joinaudi

I got this on the MMI yesterday again: "Engine start system fault, please contact dealer". But it disappeared today.
It already happened 3 times in the past 2 months. I called the dealer, he didn't have clue. Since it disappeared after a day, I haven't sent it in for checkup.

Did anyone get the same issue?

gophermobile

I know this is quite a bump, but has anyone else ever had this issue or know what the resolution was?

My 2012 A6 3.0 is in the dealer for the second time to look at this. The issue has been popping up almost every time I drive. Sometimes it goes away while I'm driving away. The dealer has replaced the start button on the car, and now they are replacing the key batteries. I already replaced one of the key batteries myself, so I don't think that's the issue.

The only useful bit of info I have is that I keep my key in my pocket while driving, and one time I tried taking it out while I was driving, and the alert went away. It then came back when I put the keys back in my pocket. But I was only able to get this to happen once...so I'm not sure if it was a coincidence. Makes me think it has something to do with the cars ability to sense the keys.

chicagoA6

I'll ask the stupid question... Have you replaced the battery in the Key FOB?

fkaufman

He said that he did: "The dealer has replaced the start button on the car, and now they are replacing the key batteries. I already replaced one of the key batteries myself, so I don't think that's the issue."

snagitseven

If you only get that message when the fob is in your pocket, that could indicate a very weak transmitter in the fob. Does the fob work unlocking from a reasonable distance? Have you tried the second key and does it do the same thing? If the other key doesn't generate the alert, you have a bad key fob. If the second key exhibits the same issue, it could be the receiver module in the car is faulty. You don't mention if you did these basic troubleshooting steps.

gophermobile

So I just took a big road trip after getting it back from the dealer for the second time. They replaced the start button (for the second time, saying the first replacement was defective) and the key fob batteries.

Anyhow, it is still doing it, showing up six times during the drive. It's pretty distracting cause it does the loud ding, then goes away after a bit, then dings again.

I tried putting the key in different areas in the car - my pocket, the cupholders, the door bin, on the dash. Seems to do it in any place.

I'll take it back into the dealer...but they seem to be as dumbfounded as I am, so I'm hoping if someone had the same experience we could identify what caused it. My best guess is whatever the mechanism is that detects the key inside the car is not working properly, rather than the keys themselves.

One other thing I noticed while driving is that the red LED on the key FOB blinks rapidly several times every 30 minutes or so while driving. Not sure if that is normal operation.

gophermobile

Oh to respond to snagitseven, the key fobs work fine unlocking the doors from a distance and has no issues starting the car. It's just once it car starts. Sometimes the alert shows up within 30 seconds, sometimes 30 minutes. No difference which key I use, or even if both of them are in the car.

What is the receiver module, any idea what type of part that is? I'd like to ask the dealer to replace that specifically cause they seem to be stuck on it being a key issue but I don't think it is.

snagitseven

A service tech has access to all the diagnostics that should point him in the right direction. Failing that, the tech has direct contact to an Audi repair specialist who will help diagnose the problem. If that doesn't work. the specialist has access to engineering in Germany. There is no reason for the tech to be "stuck" - he has a defined process to get help finding the solution.

gophermobile

Well the difficulty is that it's intermittent so they think they have it solved but it's not really. I'm just trying to avoid having to take it in again and again while they go down the troubleshooting checklist.

It's my first time owning a car with a warranty...I stepped up from a 15 year old car to this so it's a new experience. I'm not the type to yell / complain / argue with technicians but it'd be nice if they were more aggressive with trying to replace other components rather than just trying the basics.

snagitseven

All the more reason for them to get technical support from Audi. It's very likely someone in technical services has seen this before and can provide the correct solution instead of the tech just replacing parts without knowing if they fixed the problem.