HDCL

So here is a long update of my experience with Audi Service regarding the Electrical System Malfunction "Christmas Tree" error:

1. Back in April/May of 2022, I was idling in a parking lot and the S/S system kept cycling. It was a hot day, so the AC was running. After about 10 minutes, everything shut down and I got the various failure messages (Generator, 48V System, Active Differential, etc.) Shutting it down and restarting made the error go away. I did an OBD scan, and it showed a P065C00 - Generator Mechanical Performance - Intermittent fault.
2. The error never reoccurred, and I went on 2 long road trips in Nov/Dec (over 1,200 miles round trip) with no issues
3. I received the MMI backup camera recall notice and scheduled an appointment for Jan 2 at the Audi dealership. I informed them of the prior Generator error and code. They were aware of the TSB and have 5 vehicles awaiting a new generator that have completely failed. They agreed that at a minimum, the software update per TSB would probably be required.
4. On Jan 3, the service coordinator contacted me to get a screenshot of the OBD error code. Their scan revealed no error codes related to the generator or 48V system. There was one for the Active Differential. Audi Corporate was not giving them permission to just update the software with no error code, so they were trying to make a case for me. Due to people just coming back from the Holidays, there was some delay
5. Today (Jan 4), they informed me that they got the go ahead to flash the software, but when they tried to do it, the software version on the vehicle was already the version that the TSB was instructing to update to - hence no update done or required per Audi. At this point, there is nothing more that can be done from a preventative perspective. I am scheduled to go pick up the vehicle this afternoon. There will be a printout of the current software version installed (that matches the TSB) that I can try to upload here.

So, in summary, here are my key takeaways:

1. Audi does not seem keen to just flash the software as a preventative measure if there are no codes related to this error that they can use to justify the update
2. Your Service Coordinator is going to be the key in how this is handled for each of us individually. While we were waiting for permission from Audi Corporate, I did NOT ask how much it would cost if I wanted to pay for it myself. This still could be an option for those of you who cannot convince the service department to do the software update under warranty/for free.
3. Some MY 2021 vehicles (mine was delivered Mar 2021, probably built Dec 2020/Jan 2021) apparently already have the newer software version that supposedly prevents the generator from eating itself.

Hopefully this software update is truly a long-term fix, and this problem will not occur.

ThomasWShea

Do you have a theory on the April/May P065C00 code you saw? Does the car dump errors after x amt. of time?

HDCL

The error was still readable by OBD Eleven on Dec 27. Not sure why Audi could not read the codes. I am not an OBD code expert, but some faults are stored as "Active", and others are "Inactive". Audi might be ignoring the Inactive codes as irrelevant - the car throws a LOT of codes for various reasons. My 12/27 scan showed 42 faults - most were related to the active assistance system not being able to see the road due to snow/salt/dirt, but others were not (See excerpt below). I was parked outside when some cold weather hit on different days - that made various systems unhappy - I think my exhaust valves froze, the airbag system was freaking out and some other systems were throwing errors. No warning on the dash however (other than various assist systems/lane departure not working temporarily due to visibility issues)

Of course, Audi says:



According to the dealer, if the fault was related to the one that makes the generator go boom, I would not have been able to drive without issues for more than a few weeks. Once the fatal issue is triggered (with the warning lights), you have days or weeks at the most before the car will just die. They said if it happens again, take a picture of the dashboard warning lights (in a safe place) and bring it back.

