How to Solve Adblue Countdown Timer Issue in Audi Q5
The 2020s could very well be the era of crossover SUVs. It is not us who is saying that, but the market trends that speak for the masses. These vehicles are so high in demand that even those brands that conventionally only used to make coupes, roadsters and saloons have moved towards this segment. We are talking about Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and many more.
Understandably, the German brand Audi has also jumped on the bandwagon, albeit a little earlier than its competitors. At the moment they make several crossover SUVs and full-size SUVs to please the fans. And Audi fans are indeed pleased because they get to enjoy the benefits of a crossover along with the brand’s famous German reliability.
The near-invincible Audi vehicles are a treat to drive and a popular car to keep because no one likes a vehicle that breaks down.
But that doesn’t mean, your Audi SUV is completely immune to developing faults. It is a motor vehicle after all, which means you should always expect an issue at the next bend.
Unfortunately for one of our customers, his Audi Q5 developed an issue.
Mr B came to RM Motors complaining about an Adblue countdown timer issue affecting his SUV. He had brought over his 2016 Audi Q5 to our team of experts and requested a quick and effective solution. Our Audi specialist technician was happy to oblige.
On prodding the client, our technician learned that Mr B had taken the crossover SUV to the local Audi dealership, but after parts had been replaced the problem still very much persisted.
The client had no other choice but to visit RM Motors and trust our mechanics to fix this Audi Q5.
Faults Found
To start, our Audi specialist verified the client’s complaints to ensure the problem was the same as it was described by Mr B.
Thankfully, our specialist was able to quickly confirm that the client had correctly outlined the nature of the issue. The driver’s information panel was showing an Adblue warning and the countdown was not resetting even after refilling the relevant liquid. This information indicated that the Engine Management System (EMS) and the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems were the two systems at fault.
But at RM Motors, we leave no stone unturned. Our experts look at each and everything and they only move further after striking out all the possibilities. Therefore, our Audi technician proceeded to ask for more information from the client about the repair work that the Audi dealer had conducted.
It turned out that the technicians at the dealership had suggested a fault in an unrelated area and installed a software update.
Luckily, Mr B came to us and put his belief in our Audi specialist to work out the problem in his Q5.
We began by performing an in-depth analysis of the vehicle, which helped determine the right course of action. While doing that, we had to be careful not to damage the sensitive components and management systems.
Our Audi specialist employed an in-depth multi-step diagnostic procedure, which helped our Audi specialist to reach the solution faster.
Diagnostic Procedure
Our technician used the multi-step diagnostic process to certify his initial assumptions. They used the information from the diagnosis to formulate a plan and employ the solution.
So, we first took the car out for a test drive and confirmed that there was no other issue related to the Adblue countdown timer. A quick test drive can often lead to new revelations and discoveries, which is why our Audi specialist always make this the first step.
We confirmed that it was indeed the Adblue issue affecting the SUV’s drive.
So, after returning to the garage, our Audi technician moved on towards the full body scan of the vehicle. The scan turned up a few fault codes that signalled a fault in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system.
The code scan confirmed the initial hypothesis of our Audi technician, helping them to move faster to the full diagnosis.
To that effect, our Audi expert performed live data checks to ensure all was good in the system. Unfortunately, there was something wrong here, which alerted our Audi technician to check the history of other garages.
Maybe we could find something to boost our initial hypothesis. However, the search turned up empty and our technician couldn’t find anything to completely confirm his doubts. So, he proceeded by inspecting the Adblue fluid levels for quality and quantity. That’s because, if any one of these things is away from ideal, the vehicle’s performance could suffer.
Once again, the inspection could not help our Audi technician to reach a solution. In this case, the next step was to test the Adblue components for integrity. If the issue was hardware-related these tests would provide some insight.
Thankfully, the component test showed a ray of hope and our Audi technician learned that the Adblue pump was malfunctioning. It wasn’t producing the required amount of pressure to support the SCR system.
Why was there no sufficient pressure in the pump? Well, to find that out, our Audi specialist looked at the Q5’s wiring diagrams concerning the SCR system. They found the location of the control module and the accompanying wiring. But nothing was wrong in the loom, which pointed back towards the Adblue pump as the culprit.
In other words, replacing the pump would solve Mr B’s issues.
Solving The Problem
Our Audi specialist had to replace the pump, but since it is an expensive part, they tested and retested the Adblue pump to save the client some money. However, the old pump would not budge, which led our Audi expert to replace the faulty part.
We removed the old part, installed the new pump, refilled the fluid, and checked its functionality – everything was working fine and our Audi technician was able to call Mr B back into the garage to pick up his vehicle.
Summary
Our expert Audi technician put all their efforts into solving the fault in Mr B’s 2016 Audi Q5. They had to jump over several hurdles along the way, but none of them could break our resolve and our trust in the skill, training, and experience of our employees.
At RM Motors, an effective solution is never too far away. Our technicians are trained in the art of diagnosis and their work shows that. The multi-step diagnosis that all our specialists use helps them find the fault, its root cause, and its solution.
At RM Motors you get the correct diagnosis every time and great value for money.
If you are looking for an Audi garage to care for your Audi, it’s time you visited RM Motors.
Don’t hesitate to ring us at 01924 456666 to book an appointment.
