2021-2023 Audi Q5 e / A7 e Shuddering Low Charge TSB

Audi has released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2071340/2 to address a specific concern in certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 e and A7 e models. Owners may experience a shuddering sensation in their vehicle when the engine switches on and the high-voltage battery charge level is low. This TSB, issued on September 24, 2024, supersedes a previous bulletin (Group 93 number 23-22 dated September 7, 2023) and provides updated instructions for resolving the issue.

This bulletin applies to 2020-2023 Audi Q5 e quattro and 2021-2022 Audi A7 e quattro vehicles. The primary solution involves updating the software for the Hybrid Battery Management system.

Symptoms

Owners of affected Audi Q5 e and A7 e models may notice a specific behavior:

• "The vehicle shudders after pulling away when the engine is switched on and the charge level of the high-voltage battery is in the red area."

This shuddering typically occurs when the high-voltage battery's charge is depleted, prompting the combustion engine to engage. Workshop findings confirm that this complaint is reproducible and is linked to specific vehicle equipment versions.

Important Warnings for Owners and Technicians

Audi emphasizes critical precautions during the software update process:

• High-Voltage Charging Cable: "To prevent the high-voltage battery from charging during the software update, the high-voltage charging cable on vehicles with high-voltage components must be unplugged BEFORE the SVM code is entered. Charging the high-voltage battery during a software update can cause damage to the high-voltage components." This step is crucial to protect the vehicle's high-voltage system.
• Post-Update Behavior: "In very rare cases, a slight judder may be noticeable in certain accelerator pedal positions despite the updated software. This is due to the combustion engine being switched on. This behavior is normal. It is not necessary to replace any parts." Owners should be aware that a minor judder might still occur, but it does not indicate a persistent fault.

Repair Procedure Summary

The repair outlined in TSB 2071340/2 involves updating the software of the Hybrid Battery Management control unit (J840) and potentially other related modules using the Software Version Management (SVM) system. Technicians must follow instructions from TSB 2011732 for general SVM operating procedures.

There are two main SVM update options:

SVM Update Option 1 (for Q5 TFSIe):

1. The Hybrid Battery Management control unit (J840) is updated.
2. The SVM action code 8CA009 is used.
3. This update targets vehicles with Old Software Part Number 4M4915233G (Version 0371) to New Software Part Number 4M4915233K (Version 0373).

SVM Update Option 2 (for Q5 TFSIe and A7 TFSIe):

1. This option updates the Hybrid Battery Management control unit (J840), the Battery Junction Box (SX6), and the Cell Module Control units (CMC).
2. The SVM action codes 8CA011 and 8CA011KONF are used.
3. For Q5 TFSIe, this targets Old Software Part Number 4M0915233R (Version 0273) to New Software Part Number 4M0915233AE (Version 0278).
4. For A7 TFSIe, this targets Old Software Part Number 4K0915233 (Version 0275) to New Software Part Number 4K0915233A (Version 0278), and also Old Software Part Number 4M4915233B (Version 0371) to New Software Part Number 4M4915233J (Version 0373).

When flashing with SVM code 8CA001, it is essential that the code 8CA011KONF is performed afterwards. The system name involved is "8C - Hybrid Battery Management". The hardware part numbers associated with this system are 4M0915233C and 4M0915233AE, with a hardware version number H08 and software version number 0278. This update aims to resolve the Audi Q5 e shuddering low charge condition.

Warranty Information

This Technical Service Bulletin is informational only if the vehicle is outside of its warranty period. For vehicles under warranty, claims should be submitted according to the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures Manual. The claim comment should reference "As per TSB 2071340/2". The service number for this operation is 9327, with a damage code of 0040. The labor operation for the software update is 0151 0000.

NHTSA ID: 11009403