ESP Fault with car not starting!

Hi guys,

New on the forum, and will start with an issue i now have...it's a 2010 2.0TDI 170HP Multitronic S-Line and got the ESP fault on with the car not starting; this happened after i had the ESP fault on the cluster(just before you would start and then this message would go away) for 3-4 days with the car performing normally, the only fault code i had on my VCDS was something to do with an software update needed and that one i could not delete, it would always come back.
Now while i was trying to take the voltage of my MAF sensor, coincidently this disaster happened... i might of touch the 12V supply pin with the ground?! i can't really tell if that could've done something to it to fire the ESP fault, but after that happened my 12V were gone and i would only get voltage to the other two pins(5V and around 4.8V). After that happened i took time to find similar scenarios and many were fixed with just a simple battery change & recoding, so i did that = same behaviour, nothing changed, then i found a thread with a similar issue on this forum with people changing the fuel pump relay from a 614 to a 644 so i tried that, with the exception that my relay was a 643 and i've changed it with one that had the exact same specs with that one = same behaviour, nothing changed. On my VCDS the list of faults is just massive, but among the things that went wrong was the fact that it had no comms with the transmission and could not get it from P to anything, i had the Parking brake fault as well on the cluster which works fine when pressing/releasing the button, and the interesting one to do with the fact that it tells you to press the clutch to start the car...so has no idea it has a auto trans, so comms are clearly dead there...
Right these were my words of despair which hopefully makes sense... Do let me know if anyone would get a similar scenario with this...and if you've solved it somehow...do let me know! My mechanic, which is a German car specialist recommands to get the car to Audi to do the diagnostic and repair bit themselves...which i was kind of reluctant to do after i've read people being asked for £1500-£2000 for the ABS module and such...when a £15 relay would solve the faults.

Regards,
George M.

First thing that on my mind, reading your post, is that you have maybe damaged control module of engine by short circuit on MAF sensor. The control module of engine is not coded anymore correctly as he thinks that car has manual transmission. If I were you I would try to code engine control module, save all faults and then delete them.
Check brake pedal switch that is operational as probably this switch is important for starting the car.

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When you say coding the ECM, you mean reprogramming the actual ECU? Not something that can be done with VCDS I take it?
Brake pedal and the electronic parking brake work fine...

disconnect the battery, put the car lights ON and touch the positive and negative leads together

switch off car lights

reconnect battery and see what happens


The car checks the battery after around 8 minutes to see if battery is charged, if not it displays ESP fault. It thinks the battery doesn't have enough power to run engine to stop the car. On the older A6, this check was done straight away

If you have put on a new battery, check the new battery for a faulty cell or cells, being brand new does not mean the battery is good

If the battery is ok, then you need to check the voltage at the battery with the engine running, should be around 13.5 to 14 volts

Then check alternator, it should be around 0.1 to 0.2 volts higher then at battery


This is a good starting point and you know battery & alternator are good

I'll try that Niall, i must say i have little hopes in this working. Thanks.

Checking the battery for a dud cell or cells is free at most garages

Manage to do the lights on, leads off & contact...but still nothing there...
I might give up and just call Audi to take it...can't waste more time as i really need the car running...

Try to code the engine control unit with VCDS. Learn it that car has automatic transmission

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Do you have any knowledge on that? i mean i'm ok with doing it myself i'm just asking for some good info/guidance...

I suppose that you will get pop up window with options when you start coding. Choose the one with multitronic transmission. On manual car you cannot even crank the engine if clutch is not engaged.

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