| Code | Severity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| P0300 | Severe |
Two or more cylinders are experiencing misfires, which could cause damage to your engine or emissions system. |
| P0302 | Severe |
Cylinder number two is experiencing misfires, which could cause damage to your engine or emissions system. |
| P0301 | Severe |
Cylinder number one is experiencing misfires, which could cause damage to your engine or emissions system. |
| P0303 | Severe |
Cylinder number three is experiencing misfires, which could cause damage to your engine or emissions system. |
| P0304 | Severe |
Cylinder number four is experiencing misfires, which could cause damage to your engine or emissions system. |
Other Common Audi Issues
- Car is shaking
- Front end clunks in sharp turns
Why Is My Car Shaking?
There are many reasons why this can happen, but by far the most common reason in Audis is old spark plugs. These are what cause the fuel and air mixture inside the cylinders to ignite and provide power. Spark plugs wear out over time and need to be replaced according to your Audi’s maintenance schedule. Once they are worn out, they will not burn the fuel inside your engine efficiently, causing rough running which makes the car shake. This can also cause misfires, which will turn on your Audi engine warning light.
If you know your spark plugs are good, other possible causes of shaking are a vacuum leak, worn out motor mounts, or even a dirty air filter.
Why Is the Front Of My Car Clunking In Sharp Turns?
That click or clunk in the front end while turning often means that an axle is wearing out and needs to be replaced. These axles have joints in them called CV (constant velocity) joints that let the axles turn when you steer the car. These joints wear out over time, especially if the rubber boot covering the joint has torn and allowed the grease inside to escape. You can verify this by looking under your car to see if grease has sprayed all over the wheel well. If the grease is gone, the CV joint is not lubricated and will wear out quickly. A clicking or clunking sound indicates that this has already happened, and the axle should be replaced.
Check Your Gas Cap
One of the most common reasons for a check engine light in your Audi is also the easiest problem to fix. A loose gas cap is often the reason the check engine light turns on. This happens because the engine detects a leak in the evaporative emissions system, which exists when the gas cap isn’t tightened until it clicks. It’s easy, and it’s free!
What Should I Do If the Check Engine Light Is On in My Audi?
There are many potential problems that can activate the Audi engine light, from a loose gas cap to major engine issues. If this light turns on, don’t panic. Follow these steps to figure out what the problem is and get it to a trusted repair shop for inspection as soon as possible.
> Find a RepairPal Certified Shop Near You
What the Check Engine Light Means
Your Audi engine warning light is part of the onboard diagnostics system (OBD2). All gas-powered cars and trucks made since 1996, plus diesel cars and trucks since 2008, have a diagnostic system to manage the engine and monitor system performance. It alerts the driver to any problems by activating the Check Engine Light on your dashboard. With an OBD2 scanner, you can access diagnostic information from this system to find out what’s wrong with your car and how serious the problem really is.
Instantly Diagnose Your Check Engine Light
Read and clear 7000+ check engine light codes with the FIXD Sensor and free app.
How to Read Your Audi’s Check Engine Light
There are a few ways you can read the diagnostic trouble code stored in your car’s computer.
1) Go to your local mechanic. They will plug in their professional scan tool to read the code and identify the cause of the problem. As with any service a shop does, they will likely charge you a diagnostic fee. This also won’t help you if you’re broken down on the side of the road. Additionally, you may not have a shop that you trust to diagnose the problem correctly, rather than try to make some extra money from repairs.
2) Go to a nearby auto parts store. Most parts stores will plug their OBD2 scanner into your car and give you the code and technical description at no charge. The person providing this service is likely not a mechanic, though, and may not be able to provide any more information that what the scanner provides. It’s also possible that they may try to sell you products you don’t need in order to “fix” the problem.
3) Get the FIXD car scanner to read your own codes. There are many OBD2 scanners you can buy that will read codes and provide other engine information anytime you want. FIXD is able to translate any Audi check engine light trouble code into plain English directly on your smartphone.
How the FIXD Check Engine Scanner Works
The FIXD car scanner plugs into your car’s OBD2 port. This is a trapezoid shaped plug located under the steering wheel. Read more about how to find your OBD2 port on your particular car.
The FIXD Sensor and free mobile app will tell you in plain English what problem codes exist. You will get a detailed description of the problem so that you can make informed decisions about repairs.
Understand Your CEL
FIXD instantly translates over 7,000 error codes into simple terms right on your phone.
See How Serious Your CEL Is
Find out if your problem is serious or not, and whether it’s safe to keep on driving.
Get Maintenance Alerts
FIXD can automatically alert you when your Audi is due for an oil change and other routine maintenance, based on your specific model and its mileage.
Monitor the Health of Your Audi
FIXD will immediately send a notification to your phone if your check engine light turns on. You can also monitor data in real time, such as oxygen sensor voltage, fuel trims, vehicle speed, and more.
Does FIXD Work with Your Audi?
FIXD is compatible with 1996 or newer gas-powered Audi models, as well as 2008 and newer TDI models. Use the Compatibility Checker for additional info.
Is It Safe to Drive with My Check Engine Light On?
That depends on what problem triggered the light to come on in the first place. You will need to use an OBD2 scan tool like the FIXD Sensor to find out the exact nature of the problem, how severe it is, and whether or not it’s safe to keep driving.
Generally speaking, if the indicator is a steady yellow light, it should be okay to keep driving. This could be something like an emissions issue that doesn’t affect drivability. While your car will keep running just fine, it’s still best to get this diagnosed and repaired sometime soon, especially if you live in a state that performs vehicle inspections.
If the light is blinking, you should stop as soon as it’s safe to do so. This indicates a serious problem, such as a misfire, that is occurring right then. It’s also good to check for low oil or overheating. If your Audi’s check engine light is red, you should stop driving immediately.
If your Audi experiences driveability issues, such as reduced power or misfires, slow down and take it easy on the engine to avoid making the problem worse.
How Can I Reset the Check Engine Light in My Audi?
If you have resolved the problem, you may want to clear the codes that triggered your Audi engine light. If you reset the light, drive, and it doesn’t turn back on, your problem is fixed.
The easiest way to reset the check engine light on your Audi is with FIXD. While auto parts stores will typically read your codes for free, they will not reset the light for you, and shops may charge more than $100 to do this.
In the FIXD app, you can reset the light anytime you want for free. After performing the engine scan, go to the Details page and click the “Clear Engine Light” button. The light will turn off, and any codes stored inside your Audi’s computer will be cleared. If the light turns back on after a few miles of driving, the issue likely still exists.
Diagnose Your Audi’s Check Engine Light with FIXD
If the check engine light turns back on, use FIXD to get detailed engine diagnostics, plain English code descriptions, issue severity warnings, and so much more. Learn more about the FIXD Sensor and mobile app today!
