How to Solve An Audi Q5 Engine Ignition Fault
In the past, vehicles were much more straightforward, and fixing an issue often required a just basic understanding of vehicle mechanics. More often than not, there was plenty of room for improvisation and straightforward solutions.
However, times have changed, and modern vehicles are far more complex.
Vehicles like your Audi are filled with electronically controlled components managed by the Engine Control Unit (ECU). This means that even minor adjustments often require you to reprogramme your ECU or bypass it entirely.
Today’s car specialists undergo extensive training to address issues effectively; otherwise, they risk causing more harm than good.
At Fergies, our team consists of Audi specialists with decades of experience working with the German brand. There isn’t a model we can’t work on or an issue we can’t solve.
When a recent client visited Fergies with their Audi Q5, they were experiencing a problematic engine ignition issue. The issue left the vehicle with starting trouble and an annoying engine management light.
Thankfully, our experts were confident they could solve the issue and got to work searching for the root cause.
Faults Found
Our Audi technicians asked our client to describe the issues in detail while taking notes.
The client mentioned that the Audi Q5’s engine sometimes struggled to start. While the problem didn’t always occur, it was enough to be a nuisance. They also stated that the Check Engine Light lit up their vehicle’s dashboard.
With this information, our experts set off to find what was causing the Q5’s issues.
Our experts confirmed the problems that the client had been facing and validated the client’s report. They then attempted to start the car several times, to see if the vehicle experienced any starting trouble.
Needless to say, a fault was clearly there as the engine didn’t start as efficiently as you’d expect from a modern Audi Q5.
The Diagnosis
Now that our Audi specialists had confirmed the problem, we moved forward with the next stage of our investigation.
At Fergies, our specialists use an in-depth 15-step diagnostic procedure to diagnose any issue your vehicle has. This allows us to provide you with a quality, first-time fix for better than dealership value.
The next step of the process was to perform a complete vehicle scan to see if any error codes revealed themselves.
Our experts used Audi technical information and the ODIS diagnostic tool. As your local independent Audi specialists, we have access to the same level of technical information as the main Audi dealers. With us, you always get dealership quality at better value.
During the diagnostic test, our experts found the following fault code:
- P0684 00 – Glow Plug Control Module – Range / Performance.
Seeing this error code, our team immediately identified the problem. The Audi’s glow plug control module was malfunctioning, causing an intermittent engine ignition problem.
If you’re unsure what a glow plug is, it’s a crucial part of your diesel engine’s startup process, especially in cold weather. They heat up to aid ignition and help with emissions by promoting efficient Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) regeneration.
So, with a fault in the glow plugs, it’s no wonder the client’s Audi Q5 had trouble starting.
While the vehicle’s fault had been traced back to the glow plugs, our team of experts needed to identify which specific component within the glow plug module was at fault.
Our team delved deeper into the problem by performing a visual inspection to see if there were any clear signs of the issue… Unfortunately, it wasn’t so simple.
Even the Audi live bulletins didn’t provide any further insights into the problem.
Next, our specialists tested the signals to and from the glow plugs. It was here where they found a fault. There was no signal going to the glow plugs from the module, indicating the module itself was likely at fault.
To ensure the module was the cause of the issue, our experts performed electrical tests on the wiring just in case of a connection problem. The feed and earth wires to the glow plug module were functioning correctly, the wires to the ECU were intact, and the wires to the glow plugs were also faultless.
As the connections and wires were ok, it was clear that the glow plug module was indeed causing all the issues.
The Solution
Now that our team had identified the root cause of the Audi Q5’s starting problem, we called the client to discuss our findings and offer a solution.
At Fergies, our experts always keep you updated. No work takes place until you’ve given us the go-ahead. You remain in complete control of the situation from start to finish.
The client was pleased to hear that we’d got to the bottom of the issue so quickly and gave us the green light to perform the necessary tasks to solve their vehicle’s problem.
Once we got off the phone, our Audi specialists replaced the glow plug control module and retested the system. Thankfully, the glow plugs and their related components began working as expected, and the Q5 started smoothly, but the dashboard warning was no longer present.
Now that the Q5 was ready to return to the client, we called them and shared the good news. They picked up the vehicle, thanked our Audi experts for the service, and went home satisfied.
Summary
A recent client visited our Audi specialists at Fergies garage, hoping we could resolve an engine ignition issue their Audi Q5 was experiencing. Our Audi experts took on the task and began formulating a repair plan.
Using their extensive Audi knowledge and our 15-step diagnostic procedure, our team quickly identified the root cause of the Audi Q5’s starting issue.
The Audi’s glow plug module was at fault. Our team replaced the faulty module and retested the vehicle.
Fortunately, everything was working perfectly—the client’s vehicle was starting as smoothly as ever.
When our team of experts called the client with the good news, they were highly impressed with the fast turnaround and quality of our work. They appreciated the prompt and effective service.
Need help with an Audi starting problem? Our specialists at Fergies can help. Call us today for a quality, first-time fix.
