Safelite calibration bricked S6

[SlickMachine]

2017 S6, DS1 Stage 2.
Went in to Safelite a few days ago to have windshield replaced. Drive the car there, zero dash errors, nothing has ever gone wrong with the car in the 3+ years I've owned it other than 1 O2 sensor getting replaced. I give them the keys, 10 minutes later a tech comes out to parking lot, fires it up and pulls into a bay. I leave, and after about an hour they call me saying that when they plugged into obd port to scan the car (I'm guessing to check for codes before glass replacement so they know they can calibrate after?) There were multiple error codes, couldn't connect to camera, and the car will not start now. I head over to shop, try and start it and the starter just cranks, engine never fires. I plugged in the DS1 dongle to try and read the ECU and it could not connect to ECU.
They also mentioned they had it on a battery tender during diagnostic, battery went low at some point and they tried jumping the car with an employees truck. At this point left with no options but to call you truck and tow to Audi dealership. It's been sitting at Audi for 4 days now because they are garbage and it's to be expected, so I don't have an official word. Safelite manager of course says that this never happens but he'll pay for it if it is their fault. Anyone....?

[VinnysS4]

The windshield follow-up alignment they have to do is pretty extensive. They have to first check for codes to make sure the modules they have to calibrate don't have any problems to start with, or the calibrations wont work. Basically they are covering their butts just in case. They do the windshield replacement, which takes like 15 minutes if they know what they are doing, and then they complete the extensive "alignment", which takes like 45 minutes.
My local glass shop was able to do all the services, except for 2 that would not complete no matter what he tried. There were a couple modules that wouldn't calibrate properly, the front camera being one . The lane assist, adaptive cruise control and auto braking don't work anymore which is pretty annoying. That being said, your car should still start with error codes. It's possible they either let the voltage drop too low(as you stated) and the ecu got a corrupt data pack when they were calibrating it(would probably require either a reflashed ecu by Audi or a replacement) or they hooked it up wrong when they jump started it. I can't think of what else would cause it to just crank. Immobilizer fault maybe?
Keep us posted for sure

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[schonc]

Maybe blown fuse? There are the ones on the left side cover and more behind the panel under the steering wheel (remove 3 x 8mm screws). The main (big) 40 amp fuse is under the steering wheel and may have blown if they hooked up the boosters up backwards.

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[ActiveMonkey]

I have an appointment next Thursday to have my windshield replaced and you guys are not making me feel comfortable!

[Alabama]

Maybe blown fuse?

Good idea, certainly check them all. Low battery voltage can create lots of faults, but I don't recall anyone saying it triggered the immobilizer. Can you tell if the car is reading your key?

[Audisthesia]

I have an appointment next Thursday to have my windshield replaced and you guys are not making me feel comfortable!

Go to Audi if you have HUD

[SlickMachine]

It is reading they key, otherwise it wouldn't crank. Dealership has yet to pull the car in after 5 days. Super disappointing service at Audi Denver.

[SlickMachine]

Maybe blown fuse? There are the ones on the left side cover and more behind the panel under the steering wheel (remove 3 x 8mm screws). The main (big) 40 amp fuse is under the steering wheel and may have blown if they hooked up the boosters up backwards.

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I hope it's that simple. The fact that my DS1 couldn't connect to ECU tells me otherwise.

[WatchMeSpend]

Burnt relay or somehow the immobilizer was tripped. If the car cannot communicate with the security module, the car doesn't want to play.

[Audisthesia]

If the immobilizer is tripped, you will only see a couple of modules with vcds. The immobilizer cuts power to almost everything when tripped.

[ActiveMonkey]

Go to Audi if you have HUD

I'm going though my insurance and i've already paid the shop (it is a highly rated shop) my deductible. Is there anything i should document before i give them the car?

[SlickMachine]

If the immobilizer is tripped, you will only see a couple of modules with vcds. The immobilizer cuts power to almost everything when tripped.

