Technical Service Bulletin
01 V6 message during service reset: AIR system - action required - observe test plan
01 13 49 2035454/2 December 20, 2013. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 01 number 13-35 dated
October 8, 2013 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

S4

2009 - 2011

A5

2010

S5 Cab

2010 - 2013

A6

2009 - 2011

Q5

2009 - 2012

Q7

2011 - 2012

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

All

3.0 FSI AVS and 3.0 TFSI

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

2

-

Revised Condition (Updated message text)
Revised Service (Revised instructions)
Revised Warranty (Added TUs)

1

10/4/2013

Initial publication

• During reset of the service reminder, the following message appears on the ODIS tester: “AIR system action required - observe test plan” (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Message on ODIS tester.
• MIL is not illuminated.

Technical Background
Under certain driving conditions, the secondary air ports in the cylinder head can accumulate carbon over time,
causing a restriction. The ODIS tester can identify the state of the restriction, and will request that the system is
cleaned in order to prevent the MIL from illuminating.

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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
Production Solution
Not applicable.

Service
Please note that before performing this repair for the first time, it is mandatory that the technician complete Audi
Academy Course #940134 and assessment #940134B, otherwise the warranty claim will be denied. The course
and assessment can be found on the Audi Academy CRC site. Specific video sections are reference in the
instructions below.
Select the test plan in ODIS
1. In the ODIS tester click on the “AIR system - action required - observe test plan” message to follow the test
plan (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Message on ODIS tester.
2. Select -2- for Cleaning. Follow the test plan, which is also outlined below.
3. Check the hosing between the secondary air pump and combi valves as instructed in the test plan.
4. Based on instruction from the tester (“clean immediately” or “clean within next 1000 miles” -- based on level of
restriction), clean the secondary air ports according to the instructions that follow in this bulletin.

Prepare for Power Washing
1. Move the exhaust sliding bushings (that connect the
catalytic converter and muffler) back, then lower the
catalytic converter pipes (Figure 4).
For Q7, unbolt muffler from catalytic converter.
Cover mufflers with plastic bag to prevent water
from entering.
Cleaning water will drain out of the catalytic
converter pipes during the cleaning process.

Figure 4. Lowered catalytic converter pipes
2. Remove all spark plugs and cover the engine harness plugs for the coils (for water protection).
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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. Drain the coolant so that it can be reused.
4. Bring front end of the car into service position (for Q5, A6, S4, and S5 Cabrio) to make room in the front of the
engine. The Q7 has enough room for access to the front of the cylinder heads.
5. For 3.0T only: remove the coolant supply lines
(intercooler of supercharger) in the front of the engine
(Figure 5).

Figure 5. Front coolant pipes to be removed for
3.0T
6. Remove the following components:
• Coolant pipe (Figure 6,1)
• Coolant flange (Figure 6,2)
• Pulley and, if needed, bracket of power steering
pump (Figure 6,3)
• Pulley of water pump (Figure 6,4)
• Coolant tube (Figure 6,5)
• Dipstick tube (Figure 6,6)

Figure 6. Engine component removal
Note:
When removing the dipstick tube, turn it 180 degrees, then reinstall it for water protection.

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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
Note:
To loosen the coolant tube, remove 2 bolts
(Figure 7, A and C), open clip (Figure 7, B), and
pry bushing apart as shown in training video
(Figure 7, D). There is no need to loosen the AC
compressor.
Cover opening of right coolant pipe to prevent
coolant circuit contamination.

Figure 7. Loosening the coolant tube
7. Remove main port freeze plug by hitting the
marked area with a small punch until it turns
(Figure 8). Remove with pliers.

Figure 8. Marked area on main port of freeze plug.

Prepare to Power Wash

Warning:
• Read pressure washer user manual and follow these safety instructions.
• Always insert special cleaning hose into adaptor and engine before turning pressure washer on.
• If switching special cleaning to a different port, turn pressure washer off and release residual pressure
by pulling the trigger before removing the special cleaning hose from the engine.
• Wear safety glasses and gloves.

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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
1. Become familiar with the special tool set VAS6825 (Figure 6):
• Special hose with scale for cleaning single
ports (Figure 9,1)
• Special hose for cleaning the main ports
(Figure 9,2)
• Hose adaptor for the special hose with
scale (Figure 9,3)
6 • Engine adaptor for bank one (Figure 9, 4a)
• Engine adaptor for bank two (Figure 9, 4b)

Figure 9. Special tool set VAS6825
2. To catch water, put a pan under the front of the engine and under the disconnected catalytic converter pipes.
3. Install engine adaptors on the appropriate banks (Figure 10, Figure
11).

Figure 10. Engine adaptor on bank one.

Figure 11. Engine adaptor on bank two.
4. To ensure proper pressure washer function, use a ¾-inch water supply hose (no longer than 60 feet) to supply

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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
pressure washer.
The Audi-supplied pressure washer comes with a 22mm male-to-male adapter (to connect special tool to
trigger gun), a pressure gauge (to connect between pressure washer and high pressure hose), and a 220V
power adapter.
Make sure that pressure is at least 1800 psi when using the special single port cleaning hose (the hose with
the scale). Use the table below to compensate for low water pressure:

psi While Cleaning Single Ports

Cleaning Time in Minutes

Less than 1900

Pressure too low – check water supply

1900

4

2000 or higher

3

Power Wash the Ports
Cleaning Main Secondary Port:
1. Insert special main port cleaning hose (the hose without the scale) two inches into the engine adaptor.
2. Turn the pressure washer on.
3. Holding the cleaning hose tightly, pull the pressure washer trigger.
4. Gradually move the cleaning hose into the port, going back and forth until the combi valve is reached. All water
comes out at the adaptor #4.
5. Continue going back and forth through the whole port until only clean water drains out of the cylinder head.
6. Do the same with the other cylinder head.
Cleaning Single Ports:
1. Because every port has a different distance to the cylinder head, use the table below to position the hose
adaptor for the special single port cleaning hose (the hose with the scale) correctly into the hose. The back
side of the hose adaptor must align with the number on the scale of the cylinder to be cleaned (Figure 12). The
longitudinal slot on the hose adaptor must align with the black line on the scale for correct rotational
positioning (Figure 12).

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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
Dimensions Port

1

2

3

Bank One

10.5

19.5

28.5

Bank Two

13.7

22.7

31.8

Figure 12: Arrow indicating how the back side of the adaptor must align with the scale. Red dotted
line indicating how the longitudinal slot must align with the black line on the scale.

2. After adjusting the position of the hose adaptor, insert the
special single port cleaning hose into the hose adaptor,
and bring it back into locking position (Figure 13).

Figure 13. Locking position / transvers longitudinal
movement and of the hose adaptor
3. While cleaning, make sure that the pressure washer is supplying pressure greater than 1800 psi.
4. Based on the washer’s pressure, clean the port based on the table below. While cleaning, continuously move
the hose adaptor within the longitudinal and transvers slots (Figure 13).

psi While Cleaning Single Ports

Cleaning Time in Minutes

Less than 1900

Pressure too low – check water supply

1900

4

2000 or more

3

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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
Tip: After ten seconds of cleaning, all of the water should be draining out of the exhaust. If water is draining
out of the engine adaptor, check the position of the hose adaptor on the hose.
5.

Do the same for all remaining cylinders.

6.

It is recommended that after cleaning, all single ports are
checked with snap-on boroscope BK6000 (or similar,
with 90-degree lens), to make sure all ports are clean
(Figure 14).