Has anybody replaced one of these on the Q7? If so, can you tell me where it's located in general, and how hard it is to do? Also, is there any re-programming to be done with VCDS, or is it plug and play?

My Q7 TDI has been at the dealer for 3 months waiting on this stupid part from Germany. It was supposed to be here by now, but now they're saying its going to be another 2 months (if not longer, since they don't have any guarantees). I'm contemplating sourcing a used part, swapping it out myself, and sending it down the road. They've given me a courtesy car for the duration under warranty, but they don't fit them with trailer hitches and towing is one of the main reasons I bought my Q7. Doesn't make much sense to pay a car loan on a car that I cant use, and could just drive a backup vehicle for the time being.

 

You can view a complete diagram of the Adblue system by searching for it; I know there is an official Audi video on U-tube that shows the whole thing and how it works, etc.

You take off the RR wheel, remove the wheel liner; the smaller adblue 'ready to use' tank & support sytem is located right there. The larger, reserve tank is mounted under car on other side of vehicle, just ahead of the fuel tank on that side, etc.

I got lucky when I had to wait on a B/O part on one of ours, as they gave me a car that was just off demo-duty; a loaded Q7 w/tow hitch & air suspension, and then found out the EGR Cooler was bad on mine (not known, and not what I took it in for) and thought they could get it in few days, but it was actually on B/O in Germany at that time. They had mine for 3 months. So, I did everything with theirs I would normally do while mine was in the shop.

You could always make inquiries to see if they have any loaner cars w/tow package on it that you could swap out for, since that impedes your pre-existing family plans not to have it...couldn't hurt to ask. A lot of getting them to work with you is how you frame the request, and who you ask. You don't volunteer info beyond what's needed to support the request, such as towing trailer of ATVs, or maybe a modest boat to the relatively local lake/campground near you, etc., in order to support a pre-planned, non-refundable, deposits paid family trip to somewhere local that requires you have the hitch for bikes, extra cargo, whatever. You have a reasonable expectation of accomodation, given the estimate of when your car will be released from their shop. That's what I'd do, anyway. Emphasis on the emissions control system not being functional on your car, which shuts the car down.

 

Looks like you got lucky... They moved me into a Silver Car Rental (Q5) after 3 weeks of having the dealer loaner (Q3), and I specifically asked to get a car with a hitch. Maybe I didnt phrase it right, but they said none of their cars have hitches per policy, but I do think I remember them saying their Q7's do have them, but they are locked.

I reached out to Audi Corporate customer service, and they just got back to me today. I reiterated in my email to them that the sole purpose I purchased the car was for towing, and although having them provide a rental vehicle is nice, it doesn't really add any benefit to me if it cant tow.

Anyway, I'll see if they can provide any more help. If they gave me a towing vehicle I wouldn't really care how long it takes. I've already risked my life probably more than I should pulling my 6x12 enclosed trailer with my rusted out Dakota to pick up a few things over the past 3 months, and it's not even boating, fishing, or motorcycle season yet.

 

I’ve had the DEF pump replaced on each of the Q7s we have owned (2). It is mounted on or near the lower reserve AddBlu tank. Dealer replaced both of ours but I do know they removed the splash shields in that area to access. It’s item #10 in this parts diagram.
https://www.jimellisaudiparts.com/sh...rimLevel=27463

 

If trying to do it yourself, you'd need to know which pump it is, as there is a DEF transfer pump, which simply moves DEF from the larger reserve tank to the 'active tank', and then there's the high pressure pump that feeds the injector from the 'working tank'...it's a lot like the fuel system in that regard.

When mine has been in shop for DEF system issues, they normally end up replacing one item they identified first, run the test plan it, then replace another item, test plan, and perhaps replace one more part, etc. That's just been my experience thus far. I do have a completely replaced DEF system on the '10 now, but it took about 3 visits to get the whole enchilada, as something else (old) would fail on it after a few months and I'd get a couple more new pieces, etc., rinse & repeat.

I'd keep plugging for them to give you a Q7. If it comes with a towing receiver mounted, it can be coded via VCDS to run the trailer lights, if indeed it were 'turned off'...that's just Green Menu Car Options and a handful of standard module coding updates for towing compatibility. I have serious doubts they would order a Q7 w/factory towing, then disable the lighting module for trailer, but it's very easy to enable.

 

That's a good point... I asked them specifically for the part number they were waiting on so I could get the right part, but in the back of my mind I was thinking of the possibility that that part might not be the actual problem, or that there were other things wrong as well. I dont want to go down that rabbit hole.

I guess I'm stuck waiting. I'm hoping now that I opened a complaint with corporate they can push something more for me.

 

An update to the saga...

It's been roughly 6 months since I dropped my vehicle off to the dealer, and still no DEF Pump. I've been told it would be 3 months, then another 2 months, and now they wont even give me an updated estimate because apparently nobody in the company knows. I've spoken to the dealer several times, Audi/VW global customer service several times, and even submitted a request for buy back with Audi Global under any applicable lemon laws. (it was denied). You'd think that a company that has a global lawsuit against them, is supposed to be warrantying emissions related issues, and then fails to provide parts for that warranty would be illegal. They've given me a Q5 without a hitch, as if that is supposed to replace a TDI primary tow vehicle, and nobody at Audi seems to think that's a problem. I guess none of them own a boat.

Furthermore, when I was gathering all of my paperwork to submit my buyback claim, I was retrieving paperwork from the dealer and form the vehicle's glove box and discovered that while it had been sitting outside in the dealers parking lot, the battery had completely died. The doors seemed stiff as I tried to open them, and since the glove box is electronic, it would not open unless the vehicle was jump started. Lets just say it sounded horrible as it sputtered and tried to crank over for about 30 seconds before finally starting. Every warning light on the vehicle was flashing on the dash after it fired up, and I can only hope they are false warnings from the battery being dead. Now, after about 6 months, I can only imagine the fuel is beginning to go bad and I'll have more problems with the fuel system. I cant imagine what else has been rusting away, and hope that the brakes and other parts of the vehicle are not seizing up. I expressed my concerns with Audi Global about having non-emissions related issues with the vehicle after they caused it to sit for an extremely long period of time, and asked if they would cover any of those problems that arise. They said they would take note of it, which I'm assuming means "no."

Needless to say, my mind is made up that I will be ditching this vehicle as soon as it's in any sort of condition to sell, and I may never go back.

 

I've been waiting since November for the lower transfer tank pump for mine and they expect it to be back in stock this November. I have been driving it and just refilling with DEF every 3000 miles. It would have been nice to have a new loaner but not to have my car sit in an open parking lot to deteriorate. I work for a company that sells/manufactures electronics & understand it is a world wide shortage of electronic components, not to any specific vendor or manufacturer. You can blame COVID or your government who forced companies to unnecessarily shut down but it is not VAG specific.

 

Mine went out and is on back order as well. They sent me home in my car awaiting the part. My friend the VW mechanic was shocked they sent me home in my polluting car. Local dealer has another that has been waiting six months. I have call into the dealer to see if its safe to drive cross country and not slip into limp mode.

 

mine dinged and told me I had 200 miles left till no restarts. Did yours do something different? I wouldn't make it a week if it actually locked me out after 200 mi.