The cold start nightmare of Mr F’s Audi SQ5
The SQ5 is the performance SUV that tops Audi’s trim levels. When it was first announced in 2013, under the bonnet was a V6 diesel engine boasting over 300 horsepower. So, it certainly has the high-speed performance to match its class and stature.
With such precisely engineered parts, Audi engineers intended the SQ5 to be a well-oiled machine to always perform optimally. Occasionally these can be troublesome to maintain, and owners need to perform regular checks and servicing to prevent expensive failures down the line.
When Mr F came to our workshop with his SQ5 we were in awe of its stature and design. We are your Audi Specialists at Fitch Autos and this Audi SQ5 came to us with a check engine light, the bane of a lot of VW-Audi Group owners’ lives. Mr F also complained of the engine being difficult to start up on a cold day. As it could be a multitude of failures, our specialist Audi garage technicians were ready to fully examine every fault code that appeared.
If the engine were to fail on Mr F because of this engine management light, then it could be a catastrophic cost to replace with a new unit, especially with this rare SQ5 Diesel V6. We were glad to see Mr F’s Audi when we did, as the issue could not wait any longer.
With careful engine management for emissions, components such as particulate filters, glow plugs, turbochargers, NOx sensors and more are all managing clean combustion of the fuel. Any of these can be at fault when a check engine light appears, with some being labour intensive and costly to repair.
We are Audi Specialists at Fitch Auto’s, and our expert technician, Rob Lawton was on hand to attend to Mr F’s Audi right away. Rob started by investigating any fault codes, assessing them one by one and then getting to the root cause of the engine management light.
Finding the Engine Fault
As we are Audi specialists at Fitch Auto’s, we cater to every Audi customer’s needs. With Mr F we wanted to make sure his problem was dealt with quickly and efficiently to get him back on the road as soon as possible. Luckily our technicians could use their vast knowledge on Audi vehicles and diesel engines to look at the engine management light. We also fix anything from airbags, electrical, maintenance, emissions, suspension and more.
Our technicians are Audi specialists and use their expertise combined with the best in dealership tools to diagnose the fault in Mr F’s SQ5. We used the ODIS tool in this case, as it is the number one Audi tool used by Audi Dealers and Audi authorised specialists, like Fitch Autos .
The initial code read was performed by our technician Rob which opened a can of worms on Mr F’s Audi. There were several intermittent codes that formed part of the check engine light that appeared on the SQ5’s dashboard, they were:
- P226E00 – Particulate filter deteriorated/missing substrate (bank 2)
- P067600 – Cylinder 6 Glow Plug Circuit
- P103200 – Nox Sensor signal too high
- P157000 – Engine Control Unit Disabled
- P200600 – Intake Manifold Runner Control Bank 1 Stuck Closed
Rob, being an Audi SQ5 specialist, knew what to do for each code to check the appropriate systems one by one to see which component(s) had failed. This included a live data check when Rob took the Audi on a test drive. This was to make sure there were no underlying issues that could be a catastrophic engine failure. Again, fortunate that Mr F’s Audi proved to not be a big engine problem, instead it was the glow plugs that were at fault.
The glow plugs are present only in diesel engines and are used to heat the incoming air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber to make the vehicle start up easier. They are used on especially cold days, as diesel engines do not rely on a spark that petrol engines use, they rely on compression to burn the air and fuel. If the glow plugs fail then one or more cylinders will not fire up as easily on a cold day, leaving the engine to be inefficient and take longer to start up.
In Cylinder 6, Rob determined the glow plug had high resistance and was faulty. This needed to be replaced to ensure the SQ5 could run optimally once more. Luckily, being an Audi SQ5 specialist, his car was in the right hands at Fitch Auto’s.
Fixing the Glow Plug
Like spark plugs, ignition coils and other major engine parts, it is advised to change the entire set of glow plugs to ensure they function the same. Rob knew this from experience and advised Mr F that he should change all the plugs on the V6 diesel unit.
Mr F agreed before the new parts were ordered in from our Audi specialist supplier and delivered on the same day. This meant that Rob could replace them almost immediately to get Mr F’s Audi back up and running with no issues.
Then the Audi was cleared of all its fault codes using ODIS and test driven by Rob to confirm the new glow plugs had worked. The trip was a success and Mr F could set off again the same day.
Another Satisfied Customer with a Fast Turnaround
With our expert team at Fitch Auto’s, your Audi specialist, Rob was assigned to fix Mr F’s Audi straight away. Pairing his expertise with this Audi vehicle, meant that the problem was diagnosed quickly and efficiently.
The recommended Audi glow plugs that were used meant that Mr F’s Audi was functioning as it should, and the plugs will not need replacing for some time now. Not only was the problem fixed the same day, but new parts were high quality – they were from the original parts manufacturer (Volkswagen) and guaranteed to be compatible.
If we were not able to fix Mr F’s Audi the same day, we offer our customers free courtesy vehicles, to enable Mr F to continue with his otherwise busy schedule. But a check engine light, along with a lengthy repair process is the last thing Mr F wanted in his luxury, sporty SUV.
At Fitch Autos we have the knowledge to fix any Audi or SQ5 fault. As we see hundreds of customers each month being an Audi specialist, our technicians follow strict standards. This includes electrical, safety, servicing, mechanical, and air conditioning issues amongst many more.
Every customer is walked through the fault-finding mission, to see what has been performed on their car to get it back up and running. Including which parts have been replaced and checked. With a breakdown of costs too. At Fitch Autos we only use genuine or high quality equivalent parts for our vehicle repairs. Which is another reason why so many of our customers rely on us to fix issues with their cars.
If you need to fix your Audi engine management light, need an Audi service or have any other Audi issue, contact us today on 01543 401 254 to book an appointment. With the best customer service and expert technicians here to help here at Fitch Autos, your independent Audi specialist garage!
