a3 Audi A3 E-tron 2016, Drive system fault

[markymarkmck]

Hi, 

This is my first post on here but I was hoping someone could help me with a couple of issues. 
1. I was driving long distance and about 90 mins in I received a red error saying "Drive System: system fault! Safely stop vehicle". I managed to pull over at a garage where a mechanic kindly plugged in a diagnostic but it showed no issues. I am still getting the error system every time I turn on the car though. And it drives as normal. No issues at all. It was spilling rain so I do wonder if a sensor got damp somehow. But I can't figure it out. 

2. A long standing issue, the MMI randomly pops up and down every 2nd or 3rd time I start the car. Sometimes the radio won't engage when this happens. About the rest of the time, it works perfectly. 

3. Final issue I'm having, the rear wiper fluid no longer pumps out water. I wonder if it's a blockage or just a faulty pump. 

Anyway, the first issue is the main one. Has anyone experienced this before and it is a simple reset fix? 

Thanks. 

[Tigermaul]

How was your issue resolved? I have the same error message. Mine came after long drive in rain, then charging at lamppost. Charged stopped automatically 2/3 full rather than continue to 100% as usual, but car then showed error messages and wouldn’t start at all. Mobile EV mechanic has changed 12v battery which means car starts (but direct to Ice which is unusual) but error messages still there and car won’t actually go forward or back when D or R engaged - he says the EV system and ICe motor aren’t talking to each other properly. All these problems came after - for the first time ever - I got into the ‘red’ on both electric and petrol fuel gauges, although it was still saying 60 miles range left. I think I have exactly the same car as you - a 2015 e-tron. Mine is out of warranty so hoping it’s not the dreaded EV battery!

[markymarkmck]

Hey. Mine actually isn't yet resolved. It's booked in to see Audi in a couple of weeks. (Quickest appointment I could get). I'm pretty confident mine is just a faulty sensor as the car drives perfectly and charges etc with no issues. 

The issue you have, I did also have though about a year ago. I think my mechanic said the hybrid actuator was broken (though don't quote me on this as I might be missing remembering). Worryingly he said when he opened it up, it fell apart in his hands. He had no idea what caused it. Overall it cost me about £700-800 to fix and has been fine since. 

I hope you get it sorted. 

[Tigermaul]

Ah ok. Cheers for that. Ok I will make that suggestion to my EV mechanic. Did you go to Audi for that one, and did you have to go to a high voltage specialist Audi garage (eg Watford?).

[markymarkmck]

No I actually just went to my local mechanic. I'm not sure if I just got lucky but he's very trustworthy and reasonably priced. Based around Dalston in East London. 

[Frankstewart]

Hey, any update on this initial issue? Just had the exact same on my 2016 a3 etron. Very concerned! 

[markymarkmck]

Hey. Not just yet except to say it’s really hard to get an appointment at an Audi garage. My nearest tone, Chingford, have said they’re not hybrid certified so won’t take it. And the next nearest at Whetstone, won’t answer the phone. But hoping to get it in this week. 
The mechanics who have seen it, said do not drive it and only go to Audi for it. It’s definitely a hybrid battery issue. 
Let me know if you get any further than me. 

[Frankstewart]

Mine is in with Audi now, they advised me to tow it over so I towed it over last week. They said they need to take 5 battery readings across 5 days to determine the issue and rang me today to confirm there’s a genuine battery issue. I checked and there’s an outstanding campaign on the battery in my car for seals on the hybrid battery which may warrant new casing on the battery or a full battery replacement depending on the damage once they open it up (if corrosion present they replace) however they can’t confirm to me whether this will be valid on my car due to the length that this recall is open (I bought the car in apr 2021 without realising it had an open campaign from 2020) so it could be out of pocket for me which at that point at 8k or more for a battery it’s not worth it as the car is valued at €10k. I’ll be devastated if that’s the case, I was never made aware of the recall and now may be majorly out of pocket!

[markymarkmck]

I reckon it will be the same with us. Sounds like you’re having a very similar issue. We also have to get ours towed. Maybe we can raise a case with Audi if there’s enough people experiencing the same issue? 

[Frankstewart]

Yeah I’ll let you know how my car gets resolved in the coming days and if it’s not covered I’ll 100% have to raise the issue, if there’s 3 of us here on this thread with the exact same issue it’s a trend not a coincidence any longer

[Jyrkka]

Hi! Any update? I have the same issue as well in a 2015 A3 E-tron. The battery was replaced by Audi in 2019 in recall and still now this issue. The dealer is saying the battery might need to be replaced at my cost which is not worth it considering the price of the car. I am now looking for a refurbished battery replacement.

