2021-2022 Audi e-tron Ghost DTCs in HV Battery Charger

Audi has issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2062631 to address various diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that may appear in the high-voltage battery charger control module (J1050) of 2021-2022 Audi e-tron vehicles. These codes are referred to as "ghost DTCs" because they are stored erroneously and do not indicate an actual problem with the vehicle's charging system. This TSB provides crucial guidance for technicians and owners regarding these specific codes, ensuring that unnecessary repairs are avoided.

This TSB applies to 2021-2022 Audi e-tron quattro and Audi e-tron Sportback models. The primary message is that if these Audi e-tron ghost DTCs are present without any corresponding customer complaint related to charging, they should be disregarded.

Symptoms

Owners of affected vehicles will typically not experience any noticeable symptoms or issues related to these ghost DTCs. The TSB explicitly states, "No customer concerns, it is found during PDI or any other diagnostic work." This means that these codes are usually discovered during routine diagnostic scans, such as during a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) or other workshop diagnostic procedures, rather than in response to a driver's complaint. The presence of these Audi e-tron ghost DTCs does not mean your vehicle is malfunctioning or that there is an actual fault with the charging system.

Fault Codes / DTCs

The following DTCs, along with their designations and symptom codes, may be erroneously stored in the high-voltage battery charger control module, J1050 (address word 00C6). These are the Audi e-tron ghost DTCs that the TSB advises to ignore under specific conditions:

Technical Background

These ghost DTCs are a result of a diagnostic issue within software version 0079 of the high-voltage battery charger control module, J1050. This specific software bug causes the control module to erroneously store these codes without any actual underlying fault or malfunction in the charging system. Audi indicates that a revised software version is currently under development. Once this new software is implemented, it is expected to prevent these DTCs from being stored without cause, resolving the issue at its source.

Important Warnings for Owners and Technicians

Audi has provided specific instructions to prevent unnecessary repairs and ensure proper diagnosis. It is crucial for both owners and service technicians to understand these directives:

• Do not perform any repairs: The TSB explicitly states, "Do not perform any repairs. Any repairs or part replacements for this concern may be denied." This means that if these ghost DTCs are the only issue found and there are no actual charging problems, no action should be taken.
• Condition is normal: Audi clarifies that "This condition is normal." The presence of these codes alone does not indicate a defect or malfunction requiring service.
• Actual charging concerns: If a customer does have a concern regarding charging, then "this TSB does not apply, and the vehicle must be repaired following Guided Fault Finding." In such cases, the vehicle should be diagnosed as usual to identify and resolve the actual charging problem.

Warranty Information

This Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) is informational only. It is not applicable to any Audi Warranty claims for repairs related to these ghost DTCs. Since the condition is considered normal and no repair is required, warranty claims for attempting to fix these non-existent faults would be denied.

NHTSA ID: 10190768