What would trip the immobilizer in this scenario?

[Audisthesia]

What would trip the immobilizer in this scenario?

No idea, but incompetence has no limits

[SlickMachine]

No idea, but incompetence has no limits

It's the spirit of the age my man... It's everywhere you turn now.

[Alabama]

What would trip the immobilizer in this scenario?

Two idle thoughts. There's a "pyro fuse" near the battery that if blown might cause these symptoms. Another is to read post #20 in AZ thread "Dead car".

[SlickMachine]

Still waiting on diagnostic from dealership. After 5 days of sitting they finally got to it Friday afternoon, plugged in and found no error codes. They took the rest of the weekend off so that's nice.

[gk1]

Sorry to hear.
Wish you could get it over to Audi Flatirons in Broomfield. IMO they have better service.

Also I never have Safelite or any of them do it...straight to the dealer....if they F something up they have to fix it. Even if the dealer outsources to someone else for glass, they are still ultimately responsible.

[SlickMachine]

Today the tech apparently showed up late. Took intake and inlet tubes off and scoped turbos and of course they were fine on both sides. Fuel delivery in spec, no shock there. None of this I approved. Now they want another 400$ to remove plugs, check compression and spark. I asked the advisor to ask the tech to do a full capacitive discharge over night and try starting it tomorrow, but.... The tech went home. I'm done. Towing it to my Indy shop tomorrow which is what I should have done from the start.

[VinnysS4]

They wanted to do a compression test. Hahahaha. Take it elsewhere for sure!

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[HoustonDR34M]

Hopefully they didn't try to jump it backwards. That'll brick a whole lot of control units.

[SlickMachine]

Still don't know what's wrong with car. Got it out of Audi Denver after their tech ran out of reasonable ideas and suggested replacing the turbos for 12,000$. It my Indy shop now, they don't know either. Ordered a used ECM and will try flashing that to car.

[Spitfire007]

Get safe lite to fix it, or buy you another car.


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[letthebombsfall]

This is such a bummer, so sorry to hear.

I wonder why the voltage would go low, or why they would need to jump it. Did they jump it backwards?

[caelric]

Still don't know what's wrong with car. Got it out of Audi Denver after their tech ran out of reasonable ideas and suggested replacing the turbos for 12,000$. It my Indy shop now, they don't know either. Ordered a used ECM and will try flashing that to car.

how in the actual fuck is replacing the turbos supposed to fix a bricked ECU?

[ANMS4]

how in the actual fuck is replacing the turbos supposed to fix a bricked ECU?

Parts throwing LOL

[caelric]

Parts throwing LOL

i mean, i totally understand parts throwing, but usually it's something semi-related...

[Botbasher]

Still don't know what's wrong with car. Got it out of Audi Denver after their tech ran out of reasonable ideas and suggested replacing the turbos for 12,000$. It my Indy shop now, they don't know either. Ordered a used ECM and will try flashing that to car.

At this point, I would ask Safelite for their insurance info and find out which dealer they'd like to work with. It drove in... but ain't driving out... not hard to determine the fault.

Let the dealer work out the issue (Yeah, I said the bad words) and let Safelite and their insurance foot the bill while they have you in a rental!! That'll lite a fire!

If they won't give it to you, run it up the corporate chain! They take responsibility for your vehicle while they work on it. If the building collapsed while your car was in it, they'd toss it at their insurance. Why is this any difference?

Good Luck with it!

Cheers,

KS

[Botbasher]

Got it out of Audi Denver after their tech ran out of reasonable ideas and suggested replacing the turbos for 12,000$.

If it's not your dime... let them guess. Eventually they'll replace more stuff than reasonable and you'll have a lot less to worry about and a part/labor warranty for a few miles!

The dealer abuses us all the time... return the favor!

