Engine Management System - Audi Q3
Discussion
Hello,
I have a 2013 Audi Q3 diesel 2.0, i have done 29k miles. The Engine Management System(EPC) lights have been coming on, first of all EPC glow plug light flashes and drive power goes immediately. When I stop and restart this goes back to normal, but then after a while the engine symbol from the EPC warning lights comes on.
I had the emissions update about 12months ago. I suspect this is the root cause.
I took it to an Audi dealership and they ran their diagnostics claiming the cause was fuel pump failure. My questions:
1. Would a fuel pump failure lead to EPC lights flashing?
2. Why would a fuel pump fail on a car that has done so few miles?
3. Is there a link to the emissions config change in the car?
I have heard of EGR failures and other issues stemming from the emissions update.
Thanks
I have a 2013 Audi Q3 diesel 2.0, i have done 29k miles. The Engine Management System(EPC) lights have been coming on, first of all EPC glow plug light flashes and drive power goes immediately. When I stop and restart this goes back to normal, but then after a while the engine symbol from the EPC warning lights comes on.
I had the emissions update about 12months ago. I suspect this is the root cause.
I took it to an Audi dealership and they ran their diagnostics claiming the cause was fuel pump failure. My questions:
1. Would a fuel pump failure lead to EPC lights flashing?
2. Why would a fuel pump fail on a car that has done so few miles?
3. Is there a link to the emissions config change in the car?
I have heard of EGR failures and other issues stemming from the emissions update.
Thanks
Welcome to Pistonheads 
A given warning light does not point specifically to a given fault. Warning lights indicate that there is 'a' problem and the ECU (fault codes) will tell you what the ECU can or cannot see. Neither of these things say 'this is the fault, change this part', they simply give you clues as to what is wrong and from which point a technician will work backwards to the root cause.
Why did the part fail? Your guess is as good as mine. Manufacture defect, crap luck, contaminated fuel, too hot, too cold, foreign object, incorrectly installed/calibrated, design issue... I suppose yes, it is possible that the emissions update is asking something of the fuel pump it isn't happy doing or wasn't designed to do.
Think of it this way:
engine light comes on as the lambda has detected that the engine is running rich. The fault code reads something like 'oxygen sensor bank one: mixture too lean'.
This is not saying that the lambda/oxygen sensor has failed. The ECU is simply telling you that it is getting unexpected or out-of-range data from that sensor.
The 'root cause' in this example could even be that the air filter is completely clogged with leaves and the ECU is desperately trying (and failing) to compensate.
A given warning light does not point specifically to a given fault. Warning lights indicate that there is 'a' problem and the ECU (fault codes) will tell you what the ECU can or cannot see. Neither of these things say 'this is the fault, change this part', they simply give you clues as to what is wrong and from which point a technician will work backwards to the root cause.
Why did the part fail? Your guess is as good as mine. Manufacture defect, crap luck, contaminated fuel, too hot, too cold, foreign object, incorrectly installed/calibrated, design issue... I suppose yes, it is possible that the emissions update is asking something of the fuel pump it isn't happy doing or wasn't designed to do.
Think of it this way:
engine light comes on as the lambda has detected that the engine is running rich. The fault code reads something like 'oxygen sensor bank one: mixture too lean'.
This is not saying that the lambda/oxygen sensor has failed. The ECU is simply telling you that it is getting unexpected or out-of-range data from that sensor.
The 'root cause' in this example could even be that the air filter is completely clogged with leaves and the ECU is desperately trying (and failing) to compensate.
Thank you both for your comments.
The Audi dealership have said the fuel pump isn’t covered as part of the emissions trust build measure. The cover states:
“The trust build measure applies to complaints only in materials used and work performed on the following components of the EGR, fuel injection system and emissions after treatment system: lambda probe, temperature sensor, EGR changeover valve, EGR valve, EGR pressure differential sensor, injector, high pressure pump, fuel rail, pressure control valve, pressure sensor, high pressure pipelines,”
Based on the above, I had expected the fuel pump to be covered. Any comments?
The Audi dealership have said the fuel pump isn’t covered as part of the emissions trust build measure. The cover states:
“The trust build measure applies to complaints only in materials used and work performed on the following components of the EGR, fuel injection system and emissions after treatment system: lambda probe, temperature sensor, EGR changeover valve, EGR valve, EGR pressure differential sensor, injector, high pressure pump, fuel rail, pressure control valve, pressure sensor, high pressure pipelines,”
Based on the above, I had expected the fuel pump to be covered. Any comments?
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