Technical Service Bulletin
91 Sound system: speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference
91 24 25 2018187/15 June 28, 2024. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 91 number 24-16 dated June
12, 2024 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

All Audi Vehicles

2008 - 2025

All

Not Applicable

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

15

-

Revised header (added new customer codes)

14

06/12/2024

Revised header (Added Model Year 2025)
Revised Technical Background (removed EMI)
Revised Service (updated testing procedure)
Revised Warranty (added claiming info)

13

05/08/2023

Revised header (Updated models and model years)

Customer states:
• A cracking, grinding, rattling, humming, whining, or similar interference is coming from one or more speakers.

Technical Background
Parts of the speakers (such as the brackets, cables, or covers) or parts of the interior fittings (such as door
covers, rear shelf, facings, or covers) can vibrate at certain frequencies, causing noises.

Production Solution
Not applicable.

Service
To successfully resolve a customer complaint that is possibly related to a speaker, it is important to first make
sure that the complaint is caused by that speaker.

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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
The tests should be performed with the default tone settings.
• If the customer uses individual tone settings, please reset them to their default value.

It is not always possible to localize the exact source of the noise directly. Vehicle components can
transmit noises from other areas into the passenger compartment, which can make it difficult to localize
the source of a noise correctly. Please always check around the speakers, as well as the speakers
themselves.
• This applies to complaints regarding noises while on a phone call, in particular.

The steps below must be performed in the specified order. The customer complaint must be able to be
reproduced repeatedly.
1. Preparation:
a. Door speakers: Remove all objects from the door storage compartments.
b. Dash speakers: Empty the glove box completely and remove any other loose items from any area of the
dash panel.
c. Hat-shelf speakers: Check whether the hat-shelf itself may be causing the complaint. Remove any loose
items from any area around the hat-shelf.
2. Reassess the complaint, is it still possible to reproduce the customer complaint? Check whether a speaker
cover is causing the noise: Does the noise disappear if you apply pressure to the speaker cover with your
hand?
a. If yes:
b. Remove the speaker cover and try to reproduce the claim again.
c. If the complaint does not reoccur, please reinstall the speaker cover in the correct position. If necessary,
please also use suitable measures to quiet the speaker cover (e.g., felt, etc.). If the speaker cover is
damaged, it must be replaced. Claim the labor using the service number of the speaker cover as the
casual part. Please note that claims for speaker covers that are replaced without being damaged may be
denied.
3. Check that all bolts on the affected speaker are tightened correctly.
a. Try to tighten every bolt on the speaker.
b. If any bolts can be tightened, check whether the complaint has been resolved after the bolts have been
tightened. Claim the labor using the service number of the loudspeaker and specify damage type
SA018 “loose”.
4. Check the speaker for foreign objects or debris (fod). Remove fod if it is found.
5. Dismount the speaker from the vehicle and carry out another sound test. When doing so, the speaker
magnet should be held by hand from underneath, with the membrane facing upwards.
a. Check the speaker for any visible damage, e.g., on the speaker membrane or the foam bead (if applicable).
© 2024 Audi of America, Inc.
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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
b. Check the speaker under the conditions described by the customer.
c. If no unexpected noise can be heard, the speaker must not be replaced. Continue with step 6.
d. If the noise is still distinctly present with the speaker removed and held in your hand, continue with step 6,
however, you can skip step 7.
6. The vehicle’s interior should be checked for loose bolts, trim, fluttering labels, or wires and any other (trim)
components which could be vibrating in resonance. Secure components and/or apply backing or felt to any
loose components. Replace them if damaged. Claim the labor using the service number of the casual
component. Do not claim on the service number of the speaker!
7. If the complaint cannot be reproduced with the speaker removed and held in your hand, and no loose bolts or
components could be located during step 6, reinstall the speaker. Make sure that it is seated centrally and
flush and check if the complaint returns with the speaker installed. It is possible that the speaker was merely
under tension leading to the noise complaint.
8. Please swap the loudspeaker on the right with the opposite loudspeaker on the left. Check whether the
complaint moves location with the loudspeaker.
a. If the complaint has moved to the other side, the speaker must be replaced.
b. If the complaint did not move location with the speaker, further diagnosis is required. Be certain to check
the area around the amplifier or main unit for:
Please refer to other applicable TSBs as necessary.

Warranty
Parts must not be replaced without a good reason as stated in this TSB. Such claims may be debited.
When claiming labor to eliminate rattling noises on trim parts under warranty, the respective service number of the
trim piece must be used, and the damage type must be appropriate for the location in conjunction with the cause
of the complaint.
Examples for service numbers are:
• 5811 – Door handle
• 5817 – Door lock
• 5819 – Cable
• 5867 – Lock cylinder
• 7014 – Loudspeaker cover
• 7018 – Dash panel
• 7022 – Dash panel cover
• 7058 – Trim strip for dash panel
• 7014 – Loudspeaker cover
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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
• 9732 – Wiring harness for door
• 9733 – Wiring harness for central locking system
• 9740 – Wiring harness for steering column
• 9774 – Wiring harness for dash panel
• 7059 – Door trim (front)
• 7073 – Door trim (rear)
• 6815 – Glove box
• 7030 – Luggage compartment cover

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2018187) are subject to change and/or removal. Always
check with your Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins. Please check the
Repair Manual for fasteners, bolts, nuts, and screws that require replacement during the repair.
©2024 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.

© 2024 Audi of America, Inc.
Internal

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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.