Cheers,

KS

[SlickMachine]

We will never know the answer to that one. I believe the order in which things happened was: 1: pull car into bay, hook up battery tender directly to batt (should not do) and plug into diagnostics to check camera
2: they could not connect to camera and received several error codes. This led to a call to their troubleshooting service which directed them to start the car.
3: at this point they could not start the car, drained the battery trying, and then pulled another employee vehicle into bay to jump it (again hooking right to battery). Again, no success.

[Botbasher]

We will never know the answer to that one. I believe the order in which things happened was: 1: pull car into bay, hook up battery tender directly to batt (should not do) and plug into diagnostics to check camera
2: they could not connect to camera and received several error codes. This led to a call to their troubleshooting service which directed them to start the car.
3: at this point they could not start the car, drained the battery trying, and then pulled another employee vehicle into bay to jump it (again hooking right to battery). Again, no success.

Still puts the fault directly on their shoulders and I'd take that to any court in the land!

A battery tender would scream about the reversed leads, so I wouldn't think that caused it, but if they didn't check the screen, then it wasn't charging which lead to the drained battery.

Our cars not starting on a low battery isn't odd. With all the modules and stuff, they probably didn't wait for the charger to catch up before trying to jump it. Especially if they had all the light and AC going the entire time the car was on. I have to remember to turn the lights and AC off when working on mine... they likely didn't realize it was still draining more than any light charger can supply!

Then they jumped it, possibly with the polarity reversed, and now car won't respond in any meaningful way. Well... unless you were involved, i.e. hands on in this drama, it's all Safelite.

I'd stop tap dancing around with the store and be talking to their regional corporate office. Mentioning phrases like "lost use", "lost wages", "incurred expenses". Then a slight mention of "having been counseled to try this first avenue first before escalating it to the next level". Mentioning things like "were the employees trained and certified to service vehicles beyond plugging into the OBD port?" can help convince them that this should be dealt with quietly before National gets wind of it!

You can't be the first one they screwed up... but you can make them remember it before they jump the next car! You have the power here... just use it carefully. Push them too hard and they might just fold and make you take them to court and that could take a long time and cost more than the car is worth. You'd still win, but at what price? Slow and steady and don't be afraid to ask for their boss... and their boss...etc. I bet if you get one or two levels up, this will get handled quick and quiet.

Cheers,

KS

[Botbasher]

And don't be afraid to use Google and Yelp to your advantage here.

Just be clear, concise and factual. If you say... they F'd up my car! A**holes!!... you can get sued, but if you state facts that are indisputable, then they have no grounds and either have to accept the 1 star or work with you to clear it.

If you say... I took my 2014 Audi S6 to the Safelite in Anywhere USA on Dec 25th 2023. They were to replace the windshield and calibrate the associated sensors. Blah... blah... Tech support was called... blah, blah... my car now will not start. It was then taken to FU Audi where the estimated costs for the repairs was in excess of $12k. I have now been without the use of my car for 6374 minutes and counting. I have talked to Neil & Bob at the store level without clear plan of action and am now escalating it the Regional Director, Joe Blow, in hopes of getting this issue resolved.

Let them respond to that!! If they send it to you directly, edit the review and update it... on June 26, Niel reached out to tell me to take the car to Bend Over Audi. I have now been without the use of my car for 6 months!

Slow and steady wins the race here. Don't let them blow your cool. Make them look like the bad guy every chance you can. They'll eventually give up and toss in the towel!!

Good Luck!

KS

[SlickMachine]

This is exactly what I'm doing, I'm keeping my powder dry. There is no tap dancing on my part ,Safelite manager has been receptive as of yesterday. We will see how cooperative he is today when I demand they pay out of pocket for the following:
Indy shop swapped the ECM with used one and car started right up, so now we know the ECM was damaged when they plugged their stuff into my car. Problem is that they cannot flash this new (used) ECM to my VIN so immobilizer kicks in and kills car. So now we need to special order a new ECM direct from Audi coded to my VIN.

[Botbasher]

This is exactly what I'm doing, I'm keeping my powder dry.

