97 Electrical concerns in the rear trunk area
97 19 64 2043968/4 July 8, 2019. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 97 number 19-63 dated April 12,
2019 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

A3

2015 - 2016

All

Not Applicable

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

4

-

Revise Service (Updated Step 11 for right side)

3

04/12/2019

Revised Warranty (Revised Labor Operations)

2

10/16/2017

Revised title (Updated phrasing)
Revised Condition (Added DTC for rear view camera)
Revised Service (Added step 17 for right side harness repair)
Revised Warranty (Added Claim types and revised Labor Operations)

The customer states one or more of the following concerns:
 The trunk cannot be opened with the handle button. It can only be opened with a remote control key.
 The left tail light in the trunk lid does not work.
 When the trunk is being opened, the tail lights intermittently do not work.
 The license plate lights do not work.
 The license plate lights flicker when the trunk is being opened.
 The backup camera does not work.
 When the trunk is being opened, the rearview camera intermittently does not work.
Workshop findings:
One or more of the following DTCs are present in the vehicle electrical system control module, J519 (address
word 0001), and can be static or sporadic:
 DTC B12BE15 (Lamp for left tail light, interruption/short circuit to positive).
 DTC B12BF15 (Lamp for right tail light, interruption/short circuit to positive).
 DTC B12CB15 (Lamp for left reversing light, interruption/short circuit to positive).

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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
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 DTC B12CC15 (Lamp for right reversing light, interruption/short circuit to positive).
 DTC B12CE15 (Lamp 2 for left turn signal, interruption/short circuit to positive).
 DTC B12CF15 (Lamp 2 for right turn signal, interruption/short circuit to positive).
 DTC B12DD15 (Motor for central locking in the rear lid, interruption/short circuit to positive).
 DTC B12CA15 (Number plate light, interruption/short circuit to earth).
 DTC B125C13 (Video cable, interruption).
 DTC B12C715 (Lamp for left rear fog light, interruption/short circuit to positive).
 DTC B12C815 (Lamp for right rear fog light, interruption/short circuit to positive).
Or the similar fault of:
 DTC B136B13 (Wire for the video signal from rearview camera Open circuit).

Technical Background
When the rear lid is opened or closed, a wire (or wires) can break in the area of the trunk hinge of the left or right
rear lid wiring harness.
 The functions for the trunk, rear exterior lights, and external release button are contained in the left rear lid
wiring harness.
 The function of the rearview camera is contained in the right rear lid wiring harness.

Production Solution
Improved wire harness routing introduced into series production.

Page 2 of 16
© 2019 Audi of America, Inc.
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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.

Service
1. Check the rear lid wiring for damage in the
area of the trunk hinge (Figure 1 - Figure 3).
If the wiring harness is damaged in the area
of the trunk hinge, it must be replaced.
Follow the instructions below.
Tip: The repair kits are listed in the
Parts Catalog under “harness for liftgate
single parts”. When ordering a replacement
harness, note that the right harness is only
for cars with a rearview camera.

Figure 1. Wire damage at the trunk hinge.

Figure 2. Wire damage at the trunk hinge.

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© 2019 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.

Figure 3. Incorrect wire routing at the trunk hinge.

Instructions for right side repair (Installation of reversing camera cable):
The following tools are required:

The following parts are required:

 VAS 1978 B (see attachment).
 VAS 1978/29.

 Repair cable for the right side on vehicles with reversing
camera (PR code KA2) (See parts catalog “wiring
harness for rear lid”).

 Side cutters.

 Textile adhesive tape (part number D 373125A2).

1.

Disconnect the battery.

2.

Remove the right rear lid trim and right locking element of the rear lid hinge according to the Elsa repair
manual.

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© 2019 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.

3.

Take photographs of the routing of the wiring
harness reversing camera from the rear lid to
the right reversing camera control module
(Figure 4). These photographs will be used for
reference later.

Figure 4. Examples of photographs of the routing of the
wiring harness. The routing may differ depending on the
vehicle.
4.

Loosen the wiring harness to the reversing camera control module and cut it off on the junction of the main
wiring harness (Figure 5). Wrap textile adhesive tape around the cut-off cable.

