Electrical error
02-07-2023, 11:12 AM
#111
Good news update!!--My local dealer called this morning to let me know they'd received a shipment of 4 Continental 48v belt starter/generators this morning. One of them is for my 2021 S8. I had stopped by the dealership yesterday and spoke with one of the service advisors and the parts dept. about any projected arrival timing. They showed me the status of this part on their system monitor throughout the eastern U.S. None were designated for our area as of yesterday morning. I left there yesterday feeling like there was no hope they'd be able to get one of these units for my Audi for weeks or months to come. When I got the call early this morning that 4 of them arrived today, I was shocked. I was told that Audi called them yesterday afternoon and wanted to know how many new units they needed and asked for the VIN's and owner information. With no promises made or even an indication of what was going to happen, 4 new units showed up this morning with one of them designated for my car. It'll be installed next week! 
Further interesting information---These new units of the same build design...no improvements/no re-design. Audi is simply sending out new units to replace known bad ones. Continental has not solved the issue yet so all of their production is still of the faulty design. Newly produced 2023 Audi's are receiving the same potentially faulty starter/generators which is why the TSB was extended to cover 2023 models. As part of their "solution" for owners, Audi has announced an extended warranty for this problem (U56) for 7 years/unlimited mileage. They are most likely going to issue a recall for every vehicle that has the current unit so they can replace it with the new version of this Continental product--but not until the new version is fully in production. It's anyone's guess as to when that could happen.
After next Thursday, I'll be able to drive my Audi again but will need to be on the alert for that group of codes at startup that tells me not to drive it if the new alternator/generators fails.
Further interesting information---These new units of the same build design...no improvements/no re-design. Audi is simply sending out new units to replace known bad ones. Continental has not solved the issue yet so all of their production is still of the faulty design. Newly produced 2023 Audi's are receiving the same potentially faulty starter/generators which is why the TSB was extended to cover 2023 models. As part of their "solution" for owners, Audi has announced an extended warranty for this problem (U56) for 7 years/unlimited mileage. They are most likely going to issue a recall for every vehicle that has the current unit so they can replace it with the new version of this Continental product--but not until the new version is fully in production. It's anyone's guess as to when that could happen.
After next Thursday, I'll be able to drive my Audi again but will need to be on the alert for that group of codes at startup that tells me not to drive it if the new alternator/generators fails.
Last edited by gb4.2; 02-08-2023 at 05:33 AM. Reason: Clarification in last sentence
02-08-2023, 01:57 PM
#113
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Good news update!!--My local dealer called this morning to let me know they'd received a shipment of 4 Continental 48v belt starter/generators this morning. One of them is for my 2021 S8. I had stopped by the dealership yesterday and spoke with one of the service advisors and the parts dept. about any projected arrival timing. They showed me the status of this part on their system monitor throughout the eastern U.S. None were designated for our area as of yesterday morning. I left there yesterday feeling like there was no hope they'd be able to get one of these units for my Audi for weeks or months to come. When I got the call early this morning that 4 of them arrived today, I was shocked. I was told that Audi called them yesterday afternoon and wanted to know how many new units they needed and asked for the VIN's and owner information. With no promises made or even an indication of what was going to happen, 4 new units showed up this morning with one of them designated for my car. It'll be installed next week!
Further interesting information---These new units of the same build design...no improvements/no re-design. Audi is simply sending out new units to replace known bad ones. Continental has not solved the issue yet so all of their production is still of the faulty design. Newly produced 2023 Audi's are receiving the same potentially faulty starter/generators which is why the TSB was extended to cover 2023 models. As part of their "solution" for owners, Audi has announced an extended warranty for this problem (U56) for 7 years/unlimited mileage. They are most likely going to issue a recall for every vehicle that has the current unit so they can replace it with the new version of this Continental product--but not until the new version is fully in production. It's anyone's guess as to when that could happen.
After next Thursday, I'll be able to drive my Audi again but will need to be on the alert for that group of codes at startup that tells me not to drive it if the new alternator/generators fails.
Further interesting information---These new units of the same build design...no improvements/no re-design. Audi is simply sending out new units to replace known bad ones. Continental has not solved the issue yet so all of their production is still of the faulty design. Newly produced 2023 Audi's are receiving the same potentially faulty starter/generators which is why the TSB was extended to cover 2023 models. As part of their "solution" for owners, Audi has announced an extended warranty for this problem (U56) for 7 years/unlimited mileage. They are most likely going to issue a recall for every vehicle that has the current unit so they can replace it with the new version of this Continental product--but not until the new version is fully in production. It's anyone's guess as to when that could happen.