LONG LIST OF FAULT CODES
Fault
Control unit: 01 Engine
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 3
System description: V8 4.0l TFSI
Software number: 4M8907557F
Software version: 0001
Hardware number: 0P2907309A
Hardware version: H31
ODX name: EV_ECM40TFS0114M8907557F
ODX version: 001002
Faults:
P04A000 - Exhaust Pressure Control Valve "B" Range/Performance
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-03 18:16:52
Mileage: 20364 km
Priority: 2
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 255
Engine speed: 1314.50 1/min
Normed load value: 14.5 %
Vehicle speed: 0 km/h
Coolant temperature: -2 °C
Intake air temperature: -8 °C
Ambient air pressure: 970 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 14.940 V
Dynamic environmental data: 209621107A0311BD0A8B3EFC051216089E1514041B6010D210 1004A8
P047600 - Exhaust Pressure Control Valve "A" Range/Performance
Intermittent
Date: 2022-11-05 21:04:36
Mileage: 18993 km
Priority: 2
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 255
Engine speed: 1999.00 1/min
Normed load value: 11.4 %
Vehicle speed: 133 km/h
Coolant temperature: 104 °C
Intake air temperature: 4 °C
Ambient air pressure: 1000 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 11.840 V
Dynamic environmental data: 20960D107A0311BD0EC83EFC061216055E1514041B60000210 1003C0
P065C00 - Generator Mechanical Performance
Intermittent
Fault
Control unit: 02 Transmission
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 1
System description: 0D6 40FSINAR
Software number: 4M8927158F
Software version: 0004
Hardware number: 0D6927156H
Hardware version: H06
ODX name: EV_TCMALX52011
ODX version: 002016
Faults:
P060A00 - Internal Control Module Monitoring Processor Performance
Intermittent
Fault
Control unit: 03 Brakes
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 5
System description: ESP9 Premium
Software number: 4M8907379E
Software version: 0040
Hardware number: 4M8907379E
Hardware version: H06
ODX name: EV_ESP9BOSCHCMP
ODX version: 004011
Faults:
U122B00 - Implausible chassis control module
Intermittent
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
U122B00 - Implausible chassis control module
Intermittent
U042100 - Invalid Data Received From Suspension Control Module
Intermittent
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-27 11:02:14
Mileage: 23387 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 255
---: 9600803C892400000000
Dynamic environmental data: 209628
Fault
Control unit: 13 Adaptive Cruise Control
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 3
System description: LRR4R
Software number: 4M0907561P
Software version: 0500
Hardware number: 4K0907561
Hardware version: H12
ODX name: EV_ACCBOSCHAU65X
ODX version: 002031
Faults:
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-25 20:59:53
Mileage: 23155 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 2
Unlearning counter: 30
Dynamic environmental data: 028D43028595101101EC10120C23102E02107EF72B107FF17F 1080013BDD0001C3F13BDE0004C12F53060026095753AD00
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-25 20:59:53
Mileage: 23155 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 2
Unlearning counter: 30
Dynamic environmental data: 028D43028595101101EC10120C23102E02107EF72B107FF17F 1080013BDD0001C3F13BDE0004C12F53060026095753AD00
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-27 11:02:14
Mileage: 23387 km
Priority: 4
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 33
Dynamic environmental data: 028D3B0285941011227A1012FFBE102E02107E0002107F0013 1080013BDD000221473BDE0002E43453060026095C53AD00


Mileage: 23624 km
Date: 2022-12-27 15:26

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 15 Airbag
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 7
System description: AirbagVW31
Software number: 4N0959655AC
Software version: 2844
Hardware number: 4N0959655AC
Hardware version: H05
Serial number: 0031JM007EP5
ODX name: EV_AirbaVW31SMEAU65x
ODX version: 001042
Faults:
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-27 11:02:15
Mileage: 23387 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 33
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-27 11:02:15
Mileage: 23387 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 33
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-27 11:02:15
Mileage: 23387 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 33
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-27 11:02:15
Mileage: 23387 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 33
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-27 11:02:15
Mileage: 23387 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 33
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-27 11:02:15
Mileage: 23387 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 33
U112300 - Databus error value received
Intermittent
Date: 2022-12-27 11:02:15
Mileage: 23387 km
Priority: 6
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 33


Mileage: 23624 km
Date: 2022-12-27 15:26

ThomasWShea

My opinion is that P065C00 was caused by the start/stop activity - it is described as the generator/alternator saying "hey i'm not producing the expected power and i think i'm supposed to be..." but if the car is stoping and starting, and the generator electronics are powered, I speculate that the error could occasionally happen if the s/s sequence happened at just the right moment. So P065C00 is probably benign as far as exploding the generator. However, if a car had that error constantly, the generator may be dying, but not because the software exploded it like in these cases the TSB outlines.

zeethedog

Would like to be informed if anyone hears of class action on the alternators of 2019 Q8. Ours went out - our local dealer had 9 on the lot waiting for parts. We were told it would be 3-4 months before we could get our car back! They had no loaners and told us Audi NA would reimburse us for the rental thru Audi Direct. I have yet to hear from Audi NA about the reimbursement - we are on day1 of rental. This is a huge problem for Audi - appears to be on 2019 Q8, A8 and Q7 with the hybrid alternator.