[Frankstewart]

Hey, my car is still in Audi over 2 months later. They need to replace the hybrid battery, issue with the seals and water has gotten in to the battery. I’m hopeful because my car battery was never replaced that it might be covered. No confirmation and if not, the cost is 15k for parts and labour 

[markymarkmck]

Ours has been a nightmare. 
Same issue, the casing has come away from the hybrid battery and moisture got in there. Car is atill at Audi Watford and has been for nearly 2 months. Sounds like an identical issue to some of you. Audi have said that as my battery warranty is up (6 months ago). There’s nothing they can do and to fix it will cost £32,000. Crazy stuff. 
We’re now in a battle with our finance company to pretty much prove this isn’t our fault and that they need to replace our car. They are currently refusing and expecting us to just keep paying them, with the written off. I don’t believe our fully comp insurance covers it either. 

[cliffcoggin]

I hope I am not muddying the waters here, but I wonder if this topic is related to yours which also concerns the "mild hybrid".

 

[Frankstewart]

32K is absolute insanity, what is with the crazy difference between Ireland and uk? Why would it be 17K cheaper to perform this job in Ireland!!?!? Was your car battery ever replaced under the battery recall? You can check on a website called Audicheck

[markymarkmck]

No I don’t believe it was due to be replaced. But I’ll definitely double check. 
ah I didn’t realise you were back home. 
Double the price for the UK. Typical. Brexit is a !Removed! show on every level. 

[Tigermaul]

I do think Audi are hiding behind ‘out of warranty’ to disguise what is a known issue with Etron plug-in hybrids. What I would recommend is you go to an independent EV mechanic - the one I used is ex Audi West London. He says all EVs are prone to water ingress because of aluminium which as it corrodes expands (?) thus the seals fail. And there was a recall in the US for exactly this issue. Anyway mine had water dripping out of the EV controller (which is considered part of the battery). Audi themselves claimed out of warranty, not interested in even any goodwill. EV battery repair kits exist but Audi main dealers won’t work with them. My independent man ordered and fitted a new EV controller and with labour that was £2k - but afterwards the car worked better than new, with a greater EV only range with the new software. However after all this I’d lost faith, and traded it in for a 12-month-old (non Audi) full EV which still had seven years of battery warranty left. Huge depreciation on EVs (50% in a year for the one I bought) meant I could afford the finance. I’d never buy a hybrid or EV again without a long manufacturer’s warranty - the cost of EV battery replacement is obscene.

[markymarkmck]

Thanks for sharing. 
we’ve still gotten no where. I can’t even get Audi Watford to speak to me, even though they still have our car since May!! 
It’s so bizarre. 
We’re looking to go down the independent EV mechanic ourselves. Would love if you could share the part number they needed to replace the old battery. I’m finding mixed results online and Audi won’t tell me directly over the phone. 
Have also wondered if the VW EV batteries would do the job as they’re about 30-40% cheaper. 

Would you share the details of the mechanic who sorted yours? 
 

thanks a lot. I’m at my whitts end with this. 

[oohmsjones]

Same thing has just happened to me! Driving in heavy rain on the dual carriageway, got the same message. No loss of power, driving fine. Also a 2015 A3 E-tron. Currently waiting for RAC to check it over, hoping I can at least get it home as I’m 30 miles away! I’ve got a really good local independent mechanic who works with EVs and hybrids so hopefully he can sort it. 

[markymarkmck]

Oh fingers crossed for you. I’m sourcing a new battery as we speak to try get it fixed with ours. 
Do you mind me asking if you’re London based and if you would share your mechanic details?

[Tigermaul]

Hi all. I got mine fixed via Dan at MMS Technik mmstechnik.co.uk. He’s excellent, cheap and ex Audi West London. His workshop is at Ranmore Common, Effingham, Dorking but he also offers a mobile service in London and Surrey area and is loosely attached to a garage in Hampton Hill. Water had got into my EV controller, out of warranty. Audi wouldn’t help in terms of goodwill even though it’s a known issue but Dan sourced a new EV controller, reseated the battery properly, and afterwards was working better than new with a better electric range. I think it cost me around £2k. He took a video showing water literally dripping out of the EV controller.