Audi B9 A4 Reversing Camera Issue

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#2694944 19-Apr-2021 17:39

Some of the things that are 'coded' in cars these days are nuts.

There is a very popular youtube channel (the Car Wizard - video here ) where he had a 2005 VW Jetta with a broken window winder. VW wanted $1000 for a new winder unit and said that it was 'coded' to the car as well - why you need to code something basic like a winder makes no sense to me - apart from locking all servicing into the manufacturers network.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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#2694947 19-Apr-2021 17:44

robjg63:

Some of the things that are 'coded' in cars these days are nuts.

There is a very popular youtube channel (the Car Wizard - video here ) where he had a 2005 VW Jetta with a broken window winder. VW wanted $1000 for a new winder unit and said that it was 'coded' to the car as well - why you need to code something basic like a winder makes no sense to me - apart from locking all servicing into the manufacturers network.

What is nuts about this particular thing, is some 2016 b9's have an identical-looking head unit that doesn't have this issue. The part codes used on the sedan I was shown are different. They are adamant they can't fit the new stuff to my car, but I call BS.

The question is, if they are right, what is the Disputes Tribunal going to do ?

dfnt

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#2695004 19-Apr-2021 20:06

Most of the newer VAG MIB's come with component protection, which is probably what they're talking about, tied specifically to the VIN. This was done to stop people from being able to easily resell a stolen unit etc, and it's not something dealers will remove.. probably at the request of VAG. So the dealer is correct in that they can't take the unit out of the other car and put it in yours without the component protection being removed.

There are a few euro coders that can remotely remove component protection from these devices, but you require a specific cable and they'll do a teamviewer session with you while you sit in the car with a laptop plugged into the car.

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#2695007 19-Apr-2021 20:32

dfnt:

Most of the newer VAG MIB's come with component protection, which is probably what they're talking about, tied specifically to the VIN. This was done to stop people from being able to easily resell a stolen unit etc, and it's not something dealers will remove.. probably at the request of VAG. So the dealer is correct in that they can't take the unit out of the other car and put it in yours without the component protection being removed.

There are a few euro coders that can remotely remove component protection from these devices, but you require a specific cable and they'll do a teamviewer session with you while you sit in the car with a laptop plugged into the car.

So, if they know what component has failed or is at fault, then could they potentially order one of those, with my VIN code protected in?

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#2695053 19-Apr-2021 21:47

networkn:

I'd argue it falls short of a reasonable standard for a premium brand car in 2016.

Not to mention other examples of the same car on the same year don't have the fault.

They said they can't fit the model from the other car as it's tied to the VIN number. I asked if the whole head unit failed entirely, how would they handle it, they said they would order one from the factory using the VIN Number.

I guess we are going to find out, since due to the unpleasant way they dealt with it, it's got my back up, and that means a trip to the disputes tribunal for both of us, if it gets that far.

you need written admission of presence of a fault before you get to the next step of remedy options

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#2695056 19-Apr-2021 21:50

Batman:

you need written admission of presence of a fault before you get to the next step of remedy options

They will not admit a fault, that's why we are heading to Disputes Tribunal. However, if the Tribunal agrees that it falls short of acceptable standard for what it is a relatively expensive modern car, then the issue will be what they can force them to do.

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#2695061 19-Apr-2021 22:13

Batman:

you need written admission of presence of a fault before you get to the next step of remedy options

You probably should have some evidence that there's a fault, but a respondent can't defend themselves by refusing to acknowledge in writing that there is a fault - that's nuts.

phrozenpenguin

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#2695290 20-Apr-2021 14:38

Seems like you are making this hard for yourself and headed to a tribunal just to prove a point to yourself.

As already indicated, it shows a usable picture, perhaps with some electrical interference. I suspect a good auto electrician should be able to give you better support and much quicker response than this process with Audi - which sounds like it is all unrelated to the original seller anyway. You would get the benefit of an expert fixing your problem rather than just aggravating a conflict with a main dealer, who didn't even sell you the 5 year old car.

