Karthik Siva

Hi Everyone,

I recently got my first car (2014 Audi A4 2.0Quattro) and have some trouble understanding the regular checks I should be doing to make sure I am not damaging the car in anyway.

I saw this unclear section in the owner's manual that "SET" button does Auto-Check sequence. I tried it on car, it shows series of warning symbols: Red coloured symbols- Battery, Engine Oil Pressure, Engine Cooling System, Km/h and Yellow coloured symbols - Worn Break Pads, Windshield washer fluid level, Defective light bulb, Engine Oil Level, Tank System. Does it mean car currently has issues with all these systems? or it is just doing a check on all of these?

The engine oil menu in MMI showing "OK" and I recently filled windshield washer fluid. I recently had a dead battery so I had to jump start the vehicle, also the engine coolant is below min level, so battery and engine cooling system warning symbols make sense, but not sure why other symbols are shown.

Also, after jump starting the car, my instrumental panel is not showing any warning symbols now, probably because there is not enough battery? How long we should drive to recharge the battery completely?

I know these are lot of questions, if you recommend showing the car to an Audi dealer, please do let me know. Just trying to understand if these are simple things that can be addressed from community members like you!

Regards,
Siva

SMac770

You own an Audi. If you want to have any awareness about the state of the car yourself, then you're going to have to get a legit scan tool. Ross-Tech cable and VCDS is my only choice, but that requires a Windows laptop. Others with Android devices use OBDeleven. iOS doesn't really have anything great out there; OBDeleven support for iOS is just starting, with no support yet for the pro functions. Does your instrument cluster have a problem? Don't know until you can scan it for DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes). Even then, no DTC doesn't mean no problem. But a scan tool would also let you query charging system values, etc. That set button probably just does a bulb check to make sure the warning lights will illuminate.

Karthik Siva

Thank you very much, I wouldn't have known this option at all. I do have a windows laptop, will try the VCDS soon.

audi8k

The car does these checks constantly, you just triggered an extra display sequence. If it finds a problem it will alert you. The SET button in the instrument cluster has other functions as well (depending on vehicle speed and ignition On/Off). Have fun reading up on it in the owners manual

5000S

This. A very good idea, read up and learn about your Audi.
You do not need the diagnostic software unless you are up to the task of understanding
the processes and this is complex, takes lots of time to learn.

Good luck with your new car.!

Karthik Siva

I am reading the owner's manual and also a delivery specialist at Audi dealership offered to book an appointment to know the car better. Thank you Audi8k, 5000s for your really helpful insights.

mguevrem

Any update regarding your problem when running auto-check? I recently acquired a 2015 Q5 3.0 TDI and after going through the two series of emission recalls/retrofits, the auto-check function reports the exact same series of errors messages as your car. Exactly the same. As the car is covered by an extended 120 000 warranty under the Diesel gate settlement, the dealer ran a software scan on the car and concluded that the ECU shows no error conditions, which is true, ECU error appear at the top of the control panel in a different interface than the auto-check function that reports individual sensor values. In any case, as the dealer insist this auto-check software feature has no impact on the performance of the vehicle, they won't investigate further unless it is on my dime... I have the feeling this is either a car software calibration table that has not been updated, a fuse failure within the ECU enclose ( which in this car is located in an area that traps water ) or an electrical short on the harness leading to this series on sensors. In any case I am curious if your problem was resolved and how. Kind regards.

audi8k

What problem? If you read the thread, you should understand that there was no problem to be resolved. Nominal behaviour.