SugarRuy
New Member
Hi everyone,
A happy first-time user here! Not sure if this is the best place to share it but if you have similar issue, it's worth a try!
I wanted to share two successful workarounds I recently did on my 2018 A5 Cabriolet (B9) using VCDS. Both issues were caused by minor mechanical/sensor failures. Instead of spending a fortune on replacing the entire assemblies, I managed to code them out to get rid of the annoyances and restore primary features.
Hopefully, this helps someone in a similar situation!
My driver-side seatbelt feeder was mechanically jammed. While it didn't affect any other systems, it kept making awful grinding noises trying to push out every time I got in the car. It threw this code:
Address 42: Door Elect, Driver
196741 - Belt feeder B1546 07 [00001000] - Mechanical Failure
The Fix (No physical disconnection needed):
You can completely disable the feeder motor via Long Coding to stop it from trying to operate.
Unlike the seatbelt feeder, this small failure took down an entire system. My memory seat function (the SET button) completely stopped working. The module refused to save any positions because the Z-axis headrest motor lost its basic setting due to a bad sensor.
Address 36: Seat Mem. Drvr
393221 - Motor for Height Adjustment of Headrest B1859 54 [00101001] - Missing Calibration
393232 - Sensor for Height Adjustment of Headrest B1856 29 [00101001] - Signal Implausible
The Fix:
Since I couldn't care less about the electric headrest height but desperately needed the main memory seat functions back, I coded the headrest motor out so the module would ignore it during self-checks.
Just a quick heads-up: These are "downgrade" fixes. You will obviously lose the feeder function and the electric headrest adjustment, but it’s a brilliant zero-cost way to get rid of the annoying noises and get your primary memory seat functions back.
Cheers!
A happy first-time user here! Not sure if this is the best place to share it but if you have similar issue, it's worth a try!
I wanted to share two successful workarounds I recently did on my 2018 A5 Cabriolet (B9) using VCDS. Both issues were caused by minor mechanical/sensor failures. Instead of spending a fortune on replacing the entire assemblies, I managed to code them out to get rid of the annoyances and restore primary features.
Hopefully, this helps someone in a similar situation!
1. Disabling a Broken/Jammed Seatbelt Feeder (Presenter)
The Problem:My driver-side seatbelt feeder was mechanically jammed. While it didn't affect any other systems, it kept making awful grinding noises trying to push out every time I got in the car. It threw this code:
Address 42: Door Elect, Driver
196741 - Belt feeder B1546 07 [00001000] - Mechanical Failure
The Fix (No physical disconnection needed):
You can completely disable the feeder motor via Long Coding to stop it from trying to operate.
- Go to [42 - Door Elect, Driver] (and repeat for [52 - Door Elect, Pass.] if needed).
- Click [Coding - 07] -> [Long Coding Helper].
- Go to Byte 7.
- Uncheck Bit 2 (labeled as seatbelt_feeder, active).
- Save the coding. The module will now assume the car was never equipped with the feeder. The arm stays retracted forever, the grinding noise is gone, and no more fault codes!
2. Restoring Memory Seats by Bypassing a Broken Headrest Motor
The Problem:Unlike the seatbelt feeder, this small failure took down an entire system. My memory seat function (the SET button) completely stopped working. The module refused to save any positions because the Z-axis headrest motor lost its basic setting due to a bad sensor.
Address 36: Seat Mem. Drvr
393221 - Motor for Height Adjustment of Headrest B1859 54 [00101001] - Missing Calibration
393232 - Sensor for Height Adjustment of Headrest B1856 29 [00101001] - Signal Implausible
The Fix:
Since I couldn't care less about the electric headrest height but desperately needed the main memory seat functions back, I coded the headrest motor out so the module would ignore it during self-checks.
- Go to [36 - Seat Mem. Drvr].
- Click [Coding - 07] -> [Long Coding Helper].
- Look for the Bit labeled KSV_z_direction_motor_installed (In my case, it is in byte 14 bit 0).
- Uncheck it to tell the module the seat does not have a headrest motor.
- Save the coding and clear the fault codes.
- The SET button for memory set instantly lit up again in red when I click it! (If yours doesn't, just manually run the seat to all physical end-stops to relearn the remaining motors).
Just a quick heads-up: These are "downgrade" fixes. You will obviously lose the feeder function and the electric headrest adjustment, but it’s a brilliant zero-cost way to get rid of the annoying noises and get your primary memory seat functions back.
Cheers!