2021 Audi Q8 Pre Sense Malfunction DTC B130474 B130574

Audi has issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2062974/1 to address instances where drivers of certain 2021 Audi models, including the Audi Q8, may encounter a "Pre sense malfunction" message in the driver information system (DIS). This TSB clarifies that such messages, often accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B130474 and B130574, do not indicate a fault requiring repair.

This bulletin, identified as 69 21 64 2062974/1 and released on April 20, 2021, provides crucial information for both owners and technicians regarding the proper handling of this specific Audi Q8 Pre Sense malfunction.

Symptoms of the Audi Q8 Pre Sense Malfunction

Owners may notice the following symptoms related to this issue:

• A "Pre sense malfunction" message displayed prominently in the driver information system (DIS) immediately after starting the vehicle and beginning to drive.
• Sporadic disruptions in the functionality of the vehicle's driver assistance systems. It's important to note that despite these messages, the core function of the seat belts themselves remains unaffected.

Associated Fault Codes (DTCs)

When diagnosing this condition, technicians may find the following passive or sporadic DTCs stored in the airbag control module, identified as J234 (address word 0015):

Code	Description
B130474	Left front belt tensioner control module, actuator deviates
B130574	Right front belt tensioner control module, actuator deviates

Understanding the Technical Background

Audi vehicles are equipped with advanced safety features, including reversible belt tensioners. These tensioners are designed to tighten the safety belt at the start of driving or under certain conditions, ensuring the belt rests closer to the occupant's body for optimal safety.

The Audi Q8 Pre Sense malfunction and associated DTCs occur when the driver repeatedly loosens the safety belt while the tensioner system is actively attempting to tighten it. If this action occurs for approximately 5 seconds, the Pre Sense malfunction message will appear, and DTCs B130474 and/or B130574 will be stored in the airbag control module.

Important Warnings for Owners

This Technical Service Bulletin provides specific instructions that are critical for owners and technicians to understand:

• "Do not perform any repairs. Any repairs for this concern may be denied." This explicitly states that attempting to fix this issue through traditional repairs is unnecessary and could lead to denied warranty claims.
• "Parts replacement does not solve this issue. Claims for replaced parts will be subject to review." Owners should be aware that replacing components like the belt tensioners or airbag control module will not resolve this specific condition and will likely not be covered under warranty.

These warnings emphasize that the appearance of the "Pre sense malfunction" message and the storage of these DTCs are expected behaviors under certain conditions and do not indicate a hardware failure.

Repair Procedure (No Repair Needed)

Contrary to typical diagnostic procedures, this TSB advises against any physical repairs. The recommended action is as follows:

• The DTCs B130474 and B130574 can be safely ignored by technicians. They are designed to be deleted automatically from the system when exiting the Guided Fault Finding (GFF) process within the ODIS Service diagnostic software.
• No parts replacement or component repair is necessary to address this Audi Q8 Pre Sense malfunction.

Warranty Information

For vehicles still under warranty, claims related to this issue should be submitted under specific guidelines:

• Claim Type: 110, applicable for vehicles up to 48 months or 50,000 miles.
• CPO Vehicles: G10 for Audi Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, requiring verification of owner status.
• Out of Warranty: If the vehicle is outside its warranty period, this Technical Service Bulletin is for informational purposes only.
• Service Number: 6913
• Damage Code: 0040
• Diagnostic Time: GFF, 0150 0000 (maximum 30 TU).
• Claim Comment: Claims must reference TSB #2062974/1.

All warranty claims are subject to review and audit by Audi Warranty, in accordance with the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures Manual. This ensures that only appropriate actions are covered.

Source: NHTSA ID: 10191041