Steve Du

This is the first time I even heard of AoA is going to reimburse your rental... I'd be careful if I were you. Dealers won't always tell you the truth but to provide an empty promise to "de-escalate" the situation. If this current situation hasn't prompted them to be proactive about it, paying back your rental might not even be in their mind.

But yes, I'd love to hear if any law firm is going to start a class action lawsuit.

frits

Has any user reported a similar issue with a diesel Q8?

LDNCLR

Hey every one, I just joined today and this is my first post...same story here... 19 Q8, 64K miles, all the lights and all the problems. Placed an order for the alternator through Baton Rouge Audi (who were an absolute pleasure to work with). I purchased the car used, and since then I have exceeded the mileage for warranty service. Upon finding this thread back in November, I reached out to AoA via phone and had a pleasant conversation with a support specialist who followed up with an email to me containing her direct line and email address. Yesterday I replied to her email politely requesting an update on parts availability, and the possibility of assistance from AoA (of any kind). She called me today to review my concerns and proceeded to tell me there is now a specific arrangement put in place for these alternator problems in the US. She listed off 3-4 (I don't exactly recall) supplements that Audi is willing to provide in an attempt to help. These ranged from assistance with loaners/ rentals to discounted vehicles if I were to purchase another Audi etc... She claimed that most of these supplements were provided at the dealer level, and that the national network of dealers has been made aware of the expectations to participate by AoA. I immediately asked for the documentation to be emailed to me, and she said that the official documentation should be available to email to me tomorrow...
Obviously I will share it here ASAP.
Its not a firm ETA on parts, and its not a promise for a Q8 level loaner, but i think its a step in the right direction on AoAs part, and shows they are aware of the magnitude of the issue.
I hope to have something to share tomorrow....fingers crossed!

LDNCLR

Hello everyone, I joined today to hopefully provide a shimmer of hope to this group. I started following this thread in early November 22 when my 19 Q8 showed me all the lights and all the problems. To make a long story short, I ordered an alternator through Audi of Baton Rouge (very pleasant experience by the way) with no ETA as we all know. I am at 64K miles, out of warranty, and the car was purchased used so I didn't expect to be offered a loaner. After I stumbled upon this thread, I opened a case with an AoA CSR. She was polite, but wasn't able to give me much info that I hadn't learned here. Yesterday I emailed her requesting an update on parts ETA, but also leaned into the "what is Audi going to do here" questions. She replied to me via phone conversation today and told me there is now an "Alternator Failure Specific Protocol" that has been recommended to all dealers in the US. She spoke of a few ways AoA was willing to provide assistance, ranging from helping with loaner/ rental cars, to discounts for new Audis if I was willing to trade my broken Q8 in. Id rather not talk about the specifics here because I don't want to misquote her or misinform any one here, but I did request she email me the documentation for this program. She told me the official documentation would most likely be ready to email tomorrow. Obviously I will share it as soon as I see it. So, no, its not a firm ETA on the parts, or a promise for a Q8 level loaner, but it sounds like AoA has a grasp of the weight of this issue, and is starting to make concessions to out-of-warranty customers.
I hope to have something a little more tangible to upload tomorrow.

retom

The problem affects all Audi cars with 48V installation, also A6 and A7.
For those who have cars after warranty, it is possible to quickly buy an alternator in the EU and send it to the USA. This company (link below) is able to quickly ship the parts you need. It may not be the cheapest, but if you have the prospect of waiting 3-4 months for an alternator in the USA, it may be a solution.
https://www.oemvwshop.com/
https://www.oemvwshop.com/4n0903028p-starter-alternator-water-cooled-p2906468/