2021 Audi A5 SOS Emergency Call Malfunction TSB

Audi has issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 91 24 41 2060197/5 to address an SOS emergency call malfunction affecting certain 2021 Audi A5, S5, and RS 5 vehicles. This TSB supersedes an earlier bulletin, Group 91 number 23-18 dated August 8, 2023, and provides updated information regarding the diagnosis and repair of this specific issue. Owners experiencing a 2021 Audi A5 SOS emergency call malfunction should be aware of this guidance.

Symptoms

Owners of affected vehicles may notice a specific message displayed on their instrument cluster. The verbatim message reported is: "Emergency call function: fault! Function partially available. Please contact workshop."

Fault Codes / DTCs

When diagnosing this 2021 Audi A5 SOS emergency call malfunction, technicians will find one or both of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) stored in the telematics control module, J949 (address word 0075):

Code	Description
B18BD11	mobile phone aerial 1 for emergency call module and communication unit, short circuit to ground. (static or sporadic)
B18BD13	mobile phone aerial 1 for emergency call module and communication unit, interruption. (static or sporadic)

Diagnosis / Trigger Conditions

The root cause of the 2021 Audi A5 SOS emergency call malfunction is often water ingress due to a damaged seal. This water intrusion can lead to a short circuit or interruption in the mobile phone aerial 1, which is crucial for the emergency call system. The telematics control module (J949) detects these electrical faults and stores the corresponding DTCs.

Important Warnings

Audi explicitly states critical information for technicians and owners regarding the diagnostic and repair process for this issue:

• "These diagnostic entries cannot be resolved via the test plans suggested by GFF. The repair must be carried out by replacing parts."
• "The GFF test plans should not be performed."
• "The GFF test plans cannot be invoiced."
• "Do not run any test plans for DTCs mentioned in this TSB. Time used to run test plans for DTCs mentioned in this TSB may be debited."

These warnings highlight that attempting to resolve the issue through standard diagnostic test plans will not be effective and may result in unbillable time for the dealer.

Repair Procedure Summary

The repair for the SOS emergency call malfunction involves replacing specific components. The general procedure outlined in TSB 2060197/5 includes:

1. Replace Mobile Phone Aerial 1: The mobile phone aerial 1 for the emergency call module, identified as -R263-, must be replaced.
2. Replace Antenna Wire: The antenna wire connecting the mobile phone aerial 1 to the telematics control module (J949) needs to be replaced. When performing this step, technicians must carefully unpin the defective wire from the 8-pin connector T8bc (or T8cp for vehicles from July 2019 onwards) and then pin in the new wire.

All work carried out must be clearly documented for warranty purposes.

Required Tools or Parts

Technicians should always consult their Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins. Specific parts mentioned in the TSB include:

• Mobile phone aerial 1 for emergency call module -R263-
• 4N1971650A: Adapter antenna cable
• 000098714: Adapter antenna cable

Fasteners, bolts, nuts, and screws may also be needed as per the repair manual.

Warranty Information

Warranty claims for this repair should be submitted under Claim Type 9128 with Damage Code 0010. Labor operations include removing and installing the aerial (9138 19XX), removing and installing the telematics control unit (9170 19XX), replacing the aerial cable (9128 5599), and charging the battery (2706 8950). Diagnostic time is 0150 0000. All claims must adhere to the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures Manual.

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Source: NHTSA ID: 11007262