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#2695733 21-Apr-2021 09:06

phrozenpenguin:

Seems like you are making this hard for yourself and headed to a tribunal just to prove a point to yourself.

As already indicated, it shows a usable picture, perhaps with some electrical interference. I suspect a good auto electrician should be able to give you better support and much quicker response than this process with Audi - which sounds like it is all unrelated to the original seller anyway. You would get the benefit of an expert fixing your problem rather than just aggravating a conflict with a main dealer, who didn't even sell you the 5 year old car.

Why should I pay to fix a fault we raised whilst the car was under warranty? It's likely to cost at least $500 I'd imagine, maybe more, and moves the car from a supported configuration to an unsupported fix.

The dealer is Audi's Service representative and I trusted them to give me good advice. They have told me on 3 separate occasions it's faulty, but when pressed to fix it, they didn't get Audi's support, and now they have changed their tune and say it's normal.

Their argument is that the camera represents technology available in 2016 and it quite clearly doesn't. I've had reversing cameras in our cars since 2009 and none of them have had this issue or looked as average as this does.

phrozenpenguin

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#2696079 21-Apr-2021 13:30

networkn:

phrozenpenguin:

Seems like you are making this hard for yourself and headed to a tribunal just to prove a point to yourself.

As already indicated, it shows a usable picture, perhaps with some electrical interference. I suspect a good auto electrician should be able to give you better support and much quicker response than this process with Audi - which sounds like it is all unrelated to the original seller anyway. You would get the benefit of an expert fixing your problem rather than just aggravating a conflict with a main dealer, who didn't even sell you the 5 year old car.

Why should I pay to fix a fault we raised whilst the car was under warranty? It's likely to cost at least $500 I'd imagine, maybe more, and moves the car from a supported configuration to an unsupported fix.

The dealer is Audi's Service representative and I trusted them to give me good advice. They have told me on 3 separate occasions it's faulty, but when pressed to fix it, they didn't get Audi's support, and now they have changed their tune and say it's normal.

Their argument is that the camera represents technology available in 2016 and it quite clearly doesn't. I've had reversing cameras in our cars since 2009 and none of them have had this issue or looked as average as this does.

I'm sure I would be frustrated as well, but was just trying to point out there might be other options that are quicker and less frustrating. Good luck with your process and getting things resolved.

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#2696088 21-Apr-2021 13:53

phrozenpenguin:

I'm sure I would be frustrated as well, but was just trying to point out there might be other options that are quicker and less frustrating. Good luck with your process and getting things resolved.

Whilst I don't know, it's not totally certain it's an electrical interference issue though it does look like it. Finding a auto electrician who knows about these cars, can diagnose the issue, get the parts, install them, scheduling the work to be completed, hoping it works, and doesn't cause other unintended consequences and the potential for that to end up causing other issues with Audi if I have other warranty issues, probably not much worse than a DT finding.

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#2696109 21-Apr-2021 14:32

networkn:

So, if they know what component has failed or is at fault, then could they potentially order one of those, with my VIN code protected in?

Potentially, but it doesn't sound like they've really done any proper diagnostic fault finding to know which component is at fault

Unfortunately with modern cars these days if there's no faults showing with the electrics that seems to be the extent of their fault finding capability..

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#2696110 21-Apr-2021 14:35

dfnt:

networkn:

So, if they know what component has failed or is at fault, then could they potentially order one of those, with my VIN code protected in?

Potentially, but it doesn't sound like they've really done any proper diagnostic fault finding to know which component is at fault

Unfortunately with modern cars these days if there's no faults showing with the electrics that seems to be the extent of their fault finding capability..

They were happy to try and track down the issue but told me to determine that they would need a another car with *identical* parts in it, so they could swap the parts and work out the fault.

Then I said I wasn't happy with that, order new parts and swap them out until they figure it out, and then the dealer said Audi wouldn't allow them to return any parts installed but not faulty, and I had to take it up with Audi, who then said it was normal, and the dealer called me to say they had miscommunicated, there was no issue or fault, and I'd need to accept the current system.