Audi Side Assist - Not available. Anyone else have this problem?

[WyomingGuy]

My 2013 S4 gives me an error message about 50% of the time stating that Audi Side Assist is currently unavailable. Often when I restart then it works but it is sporadic. Dealer downloaded new software two weeks ago but it did not fix this.

Also, the SirusXM often cuts out for 2 or 3 seconds. Not related but frustrating.

Neil

[BzzzBom]

My side assist has been "unavailable" twice -- both times were on an extended length of freeway with very heavy traffic moving less than 30 mph.

[isles1]

Also, the SirusXM often cuts out for 2 or 3 seconds. Not related but frustrating.

Unless you are driving in an area that has a terrestrial satellite radio signal, that has been my experience in any car I've had with satellite radio.

[WyomingGuy]

All,

I also had a lady back into my drivers side rear bumper about a month after purchasing the car. I will have the dealer do a respray of that area later this spring (I live 500 miles from dealer) and the insurance company is prepared to accept responsibility that something in the area of one of the sensors may have been messed up. However, I did experience the unavailable message at least once before the accident.

Neil

[kdub]

For what it's worth, if one of the sensors in the rear bumper is bad, you won't be able to turn on side assist and will get this message if you try. I had to have a sensor replaced before. Getting this message is not a reliable indication that a sensor is failing.

[Vi112]

I was getting "not available" constantly until I started to disable "Start-Stop" function manually every time I switch the ignition on.

As far as I understand, there are two possible situations where it switches off:
1. Sensor unavailable - then it shows there is a sensor problem
2. Low voltage - even temporary, associated with start-stop kicking on

[offthewall]

My 2013 S4 gives me an error message about 50% of the time stating that Audi Side Assist is currently unavailable. Often when I restart then it works but it is sporadic. Dealer downloaded new software two weeks ago but it did not fix this.

Also, the SirusXM often cuts out for 2 or 3 seconds. Not related but frustrating.

Neil

I've had my 2013 S4 since July 3 2012 and have never seen the unavailable message. I suspect your rear bumper damage messed something up in the radar sensor.


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[AofC_RR]

Snow can also throw it off.

[13S4]

I had a couple issues with mine the first week I had it, but It has not happened in 5 months.

[craneman]

It only happened to me once, driving through a snowstorm. Heavy wet snow built up 2-3" thick on the back of the car blocking the sensors i guess. Wiped off the snow and the problem went away.

[WyomingGuy]

Folks,

Now that it is winter again I am experiencing the same problems about 50% of the time. If i turn the car off and back on it will always work. The dealer says he will need the car for a couple of days to diagnose it correctly. This is a problem since I live 500 from the dealer and won't be able to do this until next spring.

Neil

[SwankPeRFection]

Find someone with a VAGCOM to scan it for any fault codes. There should be some stored due to the errors. If you find some, print them out and send them to the dealer. Ask for them to look up what the procedure is when those codes are found. I bet it's a module replacement. They should order parts ahead of time based on those logs and then you can go in one day and get the work done if they can knock it out. If you're snowed in, well, you're SOL for now.

[Pilfer]

Snow can also throw it off.

Happened to me once last year, snow and salt were covering the sensor.

[Toecutter]

Mine does that when I'm driving in heavy snowfall. The snow obscures the sensors I think.

[AudiS4TW]

This has happened to me a couple of times on the freeway when there was heavy traffic. Easy to fix simply by parking somewhere where you can turn off the engine and turn it back on, and then activating the side assist feature again by pushing its button near the driver side mirror or through the MMI.

In addition, there's a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that addresses this through a firmware update. Take your car to your dealership and mention this TSB:

http://www.automd.com/tsb/bulletin_b347737/


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[sworksone]

Mine does that when I'm driving in heavy snowfall. The snow obscures the sensors I think.

Just had the "side assist not available" happen to me a few times yesterday. Strange I never had this happen to my 2010 in four years in similar or worse conditions. Must be a new "feature".

[ebi718]

I had this error recently (weeks ago) , first day of major snow fall; deactivating and reactivating it didn't make a difference. The next day it "cleared" itself; so perhaps something to do with the sensors (salt/snow?)



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[xuandatou]

Mine popped up this evening when I was cruising on the highway @about 60 MPH after 2 hours driving on some mountain roads with rain (got some dirt on the bumper and rear quarter panel)


[IMG]IMG_3942 by xuandatou, on Flickr[/IMG]



[IMG]IMG_3943 by xuandatou, on Flickr[/IMG]




[IMG]IMG_3944 by xuandatou, on Flickr[/IMG]



I'm just wondering whether the dirt would be the reason for this annoying indicator since I'm not planning to wash the car until this weekend (will be raining all week)
Or is there anyone suffering this just because of dirt on the rear bumper (I know the sensors locate right behind the rear bumper)

[levigarrett]

I got the same message. My side assist has not come back. It's been 3 weeks. Car is clean.

[anerbe]

You could have an intermittent sensor issue (loose wiring, etc...). I had my sensors randomly going off on my previous Touareg. Sometimes, it would work, other times not. Replacing sensor worked for me.

Like others said, perhaps invest in a VAGCOM or find someone locally. Living so far from the dealer, you don't want to take it to the dealer unless you know for certain what the issue is and it's not easily repairable.

I couldn't imagine the rage I'd feel picking up my car from service, only to find it still not fixed when you get home 500 miles later.

[the4siswickid]

Have you tried powering it off and back on again?. I had wonky issues with mine and the whole system had to be replaced... Sensors, switch, harness....


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[Pilfer]

Mine popped up this evening when I was cruising on the highway @about 60 MPH after 2 hours driving on some mountain roads with rain (got some dirt on the bumper and rear quarter panel)


[IMG]IMG_3942 by xuandatou, on Flickr[/IMG]



[IMG]IMG_3943 by xuandatou, on Flickr[/IMG]




[IMG]IMG_3944 by xuandatou, on Flickr[/IMG]



I'm just wondering whether the dirt would be the reason for this annoying indicator since I'm not planning to wash the car until this weekend (will be raining all week)
Or is there anyone suffering this just because of dirt on the rear bumper (I know the sensors locate right behind the rear bumper)

Still rocking the Minnesota plates eh? Lol, mine has cut out a few times in my ownership, more recently in heavy traffic. Before it was from salt and snow covering the sensor. It's weird that it cuts out in heavy traffic...

[xuandatou]

Still rocking the Minnesota plates eh? Lol, mine has cut out a few times in my ownership, more recently in heavy traffic. Before it was from salt and snow covering the sensor. It's weird that it cuts out in heavy traffic...

Yeah, planning to keep it as long as I can, miss people, school, highway back there so damn bad.

Any plan for meet up before X-mas?

[Pilfer]

it might be tricky to meet up before christmas but I would like to meet up sometime. Maybe I'll start a thread in the regional section.