Technical Service Bulletin
42 Rear axle shaft leaks at differential - S4 and S5 with Quattro sports rear differential (PR – PDU, PDR, or
GH2)
42 12 13 2026049/6 September 5, 2012. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 42 number 12 – 12 dated
August 1, 2012 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

S4

S5

S5 Cabriolet

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

2010

All

2011

All

2012

Up to production date 7/10/2011

2010

All

2011

All

2012

Up to production date 7/10/2011

2010

All

2011

All

2012

Up to production date 7/10/2011

With Sports Rear Differential

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

6

-

Revised header data (Changed VIN breaks and Production Dates)

5

8/1/2012

Revised header data (Changed VIN breaks and Production Dates)
Revised Service (Changed repair instructions)

4

7/5/2012

Revised header data (Added VIN breaks)
Revised Service (Added repair instructions)

3

10/25/2011

Revised header data

2

10/5/2011

Revised header data (Added VIN breaks)

1

4/15/2011

Original publication

Oil leak in the area of the Quattro sports rear differential (PR-PDU, PDR, or GH2) side flange, or axle shaft
inboard flange.

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 1 of 4

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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Background
The following table lists PR codes that identify vehicles with a rear sports differential.
PR

Description

Notes

Audi drive select with rear sports
differential

This PR code must be accompanied with PR GH2
(rear sports differential).

code
PDR

Standalone option
PDU

Rear sport differential

May be accompanied with PR GH2
Comes with Audi drive select control panel even if
vehicle does not have Audi drive select functions
Standalone option

GH2

Rear sport differential

May be accompanied with PR PDU
Comes with Audi drive select control panel even if
vehicle does not have Audi drive select functions

Insufficient sealant on the protective cap on the inboard constant velocity joint at the rear differential on vehicle
with a sports differential.
Optimized use of sealer in production from 07/10/2011.

Production Solution
Not applicable.

Service
1. Inspect the rear inner CV joints where they connect to the rear sports differential:
• Oil sweating or residue – do not make any repairs.
• Clear oil drips – proceed to step 2.
2. Determine source of the fluid:
• Grease used in the drive shaft CV joints is almost odorless. If the fluid does not have any odor,
proceed to step 3.
• Differential fluid has a pungent smell. If the fluid has a pungent smell, this TSB does not apply.

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 2 of 4

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.

Technical Service Bulletin
3. Replace the effected drive shaft per instructions in ELSA Web: Chassis >>> Suspension, Wheel,
Steering >>> Rear Suspension >>> Removal and Installation.
Tip: It is not necessary to replace both drive shafts if only one drive shaft is affected by this
condition.

Warranty
Claim Type:

Use applicable claim type. If vehicle is outside any warranty, this
Technical Service Bulletin is informational only.

Service Number:

4221

Damage Code:

0010

Labor Operations:

Remove and install final drive for sports
differential

3988 1903

370 TU

Remove and install final drive for sports
differential – S5 Cabriolet

3988 1903

420 TU

Remove and install drive shaft

4221 1950

70 TU

Remove and install 2 drive shafts

4221 2050

130 TU

GFF – Checking and clearing fault codes
included in existing labor operations

No allowance 0 TU

Road test prior to service procedure

No allowance 0 TU

Road test after service procedure

0121 0004

Diagnostic Time:

10 TU

Technical diagnosis at dealer’s discretion
(Refer to Section 2.2.1.2 and Audi Warranty Online for DADP
allowance details)
Claim Comment:

As per TSB #2026049/6

All warranty claims submitted for payment must be in accordance with the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures
Manual. Claims are subject to review or audit by Audi Warranty.

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 3 of 4

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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Required Parts and Tools
Part Number

Part Description

Quantity

8K0501203L

Drive shaft with constant velocity joints

1

8K0501204L

Drive shaft with constant velocity joints

1

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB are subject to change and/or removal. Always check with
your Parts Department and service manuals for the latest information.

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 4 of 4

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.