Nice!!! Yeah, that pretty much seals the deal. Swap an ECM and it runs... DONE!

It's comical that the dealer wanted to do turbos though. [headbang] I'd go back to the dealer, let them do turbos and then suggest the ECM! [:D][:D][:D]

Let us know how it rolls out! I'd still be doing the Yelp/Google Reviews... You never know when you'll need a freebie for your other cars! [cool]

Cheers,

KS

[SlickMachine]

Safelite District Manager says they are not accepting liability. It was a comical conversation. The guy sounded like a total pencil-d!ck on the phone, and I enjoyed owning him.
Reviews, BBB, and scheduled appointment with lawyer for demand letter. Anyone reading this considering taking the cheap route with Safelite on glass replacement- consider the risk involved. I'm over 5k in as is, not counting loss of use for 5 weeks. Who knows what else on the car isn't working as a result of this.

[caelric]

Safelite District Manager says they are not accepting liability. It was a comical conversation. The guy sounded like a total pencil-d!ck on the phone, and I enjoyed owning him.
Reviews, BBB, and scheduled appointment with lawyer for demand letter. Anyone reading this considering taking the cheap route with Safelite on glass replacement- consider the risk involved. I'm over 5k in as is, not counting loss of use for 5 weeks. Who knows what else on the car isn't working as a result of this.

that's insane! they have to know that they could get away with just fixing it with a new ECU, but by refusing to do so, they're likely to lose any lawsuit, and a good lawyer will include damages for loss of use, plus lawyer's fees, plus they will be out of pocket for how much they spend on their corporate lawyers. in the end, this is going to cost them much more than it would just to fix it!

[VinnysS4]

I have been doing Google reviews and photos for a couple years now. With over a million views, I can tell you that they can be very persuasive. As stated before, just explain the story as it unfolded. More people will take the review seriously. I've had several business owners contact me and beg me to remove negative reviews. It only takes one person to avoid the business because of your review for them to lose money.
If you drove it to them and it wouldn't drive out of there for whatever reason, they should 100% be on the hook for whatever is broken while its in their possession. I hate it when someone else touches my vehicles, and i would have been livid if the safelite guy took my intakes off.. they are not mechanics. Did you sign anything saying they would not be at fault for any damages while your car was in their possession?

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[SlickMachine]

I have been doing Google reviews and photos for a couple years now. With over a million views, I can tell you that they can be very persuasive. As stated before, just explain the story as it unfolded. More people will take the review seriously. I've had several business owners contact me and beg me to remove negative reviews. It only takes one person to avoid the business because of your review for them to lose money.
If you drove it to them and it wouldn't drive out of there for whatever reason, they should 100% be on the hook for whatever is broken while its in their possession. I hate it when someone else touches my vehicles, and i would have been livid if the safelite guy took my intakes off.. they are not mechanics. Did you sign anything saying they would not be at fault for any damages while your car was in their possession?

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Safelite didn't take intake off.
I had a well thought out review typed up and ready to go over a week ago because I knew this is how this would turn out. The Safelite manager I dealt with was an ass-kissing spineless twit from the beginning and he wasn't going to advocate on my behalf. Anyway, reviews are up and I'll consider small claims court once I get the car fixed. Honestly, it's not about the money so much as it is about a corporation like that totally screwing up and laying it on the consumer. Disgusting.

[SlickMachine]

Considering this service rather than ordering new from Audi. Would save a lot sending my dicked up ECM to them to reflash. Any input on this is welcome, I'm unfamiliar.

https://siaelec.com/product/audi-ecm-ecu-repair-return/

[SlickMachine]

My campaign to damage Safelite began yesterday. If you can click 'helpful' that would be.... Helpful
Check out this review of Safelite AutoGlass on Google Maps
https://goo.gl/maps/mpfUxbmjGSq6JAQz6

[caelric]

oh, shit! i didn't notice you were in CO. while i'm down in COS, i will never take my audi to any safelite at this point.

