Audi Q5 Engine Problems

You could have a problem anywhere in the wiring between the starter button and the starter motor. It could even be a problem with the starter motor itself. This function is computer controlled, too, so you may find the body computer is the root cause. An auto electrician will be able to check this out and diagnose the fault.

But there’s one thing you can check before that, and that is to remove and clean the contacts on the actual starter button. You will need to remove it from the dashboard (disconnect the car’s battery first) and carefully take the button apart and spray some terminal cleaner or contact cleaner on to the contacts. If you’re not confident to do this, the same auto electrician will be able to help you out.

These buttons (which are really switches) accumulate all sorts of grime and moisture from the air, the car’s interior and, of course, the fingers that operate the button.

The best way forward here is to take the car to a workshop that knows Audis and have them pressure test the cooling system. Modern cars have sealed coolant systems, suggesting that they shouldn’t lose any coolant at all. The reality is a little different, and what may have happened is that your coolant level has been falling very slowly perhaps over a period of years until the level is low enough to trigger the warning message.

By pressure testing the system, any leak should become visible and can be fixed. Water pumps, radiators, heat exchangers and the network of coolant plumbing that makes up a modern car can all develop leaks. Sometimes the leak is so small, the coolant evaporates before it ever hits the ground which is why there’s no tell-tale puddle under the car each morning.

Don’t automatically jump to the conclusion that your car has a blown head gasket; there are lots of ways for coolant to escape, which is why it’s wise to keep an eye on the level on a weekly basis.

The reductant heater on this car is a heating element that stops the AdBlue from freezing. According to most sources, the heater is only called into operate at ambient temperatures of minus-11 Celsius or lower. So, unless you're a regular at Australia's snowfields, your car will probably never need this function. But while the car may work perfectly without a functioning reductant heater, you might find that it's technically unroadworthy on the basis of its emissions systems (of which the AdBlue is a part) are not all working properly.

Most times, failures of this heater revolve around the electronics that control it, but when that happens, the computer will usually flash up a check-engine light to let you know there's something wrong. Without this light, I'm unsure why your mechanic would think there's a problem with the heater system.

The recommended engine oil for your car is actually a 5W30 fully-synthetic. That goes for either the petrol or diesel-engined version of the Q5.