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freitasm

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#270615 18-May-2020 16:43
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The Hazard

 

On Audi vehicles manufactured within a specific period, it is possible that moisture may enter the belt-driven starter-alternator. In unfavourable circumstances, this may result in chemical reactions which could in turn lead to local overheating in the component. A subsequent vehicle fire can also not be ruled out in this case. This can also occur on a vehicle that has been parked for an extended period.

 

What to do

 

The owners of affected vehicles will be notified in writing. Vehicles to be booked into workshop to have work completed.





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eracode
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  #2485842 18-May-2020 20:06
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Heard about this from a dealer on Friday. Many new Audis currently in the country awaiting sale have been taken off the market pending arrival of parts from Germany that won’t be here until late June. Dealers can’t even let potential purchasers test drive them because of potential fire.

 

One overseas announcement on this by Audi that I found online earlier today says the affected cars should be parked outside until repaired - because of the fire risk. The faulty part is powered on even when the car is parked and fire can start even after the has been parked for a while.

 

If that’s the case, it makes you wonder how Audi are going to handle this for the affected cars that are already in owners’ hands.





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Fred99
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  #2485909 18-May-2020 21:19
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2021 model year?

 

How come they need to recall cars to fix a fault they haven't made yet?  Did the vorsprung mechanism jump through a wormhole?


eracode
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  #2485915 18-May-2020 21:30
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Fred99:

 

2021 model year?

 

How come they need to recall cars to fix a fault they haven't made yet?  Did the vorsprung mechanism jump through a wormhole?

 

 

 

 

Yeah doesn’t make sense. The overseas report I saw said March 2017 to March 2020.





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Delphinus
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  #2485994 18-May-2020 23:06
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eracode:

 

The faulty part is powered on even when the car is parked and fire can start even after the has been parked for a while.

 

 

Surely you could just disconnect the battery to avoid this risk?


eracode
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  #2486027 19-May-2020 05:26
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Delphinus:

 

eracode:

 

The faulty part is powered on even when the car is parked and fire can start even after the has been parked for a while.

 

 

Surely you could just disconnect the battery to avoid this risk?

 

 

Every time you park the car then re-connect next time you want to use it? Not very practical .





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Fred99
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  #2486093 19-May-2020 09:47
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Delphinus:

 

Surely you could just disconnect the battery to avoid this risk?

 

 

I think the wording of the recall notice may be ambiguous:

 

This can also occur on a vehicle that has been parked for an extended period

 

maybe that means that the corrosion (or whatever "chemical reaction") happens in the starter/alternator if the car is parked for a while - so not just dependent on water getting in.

 

IOW - the car's not just going to spontaneously ignite when parked.

 

Don't know much about how the system works, but I guess that some pretty tricky high current electronic controllers would be needed to get an alternator to work as a starter motor.


 
 
 
 

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eracode
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  #2486100 19-May-2020 10:02
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The other reference I found to this online was to Audi Ireland and that notice says: “A subsequent vehicle fire cannot be ruled out. Due to the permanent power supply of the strap starter generator, this can occur when the vehicle has already been parked for a while.”

 

https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/product_recalls/volkswagen-group-ireland-limited-recalls-certain-audi-a4-a5-a6-a7-and-q5-passenger-vehicles/

 

 

 

 





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Fred99
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  #2486110 19-May-2020 10:15
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Okay - that's not good. 


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