Audi A3 switches to battery hold over 15 mph

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LuckyEV2024

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2024
Messages
6
Location
Oklahoma
Hi! New here!

So, when I start my car it goes into EV mode, but then it switches to "battery hold" as soon as I drive it over 15 mph.
After that, I can't switch back to EV mode while driving. I can do it only if I stop the car.
The mechanic found no fault codes on it. I have to take it to Audi. But I am hesitant because the regular warranty has expired. Also, I am freaked out by the potential costs.
Has anyone any idea what could cause this? Also, do you think it can be covered by the 8-year battery warranty? Thanks!
 
I've seen other posts on this subject and it sometimes happens with battery degradation. I've had my 2018 A3 e-tron for about 6 years and I've lost about 1 mile in range. It will also occasionally switch to battery-hold mode prematurely, but only when under load such as accelerating up a hill (which it never did when new). I've seen posts by fortunate owner who were able to get a battery replacement under warranty. Then again, your problem could be related to the control software/hardware.
 
Ours does that randomly at times, as discussed in other threads, just to circulate the oil and give the engine some reps so it doesn't stagnate (or so the theory goes).

If it's happening on every drive, though....that's a problem. Please report back what you're able to learn from Audi.
 
Nuje said:
Ours does that randomly at times, as discussed in other threads, just to circulate the oil and give the engine some reps so it doesn't stagnate (or so the theory goes).

If it's happening on every drive, though....that's a problem. Please report back what you're able to learn from Audi.
Click to expand...
I have contacted Audi USA and our local dealer, but they stated there is no software set which decides it is time to run the ICE to circulate oil. We have driven well over 1,000 mikes on electric only, no ICE used at all, but it suddenly comes on anyway. We have to pull over to shut down the A3 E-tron, select electric only again, then it restarts in electric mode. If this were truly designed to circulate the oil, why would it only run for a mile or so, which is insufficient to actually help the ICE? This must be another VW/Audi software issue to add to the rest.
 
Well, I also had my dealer tell me quite adamantly that I could adjust cruise control on our 2016 by 1kph as indicated in the manual, but I've tried multiple times - it only adjusts to the nearest 10kph (and I'm assuming in the US, the nearest 5mph). So....I don't take them as being all-knowing.

And who at Audi USA is providing the information? Someone in the comms team who's looking up features? Or did they talk to the software engineers back in Ingolstadt?

Given the randomness of the ICE needlessly kicking in (it seems to be less frequent over the past year or so, for whatever that might mean), it being a software bug wouldn't surprise me at all.
 

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