2023-2024 Audi 'Vehicle lights: fault' Message TSB

Symptoms

Owners of 2023-2024 Audi A4, A4 allroad, S4, A5, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, S5, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, RS 5, RS 5 Sportback, e-tron GT, RS e-tron GT, Q7, SQ7, Q8, SQ8, and RS Q8 models may observe a persistent warning message in their instrument cluster: "Vehicle lights: fault. Please contact workshop". This message appears permanently, even though the vehicle's lights are functioning correctly and there are no actual operational issues. Dealership technicians have confirmed that no event memory entries related to the vehicle lights are logged in any control units when this message is present.

Technical Background

Audi has identified the root cause of the "Vehicle lights: fault. Please contact workshop" message as a software issue within the Comfort System Central Control Module, identified by the address word 0046, also known as -J393-. This module is responsible for various comfort and electrical system functions, including aspects of vehicle lighting.

Production Solution

An optimized software version, 0630, for the Comfort System Central Control Module (-J393-, address word 0046) has been implemented in current series production vehicles to prevent this issue from occurring in new vehicles.

Important Warnings

Audi Technical Service Bulletin 57 24 48 2074172/1 includes several critical advisories for technicians and owners:

• Condition for Application: This TSB only applies if the "Vehicle lights: fault. Please contact workshop" message appears permanently in the instrument cluster AND there are no relevant event memory entries related to the lights stored in any control units.
• Virtual Pedal Settings: Prior to performing the SVM Update, customers must be informed that if the virtual pedal was deactivated from a prior TSB (specifically TSB 2070966), those changes will be lost and must be re-performed. It is not possible to remotely store these settings.
• Key Position During Update: During the software update process, the vehicle's key must be placed on the emergency reader coil.

Repair Procedure Summary

To resolve the persistent "Vehicle lights: fault. Please contact workshop" message, technicians will perform a software update on the Comfort System Central Control Module (-J393-). This procedure involves following the instructions detailed in TSB 2011732: 00 Software Version Management (SVM), operating instructions.

The update process for the 2023 Audi Q8 and other affected models requires using the SVM action code 46A034. This code will update the software in the -J393- module to version 0630 or higher. The specific software part numbers involved are 8W1.907.064.* for models like the A4, A5, Q7, and Q8, and 992.907.064.* for the e-tron GT. After the software update is successfully completed, the Comfort System Central Control Module (-J393-) must be reset for at least 10 minutes. This reset is performed by temporarily pulling the fuses for the -J393- module, with specific fuse locations found in the ELSA repair manual.

Affected Components and Software

The primary component affected by this issue is the Comfort System Central Control Module (-J393-), located at diagnostic address 0046. The software versions targeted for update are 0627 and 0628, which will be updated to version 0630 or higher. The relevant software part numbers are 8W1.907.064.* for most models and 992.907.064.* for the e-tron GT.

Warranty Information

This repair, covered under TSB 57 24 48 2074172/1, is typically covered under Audi's new vehicle limited warranty for up to 48 months or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. For Audi Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, coverage is under claim type G10, requiring owner verification. If the vehicle is outside of its warranty period, this Technical Service Bulletin serves as informational guidance. The service number for this operation is 5789, with a damage code of 0039. Labor operations include a Software Update (code 0151 0010) and a Reset of the Comfort System Control Module (code 5789 0599), which is estimated to take 10 time units (TU).

NHTSA ID: 11005899