S5 Tuning - ECM back to stock

[BOutlaw420]

Looking for help...new to this forum, so go easy on me.

I purchased a 2018 S5 last spring. Love the car, but having an issue that I don't know how to solve.

About a month ago, I got a "low coolant" warning. Checked the coolant it was fine. The next day, I got several warnings including Auto start/stop malfunction, distance warning unavailable, side assist and exit warning, safety system malfunction, steering, suspension, etc. Brought it to a local Audi dealer (not the place where I purchased it). The battery had low voltage, thus causing many of the warnings and it was replaced. Unbeknownst to me at the time of purchase, the vehicle was also tuned by a previous owner. The dealer is now telling me that when they attempted to update the software, ostensibly to clear the faults, the ECM is reverting back to the old "tuned" software so they can't erase the faults. They think it may be some type of safety system within the tuning software that is not allowing it to be flashed back to "stock". The fix, they said, is to return it to where it was tuned to have factory specs put back.

The problem is I have no idea who tuned it or what tuning software was used. I have contacted most of the major tuning software companies (APR, Unitronics, JHM, 034, IE) and after checking the VIN, they all say it wasn't them. I also called around to a number of tuning shops in the area where the car was last serviced. No luck. I've been trying to find out the previous owner to ask them what software was used, but that's difficult as well.

A few of the major companies have said that the dealer SHOULD be able to bring the ECM back to stock and their software doesn't have a type of "safety system" that would prevent a dealer (not a consumer) from bringing the ECM back to stock.

A number of questions:
1. Has anybody ever heard of software that has this type of "safety system"?
2. Is my dealer full of sh*t when they throw their hands up and say "we can't do anything about this"?
3. Is there other software that can revert the ECM back to stock, regardless of who did the tune?
4. If I can't find out what software was used to tune the ECM and return it to stock to erase the faults/warnings, do I need to replace the ECM? I understand I may lose the tune, but at this point, I just want to get rid of these warnings and have all the systems work. If I have to pay to have it tuned again, I'll make that decision after.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

[SHCKR]

Looking for help...new to this forum, so go easy on me.

I purchased a 2018 S5 last spring. Love the car, but having an issue that I don't know how to solve.

About a month ago, I got a "low coolant" warning. Checked the coolant it was fine. The next day, I got several warnings including Auto start/stop malfunction, distance warning unavailable, side assist and exit warning, safety system malfunction, steering, suspension, etc. Brought it to a local Audi dealer (not the place where I purchased it). The battery had low voltage, thus causing many of the warnings and it was replaced. Unbeknownst to me at the time of purchase, the vehicle was also tuned by a previous owner. The dealer is now telling me that when they attempted to update the software, ostensibly to clear the faults, the ECM is reverting back to the old "tuned" software so they can't erase the faults. They think it may be some type of safety system within the tuning software that is not allowing it to be flashed back to "stock". The fix, they said, is to return it to where it was tuned to have factory specs put back.

The problem is I have no idea who tuned it or what tuning software was used. I have contacted most of the major tuning software companies (APR, Unitronics, JHM, 034, IE) and after checking the VIN, they all say it wasn't them. I also called around to a number of tuning shops in the area where the car was last serviced. No luck. I've been trying to find out the previous owner to ask them what software was used, but that's difficult as well.

A few of the major companies have said that the dealer SHOULD be able to bring the ECM back to stock and their software doesn't have a type of "safety system" that would prevent a dealer (not a consumer) from bringing the ECM back to stock.

A number of questions:
1. Has anybody ever heard of software that has this type of "safety system"?
2. Is my dealer full of sh*t when they throw their hands up and say "we can't do anything about this"?
3. Is there other software that can revert the ECM back to stock, regardless of who did the tune?
4. If I can't find out what software was used to tune the ECM and return it to stock to erase the faults/warnings, do I need to replace the ECM? I understand I may lose the tune, but at this point, I just want to get rid of these warnings and have all the systems work. If I have to pay to have it tuned again, I'll make that decision after.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

I think your dealer is on crack... That being said, 034 will let you overwrite whatever is on the ECU, and then flash back to stock. I know it's an expensive solution, but if you plan on tuning anyway...

[KLX]

Did you try, Carfox, it will usually list all of the places that the vehicle was serviced, that might help narrow your search. But you can overwrite any tune with a new tune at any time, if I am not mistaken.

[JohnEnglish]

Go to another dealer.

[BOutlaw420]

I hadn't thought about just overwriting the current software. I wonder if it will rid the faults when that's done, or if need be, it can be flashed back to stock from that point. I'll have to ask the tuners that question. It would be less expensive than replacing the current ECM.

I do have the Carfax...that's how I found out the last place it was serviced, but it doesn't give previous owner's information. I called the dealer where it was last serviced, but they couldn't help.

I thought about another dealer, but I have general mistrust of dealers given some previous history with not just this dealer, but others as well. Still, I know that's an alternative just to verify what the first dealer is telling me.

Thanks for the replies!