97 Sporadic DTCS - Contact Check (GROUP 97, NO. 18-61)

97 SPORADIC DTCS - CONTACT CHECK

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

APPLICABLE MODELS AND YEARS

97 18 61 2013504/9 June 6, 2018. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 97 number 15-48 dated May 29, 2015 for reasons listed below.

CONDITION

Sporadic DTCs are stored in various control modules.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Contacts and nano contacts may be damaged if incorrect pins or incorrect methods for current flow tests are used. Either action may cause intermittent electrical connections, which can cause sporadic DTCs to be stored in various control modules.

PRODUCTION SOLUTION

Not applicable.

SERVICE

1. Check the contacts on the control module and connector:
   • Verify that all pins and terminals are securely clipped into the connectors.
   • Verify that no pins are deformed.

   Verify proper crimping:

   • Pin/terminal must be crimped onto the wire (Figure 1, A).
   • Pin/terminal must be crimped onto the wire sheathing (Figure 1, B).
2. Mechanically check the contacts on the control module and connector:
   • Test the individual terminals by using the standard 0.63 mm male pin to verify proper contact.
   • Ensure that the test pin is not twisted and is inserted correctly into the female terminal. The contact must be tight, but still allow the pin to slide into the terminal of the control module connector.

   Only use the 0.63 mm male pins because the female terminals are designed for these pins.

3. If the pin/terminal is deformed, improperly crimped, or does not contact correctly, the contact must be replaced (with the VAS 1978B  repair kit or ordered in sets).

How to recognize nano contacts for MY2017 and later vehicles: 

Appearance of contact unlocking in housing:

• The photo on the left (Figure 2) shows an example of the nano contacts on the 56 pin engine control module connector.
• The photo on the right (Figure 3) shows a close-up example of the nano contacts on the connector.
• The contacts can be removed with the VAS 1978/35-3.

Using the part number:

• The proposed repair cable for nano contacts is listed as a 0.5 mm flat contact in ETKA (Figure 4).

WARRANTY

This TSB is informational only and not applicable to any Audi Warranty.

REQUIRED PARTS AND TOOLS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2013504) are subject to change and/or removal.

©2018 Audi of America, Inc.  All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.