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A3 2.0 TDI 2010 won’t start in hot sunny weather


Adrian Brown
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Audi A3 2.0 TDI 170 BHP year 2010

In hot sunny weather (say +25 degrees) the car will not start. It does one of 2 things. 1/ instrument cluster lights up and then goes dead (there is power everywhere else; ie; windows, lights, radio etc etc). 2/ starts and then cuts out within 3 minutes. The car will not start afterwards. When the temperature outside cools it starts and runs perfectly. It runs all winter perfectly and passes MOT’s with no advisories. Parts replaced so far; battery; ignition switch; starter motor; genuine Audi instrument cluster; still not resolved issue. Audi UK have had car twice (they replaced cluster) and nothing comes up on their computer. Anyone had this issue? I am able to do most things but dont know what to do next. 
Many thanks; Adrian 

 

 

 

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Adrian.

My first thought was the instrument cluster but as you have had that changed I am at a loss to think what else it could be. Did Audi have any suggestions, or did the problem not happen while the car was in their hands? Sadly the reliance on diagnostic computers has eliminated the human brain as a means of tracing car faults.

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Audi have no idea either. Because the diagnostic did not reveal anything they are as confused as me. I have shown them videos of the fault. I thought they might have a data base centrally they could access; but no. Thanks for your time. 

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Thinking further on the matter, perhaps speculating further would be a better description, if the problem is outside temperature dependant I would investigate how and where that temperature sensor affects the ECU. I reckon there must be an temperature input to the ECU so that it can compensate for ambient air temp variation, but the details of how that circuit operates are beyond me. I suggest an auto electrical specialist would be the best option at the moment, because I have been distinctly unimpressed by reports I have read on this forum regarding the diagnostic abilities of even Audi main dealers. As I said before, if the computer says no, Audi are stumped.

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Great point; i will investigate this idea. Fault ONLY happens when its hot and sunny and car is always outside. I wonder if it would happen if parked in garage and then taken outside into hot sunshine ( i expect not).  The dash top is too hot to touch when outside is +25 degrees (much hotter in car). I think something under dash is affected by the heat and therefore causes issue. I note the ecu is located under the wipers at front of windscreen. Does  this supply 12volt to the cluster?  As stated if i go back in the evening when cooler; all starts as if nothing happened. Stopped calling RAC as they are unable to get it going. Thanks for reading 

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