2021 Audi A4, A5, Q5 Instrument Cluster Blank Display TSB

Symptoms

Owners of affected 2021 Audi vehicles may experience a blank display for the driver information system in the instrument cluster. The specific customer complaint is that "The driver information system in the instrument cluster (PR Code 9S7) is blank."

It is important to note that while the digital display is blank, other essential functions of the instrument cluster, such as the speedometer, tachometer, fuel level bar graph, and coolant temperature bar graph, continue to operate normally.

Technical Background

Audi has identified that the blank display issue in the instrument cluster is due to a hardware defect. To address this, an optimized instrument cluster hardware design has been introduced in series production for newer vehicles.

Repair Procedure Summary

To correct the "Audi A5 instrument cluster blank" issue, technicians must perform a software update on the instrument cluster, identified as control unit J285 (address word 0017). This procedure requires following the instructions detailed in TSB 2011732, which covers Software Version Management (SVM) operating instructions.

The update involves using a specific SVM action code, 17A036, to flash the instrument cluster with the latest software version. The update will transition the software from an older version (0761) to a newer version (0762 or higher).

Software and Part Numbers

This update applies to specific instrument cluster part numbers. The following table details the old and new software versions and associated part numbers:

Important Warnings for the Update Process

If the software update for the instrument cluster does not succeed on the first attempt, technicians are advised to try again. Should the update fail a second time, the vehicle must be placed into bus sleep mode for at least 30 minutes before any further attempts to update the software. This ensures the vehicle's systems are properly reset before retrying the update process.

Warranty Information

This repair, outlined in TSB 2063913/1, is covered under Audi's New Vehicle Limited Warranty for up to 48 months or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. For Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, the claim type is G10, requiring owner verification. If the vehicle is outside of any applicable warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin serves as informational guidance only, and any repairs would not be covered by Audi.

• Service Number: 9025
• Damage Code: 0039
• Labor Operation: Software Update (Includes checking for DTCs) - 0151 0000. Time allowance is based on the diagnostic protocol, with a maximum of 125 Technical Units (TU).
• Claim Comment: As per TSB #2063913/1

All warranty claims must adhere to the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures Manual and are subject to review and audit by Audi Warranty.

NHTSA ID: 10198660