Page 5 of 16
© 2019 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.

Figure 5. Cut cable off on the junction of the main wiring harness (red separation line).
5.

Before fitting the service wiring harness, place
the clips supplied with the wiring harness
(Figure 6) on the body in such a way that the
wiring harness does not touch any edges or
could be trapped by the mountings of the trim.

Figure 6. Clip supplied with wiring harness.
6.

Fit the service wiring harness. For correct routing, refer to the photographs taken in step 3.
Note that one of the clips from the previously-fitted harness is no longer needed (Figure 7).

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© 2019 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.

Figure 7. Note that clip “C” in the image above is not needed when the service wiring harness is fitted.
7.

Loosen the red connector T20i on the
reversing camera control module (Figure 8).
Remove the cable tie on the connector.

Figure 8. Loosen red connector T20i.
8.

Pull black bar out of the housing (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Pull black bar (red arrow) out of housing in
direction of the green arrow.

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© 2019 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.

9.

Use VAS 1978/29 to remove the contacts (pin
9 (grey/brown) and pin 19 (grey/red)). To
unlock the contacts, position VAS 1978/29 on
the side (Figure 10), then the contacts can be
removed.

Figure 10. To unlock the contacts, position VAS 1978/29
on the side.
10. Cut off the removed cables and insulate ends with textile adhesive tape.
11. Lock the contacts of the new wiring harness in chamber 9 (grey/brown) and chamber 19 (grey/black). Then,
lock the black bar in connector T20i and secure the cable with a cable tie on the connector collar.
12. Unplug and cut the grey aerial plug off of the reversing camera cable. Insulate the cut-off aerial cable with
textile adhesive tape.
13. Connect the grey aerial plug of the service wiring harness on the reversing camera control module.
14. Connect the battery and check the function of the reversing camera.
15. Wrap the wiring harness with textile adhesive
tape on the main wiring harness (Figure 11).

Figure 11. Wrap the wiring harness with textile adhesive
tapes at red marks.
16. Fit trim, making sure that the wiring harness does not get trapped.

Page 8 of 16
© 2019 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.

17. Calibrate the rear view camera if needed.

Instructions for left side repair (Fitting rear lid wiring harness for lights and handle button):
The following tools are required:

The following parts are required:

 VAS 1978 B (see attachment).
 VAG 1526 C.

 Repair cable for the right side on vehicles with reversing
camera (PR code KA2) (See parts catalog “wiring
harness for rear lid”).

 VAG 1594 C.

 Repair cable for left side:

 Side cutters.
 Caliper.

 Taillights in the rear lid, LED (PR code 8SK).
 Textile adhesive tape (part number D 373125A2).
 Crimp connector, based on cable diameter (see parts
catalog illustrations 979-30, 979-40, and 979-05).

1.

Disconnect battery.

2.

Remove rear lid trim, left side trim, and locking element of rear lid hinge according to the Elsa repair
manual.

3.

Remove the outer left taillight.

Page 9 of 16
© 2019 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.

4.

Take photographs of the routing of the rear lid
wiring harness (Figure 12). These
photographs will be used for reference later.

Figure 12. Examples of photographs of the routing of the
wiring harness. The routing may differ depending on the
vehicle.
5.

Remove the left rear lid wiring harness and cut the cable off before the last unlevered clip (Figure 13).

Page 10 of 16
© 2019 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.

Figure 13. Cut the cable at before the last unlevered clip (at red separation line, before clip marked by the
yellow arrow).
6.

Open the winding of the cut-off vehicle wiring
harness to the junction of the main wiring
harness on the separable area (Figure 14).

Figure 14. Open the winding of the cut-off vehicle wiring
harness to the junction of the main harness on the
separable area (red marks).
7.

The taillights on the rear lid are supplied from the outer taillights. In both the production and the service
wiring harness, the left and right taillights have the same brown/red cable colors. Ensure that these cables
are not mixed up when they are connected to the main wiring harness. There are stickers on the service
wiring harness that show to which side each brown/red cable belongs.

Page 11 of 16
© 2019 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.

