2021 Audi Q5/SQ5/Q5 e Surging Noises from Water Ingress

Audi has released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2061645/2 to address customer complaints of Audi Q5 surging noises in certain 2021 Q5, SQ5, and Q5 e models. This bulletin, which supersedes TSB 20-17 dated December 10, 2020, outlines a specific condition where water can accumulate within the vehicle's side member or sill panel, leading to audible sloshing or surging sounds. The TSB provides a detailed repair procedure to resolve this water ingress issue.

Symptoms

Owners of affected 2021 Audi Q5, SQ5, and Q5 e vehicles may notice Audi Q5 surging noises originating from the side member or sill panel while driving. Another reported symptom is "Water in interior," indicating that the water ingress is significant enough to affect the vehicle's cabin.

Diagnosis / Trigger Conditions

To properly diagnose this issue, technicians are instructed to reproduce the customer complaint to confirm the presence of surging noises. The primary workshop finding associated with this TSB is "Water in side member," confirming that water has collected within this area of the vehicle's body structure.

Repair Procedure Summary

The repair procedure outlined in TSB 2061645/2 is designed to eliminate water accumulation in the side members and prevent the recurrence of Audi Q5 surging noises. This process involves several steps to ensure proper drainage and sealing, and it must be performed on both the left and right sides of the vehicle.

1. Access the Side Member: Technicians begin by removing the underbody trim. This step provides necessary access to the outer side member where the water ingress issue originates.
2. Remove Outer Side Member Plugs: Specific body plugs, identified as plugs 3 and 4 in the B-pillar area of the outer side member (as illustrated in Figure 2 of the TSB), are then removed. These plugs are key to the water retention problem.
3. Inspect Inner Side Panel: Before proceeding, the inner side panel is checked for any existing water accumulation. This helps confirm the extent of the water ingress.
4. Remove Inner Side Member Plugs: Plugs 2 and 3 from the inner side member in the B-pillar area (shown in Figure 4 of the TSB) are also removed to facilitate drainage and inspection.
5. Install New Drain Valve: The crucial final step involves replacing plug 3 on the outer side member with a new water drain valve, part number 8W0 899 188. This specialized plug, depicted in Figure 5, is designed to allow water to drain effectively, preventing future accumulation and the associated surging noises.

Required Tools or Parts

To complete the repair, the following parts are required:

• Water drain valve, part number 8W0 899 188 (Quantity: 02)
• Fasteners, bolts, nuts, and screws as needed, which should be referenced in ETKA/ELSA and the repair manual.

Important Warnings

Audi emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis and application of this TSB:

"Try to reproduce the customer complaint so that it can be clearly assigned to this TSB. The following measure must only be carried out, if all the criteria (model/type, chassis number, engine/gearbox code, PR number(s), part number, software version, code etc.) apply exactly. Otherwise, this solution won't work and repeat repairs may be necessary. In such a case, we may reject the warranty claim and redebit the parts."

Warranty Information

For vehicles that are no longer covered by their original warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB Service Number 5145, Damage Code 0050) is provided for informational purposes only. Owners of out-of-warranty vehicles may be responsible for the cost of this repair.

Source: NHTSA ID: 11012493