[Valpo A7]

My HELPFUL brings you up to 39

[Botbasher]

My HELPFUL brings you up to 39

63 and counting!

Cheers,

KS

[jakubx80]

My campaign to damage Safelite began yesterday. If you can click 'helpful' that would be.... Helpful
Check out this review of Safelite AutoGlass on Google Maps
https://goo.gl/maps/mpfUxbmjGSq6JAQz6Helpful here as well.

While I'm reading this my car sits at Audi dealer for windshield replacement - 1.5wks now.
I did have to jump through so many hoops to not go with Safelite and seeing this thread is is cringe worthy. Good luck!

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[WatchMeSpend]

75 here.[up]

[Botbasher]

Helpful here as well.

While I'm reading this my car sits at Audi dealer for windshield replacement - 1.5wks now.
I did have to jump through so many hoops to not go with Safelite and seeing this thread is is cringe worthy. Good luck!


I'm keeping this horror story as a counter to my insurance for the inevitable occurrence. Show them this and then when they demand that I use a non-OEM service, then they are fairly warned about the possibilities and costs!

In theory... [rolleyes]

What hoops did you have to go through? Anything we could prep for and avoid the pitfalls? [hail]

Cheers,

KS

[Dwhit01]

Up to 81 now!

[VinnysS4]

They have had 2 more 1 star reviews since you posted yours. Looks like this location is a lemon for sure.

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[MyDimeIsUp]

Any updates?

[Audisthesia]

I gave them a nice 1 star also.

[THCarpenter]

I'm keeping this horror story as a counter to my insurance for the inevitable occurrence. Show them this and then when they demand that I use a non-OEM service, then they are fairly warned about the possibilities and costs!

In theory... [rolleyes]

What hoops did you have to go through? Anything we could prep for and avoid the pitfalls? [hail]

Cheers,

KS

When I had to get mine done, I had my Service Advisor at Audi contact my insurance and show them the requirement for them to use Audi glass. Its in their manual saying that the calibrations will not work with non-OE Glass due to the prestige package/HUD/ACC/Rain Sensors/HBA etc

[Botbasher]

When I had to get mine done, I had my Service Advisor at Audi contact my insurance and show them the requirement for them to use Audi glass. Its in their manual saying that the calibrations will not work with non-OE Glass due to the prestige package/HUD/ACC/Rain Sensors/HBA etc

Did they fight it much after that or was it a tucked tail and roll over?

That's a great cannon to a knife fight because if they don't accept that it says they are disregarding Safety Systems for cost savings!! Great call!

I've had 2 rocks strikes in the last few months that didn't break it but should have. It's a when... not if in NC!! Be Prepared!!

Cheers,

KS

[THCarpenter]

I just paid my deductible and went on with my life.

I didnt bother....I called them and said I am not accepting anything other than OE glass. Then had my SA take charge from there.

[RedSox S315]

I just paid my deductible and went on with my life.

I didnt bother....I called them and said I am not accepting anything other than OE glass. Then had my SA take charge from there.

Yeah, same here. Had debris absolutely destroy my windshield. Called insurance, they recommended Safelite and I said no thanks. Dropped it off at indie shop, had them talk to insurance and they told my insurance that non-OE glass can’t be used. Paid my deductible and here we are two months later with the car still in shop lol (HUD was damaged by glass so had to order it and of course it was on back order)… it’s all covered so it is what it is but at least all OE parts are being used.


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[eurospek]

I can finally add to this thread. I’ve gotten a nasty rock strike last Christmas going to work for overtime (in retrospect should’ve stayed home lol) and after I stopped by Safelite to get it filled. I feel like I interrupted their little Christmas party, 20 minutes later the young tech tells me the bad news and shows me how the rock chip spread into a nice 3 inch crack after his filling. Previously used them and had zero complaints. Figured this would be no different.