8.

Only one of the two cables must be assigned
to one side on the cut-off vehicle wiring
harness.
Remove the insulation on both brown/red
cables on the vehicle wiring harness (Figure
15).

Figure 15. Remove the insulation on both brown/red
cables on the vehicle wiring harness.
9.

Set the VAG 1526 C to current flow check and
connect the probe cables to the VAG 1526 C
(Figure 16).

Figure 16. Set the VAG 1526 C to current flow check and
connect the probe cables.

Page 12 of 16
© 2019 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.

10. Connect the meter probes of the VAG 1594 C
to the probe cables of the VAG 1526 C. The
required meter probes from VAG 1594 C are
number 18 and number 12 (Figure 17).

Figure 17. Required meter probes from VAG 1594 C.
11. Remove the insulation on the two brown/red cables of the unwound wiring section.
12. Hold the black meter probe of the prepared VAG 1526 C on one of the two brown/red cables.
13. Hold the red meter probe on the connector T6 and of the outer left taillight, chamber 4 brown/red (left outer
taillight).
14. When there is a through-flow, the VAG 1526 C will make a sound. Mark the cable with the measured
through-flow with yellow insulation tape. Write “L” (for left side) on the tape.
15. Before fitting the service wiring harness, place
the clips supplied with the wiring harness
(Figure 19) on the body in such a way that the
wiring harness does not touch any edges or
could be trapped by the mountings of the trim.

Figure 19. Clip supplied with wiring harness.
16. Fit the service wiring harness. For correct routing, refer to the photographs taken in step 4.

Page 13 of 16
© 2019 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.

Note that one of the clips from the previously-fitted harness is no longer needed (Figure 20).

Figure 20. Note that clip “C” in the image above is not needed when the service wiring harness is fitted.
17. Use the crimp connector of VAS 1987 B to connect the brown/red vehicle cable with the yellow insulation
tape to the brown/red cable of the service wiring harness for the left side, then check the connection by
pulling.
For the dimension of the crimp connector, see the current flow diagram (0.5 mm2, 1.5 mm2, etc.).
Use the crimp connector to connect the second brown/red vehicle cable to the brown/red cable for the right
side with a crimp connector, then check the connection by pulling.
18. Heat up the crimp connector with the electric blower from VAS 1978 B until the adhesive comes out. Follow
the instructions in the attached document for VAS 1978 B.
19. Refit the taillights.
20. Connect battery, confirm function, and clear any DTCs stored during the repair.
21. Wrap textile adhesive tape D 373125A2 around the repaired cable section.
22. Fit trim, making sure that the wiring harness does not get trapped.

Warranty
Claim Type:

• 110 up to 48 Months/50,000 Miles.
• G10 for CPO Covered Vehicles – Verify Owner.
• If the vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin is informational
only.

Service Number:

9727

Page 14 of 16
© 2019 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.

Damage Code:

0015

Labor Operations:

Left side repair only:
Repair wiring harness for rear lid

9727 1999

350 TU

9727 2099

160 TU

Right side repair only:
Repair wiring harness for rear lid

Repair of BOTH left and right sides at the same time:
Repair wiring harness for rear lid

9727 4199

440 TU

Back-up camera adjust

9143 1550

See SRT

GFF

0150 0000

Time stated on
diagnostic
protocol (Max
60 TU)

Road test prior to the service procedure

No allowance

0 TU

Road test after the service procedure

0121 0004

10 TU

If necessary:

Diagnostic Time:

Claim Comment:

As per TSB #2043968/4

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.

Required Parts and Tools
Always check with your Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins.
Part Number

Part Description

Quantity

See ETKA (Use FI search)

Left Harness for liftgate with LED taillights

01 (As needed)

See ETKA (Use FI search)

Right Harness for liftgate with a rearview camera

01 (As needed)

See ETKA

Fasteners, Bolts, Nuts, and Screws as needed per the
Repair Manual

See
ETKA/ELSA

Page 15 of 16
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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.

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2043968) are subject to change and/or removal.
©2019 Audi of America, Inc. All rights reserved. The 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.

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© 2019 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.