2008-2026 Audi Speaker Rattles, Vibrations, or Audio Interference TSB

Symptoms of Audi Speaker Rattles

Owners of 2008-2026 Audi vehicles, including the Audi e-tron, may experience various audio disturbances from their sound system. These symptoms typically manifest as "a cracking, grinding, rattling, humming, whining, or similar interference" emanating from one or more speakers. These noises can be intermittent or constant, and may be particularly noticeable during phone calls.

Diagnosis and Trigger Conditions

Diagnosing the precise cause of these speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference requires a systematic approach. Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2018187/15 emphasizes that the customer complaint must be consistently reproducible for effective diagnosis. Technicians are advised to first ensure the vehicle's tone settings are at their default values, as custom settings can sometimes mask or alter the perceived noise.

The diagnostic process involves:

• Initial Preparation: Removing all loose items from door storage compartments, glove box, dash panel, and hat-shelf areas that could be contributing to noise.
• Speaker Cover Check: Applying pressure to speaker covers to see if the noise disappears, indicating a loose or damaged cover.
• Bolt Tightness: Checking and tightening all bolts securing the affected speaker.
• Foreign Objects: Inspecting the speaker for any foreign objects or debris (FOD) and removing them.
• Out-of-Vehicle Test: Dismounting the speaker and performing a sound test while holding it, checking for visible damage to the membrane or foam bead.
• Interior Inspection: Thoroughly checking the vehicle's interior for any loose bolts, trim pieces, fluttering labels, or wires that could be vibrating in resonance. This step is crucial for identifying the source of any Audi e-tron speaker rattles.
• Speaker Swap Test: If the issue persists, swapping the suspected faulty loudspeaker with the opposite side's loudspeaker to determine if the noise moves with the speaker. This helps confirm if the speaker itself is the source of the problem.

Important Warnings for Owners and Technicians

Audi has issued several critical advisories within TSB 2018187/15 to ensure proper diagnosis and repair, and to prevent unnecessary part replacements or warranty claim denials:

• Tone Settings: If the customer uses individual tone settings, these must be reset to their default value before diagnosis.
• Noise Localization: It is not always possible to localize the exact source of the noise directly. Vehicle components can transmit noises from other areas into the passenger compartment, which can make it difficult to localize the source of a noise correctly. This applies to complaints regarding noises while on a phone call, in particular.
• Unnecessary Replacements: Parts must not be replaced without a good reason as stated in this TSB. Such claims may be debited. This means speakers should not be replaced if they are not definitively proven to be the source of the noise.
• Claiming Labor: If the noise is caused by loose interior trim components rather than the speaker itself, Do not claim on the service number of the speaker! Instead, labor should be claimed using the service number of the casual component (e.g., door panel, dash panel).

Repair Procedure Summary

Once the source of the speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference is identified, the repair procedure outlined in TSB 2018187/15 focuses on addressing the specific cause. For issues related to the Audi e-tron speaker rattles, the steps include:

1. Speaker Cover Issues: If the speaker cover is the source, it should be reinstalled correctly. If necessary, measures like felt can be used to quiet it. A damaged speaker cover must be replaced, and labor claimed using its service number (e.g., 7014 for loudspeaker cover).
2. Loose Speaker Bolts: If loose bolts are found, they should be tightened. If this resolves the complaint, labor is claimed using the loudspeaker service number with damage type SA018 "loose".
3. Foreign Objects: Any foreign objects or debris found within the speaker assembly must be carefully removed.
4. Loose Interior Components: For noises originating from other interior components, technicians will secure loose bolts, trim, labels, or wires. Damaged components should be replaced. Labor for these repairs is claimed using the service number of the specific interior component (e.g., 5811 for door handle, 9732 for wiring harness for door).
5. Speaker Replacement: If the speaker swap test confirms that the noise moves with the speaker, indicating a faulty speaker, then the speaker should be replaced.

Warranty Information

When claiming warranty for repairs related to speaker rattles or vibrations, it is crucial to use the correct service numbers and damage types. For issues involving loose interior trim parts, the respective service number of the trim piece (e.g., 5811 for Door handle, 5817 for Door lock, 5819 for Cable, 5867 for Lock cylinder, 7014 for Loudspeaker cover, 7018 for Dash panel, 7022 for Dash panel cover, 7058 for Trim strip for dash panel, 9732 for Wiring harness for door, 9733 for Wiring harness for central locking system, 9740 for Wiring harness for steering column, 9774 for Wiring harness for dash panel, 7059 for Door trim front, 7073 for Door trim rear, 6815 for Glove box, 7030 for Luggage compartment cover) must be used. The damage type claimed must also be appropriate for the location and cause of the complaint. This ensures that warranty claims are processed correctly and not debited.

NHTSA ID 11003024