How to Solve Engine Ignition Fault in an Audi Q5
It’s no secret that cars were a lot less technologically advanced in the earlier days. There was a lot of room to improvise and find a fix for a fault. You just needed to understand the basic mechanics of a vehicle.
But the times have changed, and now it is a lot harder to do any of these things in modern vehicles. There are so many electronically-controlled components, governed by the Engine Control Unit (ECU) that making a slight change to anything requires bypassing the ECU or programming it in a specific way to achieve results. In other words, it is a lot harder to be a technician in today’s world.
Nowadays, car specialists must have the right training and expertise to solve a problem, or they can do more harm than good.
Luckily, the staff at Links Automotive are trained and well-equipped to handle all kinds of car-related issues.
When Mr P came to our garage, he witnessed our skills himself, as we worked to solve an engine ignition issue on his 2018 Audi Q5.
The client had complained about the engine management light in his dash, which was affecting the engine’s starting performance.
Our Audi specialist, Dave Bootes, took the case, and he started working on the Q5 as soon as possible.
Faults Found
Our Audi technician asked the client to give details about his experience with the Q5, all the while making notes that would help in the repair. Once he had gathered all the information from Mr P, Dave reviewed his notes and started to verify the client’s complaints.
Mr P had reported that the engine had trouble starting up sometimes. The issue wasn’t too frequent, but it was happening enough to annoy the client. He also said that the Check Engine Light was on in the dash.
Our Audi specialist had to verify this before starting with the diagnosis, so he checked the Q5’s dash. Sure enough, the EML light was on, which proved the client’s initial report. Next, Dave tried starting the car several times and noted that the ignition was indeed causing problems.
Now that the fault had been verified, our Audi technician initiated the 15-step diagnostic procedure to find the root cause of the issue.
The Diagnosis
At Links Automotive, the 15-step diagnostic procedure holds a special place as part of our repair process. All our technicians use the diagnostic method as it proves to be an effective and efficient way to find the solution.
Our Audi specialist on this case, Dave, used the same procedure to help him with the repair. He had already conducted a visual inspection during the verification phase and found nothing out of the ordinary.
Next up was the full vehicle scan that would help Dave narrow down the fault to one specific area within the vehicle. He used the Audi dealer’s ODIS diagnostic tool to find fault codes, and the following code turned up on the search:
- P0684 00 – Glow Plug Control Module – Range / Performance
Our Audi expert immediately understood what was causing the problem, once he saw this error code. The glow plug control module was malfunctioning causing intermittent engine ignition issues.
For those who don’t know, glow plugs are an integral part of a diesel engine’s startup procedure. The plugs heat up considerably to help with the ignition, especially in cold weather. They also help with emissions by promoting efficient Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) regeneration.
So, it was no surprise the Q5 wasn’t starting! An integral part of its engine system was out of order, and it needed immediate attention. But which component inside the glow plug module was at fault? Our Audi specialist dove deeper to find the root cause.
Dave inspected the glow plug module, and on visual inspection, it looked perfectly fine. There was no corrosion on the wiring, the connectors or the plugs. Even the Audi technical bulletin provided no help in this regard.
So, our Audi specialist moved on to check the signals coming in and going out of the plugs. It was right here that Dave hit the jackpot. There was no signal going to the glow plugs from the module, which meant that the module was probably at fault.
To confirm this speculation, our Audi expert accessed the module and performed electrical tests. The feed and earth wires to the glow plug module were doing their work as intended. The wires going to the ECU were all good, and the wires going to the glow plugs were also without fault.
Thus, Dave confirmed that it was indeed the glow plug module that was causing all the issues.
The Solution
Our Audi specialist replaced the module and retested the system. Et voila! The glow plugs and their related components started to work properly. The Q5 started better, and even on frequent tries, the engine experienced no ignition issues.
Once the issue was solved, Dave checked for fault codes and found nothing relevant to the repair. In other words, the Q5 was ready to return to its owner.
We called Mr P and gave him the good news. The client picked up his vehicle, thanked our Audi technician for the service, and returned home a happy man.
Summary
Mr P visited the Links Automotive garage in the hopes that we would solve an engine ignition issue in his 2018 Audi Q5. Our Audi expert, Dave, took the vehicle under his wing and began formulating a plan for the repair.
Dave used his knowledge of Audi, his training, and our 15-step diagnostic procedure as his main tools to tackle the Q5 repair. The in-depth process helped our Audi specialist cover all his bases and reach the core issue in no time.
Our Audi technician started with a complete vehicle scan, which led him to the main problem area. Once Dave was there, he quickly tested the components and found the glow plug module at fault. So, our Audi specialist replaced that part and retested the client’s vehicle.
Luckily, everything was working fine, the SUV was starting better, and the initial problem had disappeared.
Later, when Dave called the client, he was extremely impressed with the work we had done. Mr P wasn’t expecting a quick turnaround, but we delivered on our promise, and the client really appreciated the service.
If you are looking for an Audi specialist and want to feel as happy and satisfied as Mr P, call Links Automotive now on 01625 402262 and get the service your Audi deserves.
