2025 Audi A3 / S3 PSS Warning, Engine/Transmission Locked

Owners of 2025 Audi A3 and S3 vehicles may encounter a specific issue immediately after starting their vehicle. This problem manifests as warning messages on the instrument cluster and the logging of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).

This Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2075847/1 addresses the 2025 Audi S3 PSS warning and related fault messages, providing insights into the cause and the forthcoming solution.

Symptoms

When starting the vehicle or attempting to start it, owners may see one or both of the following messages displayed on the center screen of the instrument cluster:

• "Drive system: fault. Please contact workshop."
• "Gearbox: fault. Safely stop vehicle"

Interestingly, if the vehicle is started a second time, these messages typically do not reappear.

Fault Codes / DTCs

For this condition, specific fault codes are logged in the vehicle's control units:

Code	Description	Module
P157000	"Engine control module locked"	Engine control unit J623 (diagnostic address 0001)
P170100	"Transmission control module locked"	Gearbox control unit J217 (diagnostic address 0002)

Diagnosis and Technical Background

Audi has identified the root cause of the 2025 Audi S3 PSS warning. There is a slight time delay during the startup sequence of the onboard supply control unit J519, which acts as the immobilizer master. This delay means that the immobilizer requests from both the engine control unit and the gearbox control unit are not processed in time. This timing mismatch leads to the logging of the specific event memory entries (DTCs P157000 and P170100) and the display of the warning messages in the instrument cluster.

Important Warnings for Owners

Audi has issued specific guidance regarding this condition:

• "Do not replace any components for this condition since this will not resolve the customer's concern."
• "Replacing parts or attempting repairs will not fix the problem. Unjustified work/replacement parts will be charged back. Invoicing under warranty is not permitted."

These warnings are crucial as they prevent unnecessary and ineffective repairs, saving owners potential costs and frustration.

Repair Procedure Summary

The long-term solution for this issue involves an optimized software update. Audi states that an optimized software version 0434 for the onboard supply control unit is the planned fix. However, this solution is not yet available.

Owner Action

If you experience the 2025 Audi S3 PSS warning or related messages, you should be aware of the following:

• A permanent solution, involving a software update, is expected to be available by the end of the first quarter of 2025. This timeline is subject to change.
• No repairs are necessary at this point, as replacing components will not resolve the issue.
• Dealers are instructed to create a PSS (Pending Service Solutions) record for affected vehicles through the PSS application in AccessAudi.

Owners should monitor official Audi communications or consult their dealership for updates on the availability of the software fix.

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Source: NHTSA ID: 11011311