Technical Service Bulletin
57 Door cannot be opened from outside, it can only be opened from inside
57 12 80 2029151/3 November 9, 2012. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 57 number 12-65 dated
May 14, 2012 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

TT

2010-2013

All

All

A4

2010-2013

All

All

A5

2010-2013

All

All

A5 cab

2010-2013

All

All

A6

2012-2013

All

All

A7

2012-2013

All

All

Q5

2010-2013

All

All

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

3

-

Revised Warranty (SRT and labor operations)

2

5/14/2012

Revised header data
Revised Warranty, Required Parts and Tools (Added Audi Q5)

1

3/30/2012

Original publication

The door cannot be opened from outside with the outer door handle, but it can be opened with the inner handle.
The complaint is often described as follows: The customer locks the vehicle and checks by pulling the door
handle whether the vehicle is locked. When opening the vehicle again, the door cannot be opened. It feels as if
the handle is slack.

Page 1 of 9
© 2012 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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Background
When fitting the Bowden cable from the mounting
bar to the door lock the cable can get kinked. In
some cases this can increase the inner friction of
the strand in the Bowden cable. As a result, the
door lock stays in pressed position or does not
completely return to its zero position. (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Bowden cable routing.
When the Bowden cable gets twisted during the
installation the rubber grommets can get distorted.
Consequently, the Bowden cable has a too high
inner friction and the door lock does not move to
the zero position. (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Distorted rubber grommets.

Production Solution
Work instructions have been optimized for the assembly workers.

Page 2 of 9
© 2012 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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Service
1. Remove/install the latch carrier (“ bow” according to ETKA) and Bowden cable together,
as a set, according to the repair manual:

Repair Manual >> Body >> Body Exterior >> 57 Front doors, Central Locking System >>
Removal and Installation >> Door Components >> Door Handle and Door Lock.
Tip: Do not separate the Bowden cable from the latch carrier (“ bow” according to
ETKA). Ensure the Bowden cable does not get further damaged during the removal. When
a parts request is made, pack the lock and the Bowden cable in such a way that an
analysis is possible and additional damage is prevented.
2. Assemble the latch carrier (“ bow” according to ETKA) / Bowden cable assembly and the
door lock together according to the steps below, before installing into the vehicle:
a. Position the Bowden cable by holding
the yellow sleeve in the lock.

Figure 3. Holding the yellow sleeve in the lock.

Page 3 of 9
© 2012 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.

Technical Service Bulletin
b. Pull down the Bowden cable by holding
the yellow sleeve. The locking
mechanism is pulled along and the
Bowden cable is locked.
Slot in the yellow locking mechanism to
the left

Figure 4. Pulling down the Bowden cable.
c. Do not twist the Bowden cable after the
installation. To achieve this, turn
neither the lock nor the mounting bar.

Figure 5. Do not turn the lock or the mounting
bar.
Tip: The attached short video shows the correct attachment of the Bowden cable
in the door lock.

Page 4 of 9
© 2012 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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Warranty
Claim Type:

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

Service Number:

5719

Damage Code:

0017

Labor Operations:

A6 – One Door:
Front door trim panel

70 59 19 00

40 TU

57 17 19 50

70 TU

57 37 99 99

10 TU

remove and reinstall
Door lock front remove
and reinstall
Assemble door release
cable
-OrA6 – Two Doors:
Both front door trim

70 59 20 00

70 TU

57 17 99 99

140 TU

57 37 99 99

20 TU

70 59 19 00

40 TU

panels remove and
reinstall
Both door locks front
remove and reinstall
Assemble both door
release cables
A7 – One Door:
Front door trim panel
remove and reinstall

Page 5 of 9
© 2012 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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Door lock front remove

57 17 19 50

50 TU

57 37 99 99

10 TU

and reinstall
Assemble door release
cable
-OrA7 – Two Doors:
Both front door trim

70 59 20 00

70 TU

57 17 99 99

100 TU

57 37 99 99

20 TU

panels remove and
reinstall
Both door locks front
remove and reinstall
Assemble both door
release cables
A5 Coupe / A5 Cabriolet / Audi Q5 – One Door
Front door trim panel

70 59 19 00

40 TU

57 17 19 50

20 TU

57 37 99 99

10 TU

remove and reinstall
Door lock front remove
and reinstall
Assemble door release
cable
-OrA5 Coupe / A5 Cabriolet / Audi Q5 – Two Doors:
Both front door trim

70 59 20 00

70 TU

panels remove and
reinstall

Page 6 of 9
© 2012 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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Both door locks front

57 17 99 99

40 TU

57 37 99 99

20 TU

remove and reinstall
Assemble both door
release cables
TT Coupe / TT Roadster – One Door:
Front door trim panel

70 59 19 00

30 TU

5717 19 50

20 TU

57 37 99 99

10 TU

remove and reinstall
Door lock front remove
and reinstall
Assemble door release
cable
-OrTT Coupe / TT Roadster – Two Doors:
Both front door trim

70 59 20 00

50 TU

57 17 99 99

40 TU

57 37 99 99

20 TU

70 59 19 00

40 TU

57 17 19 50

30 TU

panels remove and
reinstall
Both door locks front
remove and reinstall
Assemble both door
release cables
A4 – One Door:
Front door trim panel
remove and reinstall
Door lock front remove
and reinstall

Page 7 of 9
© 2012 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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Assemble door release

57 37 99 99

10 TU

cable
-OrA4 – Two Doors:
70 59 20 00

70 TU

57 17 99 99

60 TU

57 37 99 99

20 TU

GFF

No allowance

0 TU

Road test prior to

No allowance

0 TU

No allowance

0 TU

Both front door trim
panels remove and
reinstall
Both door locks front
remove and reinstall
Assemble both door
release cables
Diagnostic Time:

service procedure
Road test after service
procedure
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 #2029151/3

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.

Page 8 of 9
© 2012 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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Required Parts and Tools
Part Number

Part Description

Quantity

4H1 837 885

Bow (A6/ A7 driver side, contains Bowden cable)

1

Bow (A6/A7 passenger side, contains Bowden cable)

1

Bow (A4/A5/Audi Q5 driver side, contains Bowden cable)

1

8T0 837 886 B

Bow (A4/A5/Audi Q5 passenger side, contains Bowden

1

-and/or-

cable)

8J1 837 885 A

Bow (TT driver side, contains Bowden cable)

1

Bow (TT passenger side, contains Bowden cable)

1

-and/or4H0 837 886
-and/or8T1 837 885 B
-and/or-

-and/or8J0 837 886 A

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.

Page 9 of 9
© 2012 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.