling between them. This indicates a defect in the wiring.
Testing the waveform is something another garage might have overlooked and simply replaced the sensors; luckily, we’re more thorough.
As there’s quite a lot of wiring between the two sensors, our specialists referred back to the Audi wiring technical diagrams to trace the wire’s path.
A systematic process was used to test the wire at various points, allowing our Audi technicians to rule out specific areas.
When our experts reached the section of the wiring running over the wheel arch, a small amount of corrosion was found, which would explain why the sensors couldn’t communicate with each other.
Fixing the Audi A6
Now our Audi specialists had identified the cause of the faulty air conditioning; we informed Mr T of our findings. Together we discussed the issue and our recommendations.
At Fergies, you’re always in complete control. We only begin working on your vehicle when you give us the green light.
Once Mr T had agreed to our recommendations, our Audi expert technicians got to work sourcing quality wiring for the damaged section.
As your local Audi specialists, we only use genuine or high-quality Audi parts for all maintenance and repairs, guaranteeing your Audi gets the quality it deserves.
Once the damaged wiring had been repaired, a complete air con inspection was performed to ensure no further damage. Fresh diagnostic tests returned zero faults so our specialists could return the A6 to Mr T with confidence.
Mr T was pleased to have his car back the day he’d dropped it off. At Fergies, we have a quicker turnaround than the main Audi dealership. Moreover, Mr T received better value, saving him time and money.
Summary
Mr T booked his Audi A6 for an air conditioning service at Fergies. During the initial stages of the service, our experts discovered a pressure difference in the system which needed addressing.
After thoroughly testing the air conditioning system using Audi manufacturer information and our 15-step diagnostic process, we traced the root of the problem. Mr T’s air conditioning had a wiring issue.
Luckily, our Audi specialists had dealt with this problem before and methodically tested each section until the fault was found.
Once found, our experts replaced the faulty wiring and performed additional checks to ensure the air conditioning worked like new.
Mr T was pleased to have his Audi A6’s air con working optimally. He was even happier to get his car back the same day he dropped it off while getting better value.
Has your Audi got an air conditioning problem? Call our Audi specialists at Fergies for a quality fix for better value than the main dealer.
Call us on 01635 903169 and book your Audi check-up.