After next Thursday, I'll be able to drive my Audi again but will need to be on the alert for that group of codes at startup that tells me not to drive it if the new alternator/generators fails.
But I had no clue about the long term thing...holy cow. That is I teresting as hell will ask more about that
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MorganMay (02-09-2023)
02-08-2023, 02:04 PM
#114
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Good news update!!--My local dealer called this morning to let me know they'd received a shipment of 4 Continental 48v belt starter/generators this morning. One of them is for my 2021 S8. I had stopped by the dealership yesterday and spoke with one of the service advisors and the parts dept. about any projected arrival timing. They showed me the status of this part on their system monitor throughout the eastern U.S. None were designated for our area as of yesterday morning. I left there yesterday feeling like there was no hope they'd be able to get one of these units for my Audi for weeks or months to come. When I got the call early this morning that 4 of them arrived today, I was shocked. I was told that Audi called them yesterday afternoon and wanted to know how many new units they needed and asked for the VIN's and owner information. With no promises made or even an indication of what was going to happen, 4 new units showed up this morning with one of them designated for my car. It'll be installed next week!
Further interesting information---These new units of the same build design...no improvements/no re-design. Audi is simply sending out new units to replace known bad ones. Continental has not solved the issue yet so all of their production is still of the faulty design. Newly produced 2023 Audi's are receiving the same potentially faulty starter/generators which is why the TSB was extended to cover 2023 models. As part of their "solution" for owners, Audi has announced an extended warranty for this problem (U56) for 7 years/unlimited mileage. They are most likely going to issue a recall for every vehicle that has the current unit so they can replace it with the new version of this Continental product--but not until the new version is fully in production. It's anyone's guess as to when that could happen.
After next Thursday, I'll be able to drive my Audi again but will need to be on the alert for that group of codes at startup that tells me not to drive it if the new alternator/generators fails.
Further interesting information---These new units of the same build design...no improvements/no re-design. Audi is simply sending out new units to replace known bad ones. Continental has not solved the issue yet so all of their production is still of the faulty design. Newly produced 2023 Audi's are receiving the same potentially faulty starter/generators which is why the TSB was extended to cover 2023 models. As part of their "solution" for owners, Audi has announced an extended warranty for this problem (U56) for 7 years/unlimited mileage. They are most likely going to issue a recall for every vehicle that has the current unit so they can replace it with the new version of this Continental product--but not until the new version is fully in production. It's anyone's guess as to when that could happen.
After next Thursday, I'll be able to drive my Audi again but will need to be on the alert for that group of codes at startup that tells me not to drive it if the new alternator/generators fails.
But I had no clue about the long term thing...holy cow. That is I teresting as hell will ask more about that
02-08-2023, 04:35 PM
#115
02-08-2023, 04:55 PM
#116
AudiWorld Junior Member
Glad to hear your Audi will be back on the road on Monday. The long term thing is interesting as hell and means many thousands of Audi owners will continue to have the potential to be stranded by the failure of the 48v belt starter/generator in their so-equipped 2018-2023 vehicles listed in the most recent TSB for this issue (27 22 2058831/5 dated 9/27/2022). And, unfortunately, it doesn't end with getting a new unit since they're no different. And any new 2023 with this 48v system on the dealer lot, at port, in transit, being produced now will have the same problematic Continental unit installed in it. This is a HUGE problem for Audi and its customers. I can't even imagine how long this issue will take to be fully corrected...with new, redesigned units installed in every vehicle listed in the TSB. It applies to every VIN. No exceptions. (The TSB is attached for reference.) The specific warranty extension of 7 years/unlimited mileage for this unit replacement "helps" cost-wise but does nothing to take the worry out of every time we start one of these vehicles and then focus on the main display to, hopefully, not see the cascade of warnings to shut down the vehicle!
I am not seeing anything stating the extended warranty for this part to 7 years anywhere. Can you point me in the right direction? I did not see it in the TSB.
02-09-2023, 10:40 AM
#117
Have your dealer view your VIN in Audi's system; there's a "Warranty" section that should show "U56-STARTER-ALT EXT 7/UNLIM US/CAN". I just had my service manager pull this up for my vehicle and he sent me a screen shot of it---attached for your reference.
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ajmilan (02-13-2023)
02-10-2023, 10:14 AM
#120
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
I m being drived to the dealer to pick my car up right now. I genuinely haven't been this excited in a long time. I am giddy.
Plus I am getting rental reimbursement for 102 rental days 🙄
Plus I am getting rental reimbursement for 102 rental days 🙄
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