So I held off on replacing the windshield due to winter driving and salt and more rocks. Then held off some more due to reading horror stories on here. At almost 150k miles, the original glass was also so pitted from my daily highway driving commute of almost 45 miles one way. It always irked me when the sun hit it at the right angle. So many little chips/pits and one big nasty crack right above my HUD.

With the recommendation of my trusted body shop I’ve used since I’ve started driving (A&L Autobody in Palatine) they recommended to contact their glass guy which was Advanced Auto Glass Inc in Schaumburg.

Spoke to the owner who only asked my Progressive claim number and asked if I had any tech in my glass. He took it from there. Did not question my need for OEM glass.

As for making the claim through Progressive ($0 glass deductible for me), I was not able to successfully make the claim online and had to call their Claims department. Lady was super helpful and also noted my request for OEM glass. As for making claims online through the app, Progressive is really pushing Safelite to be the installer of choice and makes you click through a few windows making sure you’re okay with a third-party installer etc. I will not be using Safelite ever again personally.

The wait for OEM glass took almost two weeks and the installation took less than a business day. Dropped off the vehicle at 8 am and picked up in the afternoon. Installation went perfect. Zero damage to anything, professional service from start to finish. And zero calibration was needed. I asked the owner about that initially and he related in his 18 years of business vehicles rarely need calibration unless any of the components are damaged during the process or initial glass damage. He said if calibration was needed car was going to Audi Hoffman Estates and still was covered by insurance.

Silly to say but it feels like driving a new car with brand new glass. I’m quite ocd with a clean windshield inside and out, zero streaks and haze, and that’s been missing since acquiring the car in 2019 with 38k miles. It was already pitted then. Can’t believe I did not replace it sooner.

As for OEM glass, Guardian Acoustic was the original Audi stamped windshield. I received the car back with CARLEX Acoustic glass, also Audi stamped. Quick google search led me to find out Guardian was bought out and OEM now is CARLEX.

TL;DR. Glass replacement can fall anywhere on the spectrum between the OP’s horror story here and my own positive and easy experience. Your results may vary.

[petarat]

Anyone in the Washington/Idaho area, Grizzly Glass completely took care of me and argued with USAA to get me OEM glass. Windshield replacement and camera calibration took them about 5 hours from drop off to pick up

[SlickMachine]

I'm taking Safelite to small claims court at the end of July. We are required to go to mediation prior. Does anyone have a service manual for our cars that could provide a page that outlines the procedure for connecting a battery tender to the car? We believe the fact that they hooked up directly to the battery (potentially backwards) and also jumped the car from the battery contributed to or likely caused the damage. I need to use this as evidence in the mediation session. Thanks for any help!

[Valpo A7]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_FrMGYfx7U64pOwZIQjloY76TMJ9qMJv/view

Like page 50 in the pdf

[Avantly]

10 bucks says they connected the battery backwards. Most of the modules in the car *should* be protected from this but there are so many corner cases in that test that it's nearly impossible to ensure that there won't be damage in all reverse battery scenarios. The typical scenario is very dead battery and 12V connected reverse across the jump posts... But your car didn't sit there for very long and probably had a decent amount of energy remaining in the battery. If the clamps bounced while connecting backwards this probably resulted in a significant oscillating forward-reverse-forward-reverse voltage on the battery rail and this resulted in the reverse protection not being as effective as the manufacturer hoped. I recently assisted with a VAG car that had the battery connected backwards while an autozone employee was replacing it - Blew the (very expensive) main fuse, damaged BCM. The part that blew my mind was how hard you have to stretch the battery cables to make them fit when the battery is placed backwards - Any half wit would suspect that something isn't right when the cables fit easy and perfect on the battery he had just pulled out but had to be pulled HARD to get them to barely slip onto the terminals on the replacement battery (which was clearly the same battery as the original)... If you want to understand why things like this happen, watch the movie Idiocracy.

[SlickMachine]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_FrMGYfx7U64pOwZIQjloY76TMJ9qMJv/view

Like page 50 in the pdf

Thank you for that