Renewing Simos control unit J361: Audi A6 C6 2.4 (BDW)

🧭 Before you start

Fits: Audi A6 C6 (4F, 2004–2011)

• Renewed: shear bolts

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• Always start by displaying the control unit identification and printing it out.
• The two shear bolts screwed into the control unit do not need to be heated. They can be removed without heating.
• After installation, the protective housing must be re-fitted on the control unit.

🔧 Engine codes this applies to

📋 Procedure

1. ⚠ Heating the thread of the locking plate also heats up the shear bolts and parts of the metal housing. Take care to avoid burns. It is also important to ensure that only the thread is heated and none of the surrounding components if at all possible. These should be covered if necessary. — Connect vehicle diagnostic, testing and information systemVAS 5051B and select vehicle system "“01 - Engine electronics”" from list. When doing this, the ignition must be switched on.
2. Always start by displaying the control unit identification and printing it out.
3. Switch off ignition and remove ignition key.
4. Pull off rubber seal (1) on plenum chamber cover.
5. Detach plenum chamber cover (2).

6. Use screwdriver to pry off cover caps on wiper arms and unscrew hexagon nuts.
7. Pull wiper arms off wiper shafts.
8. Unscrew bolts (left and right) (arrows) from cowl panel (1).
9. Unscrew bolts (arrows) and take off cover for electronics box.
10. ⚠ The pump valve unit for the heating system (left in front of electronics box) gets very hot – risk of burns! — Carefully lever out the retaining strap (3) using a screwdriver (arrows 1 and 2) and remove the engine control unit from the electronics box.
11. Select settings on hot air blower as shown in illustration, i.e. set temperature potentiometer (2) to maximum heat output and two-stage air flow switch (3) to position 3.
12. ⚠ Heating the thread of the locking plate also heats up the shear bolts and parts of the metal housing. Take care to avoid burns. It is also important to ensure that only the thread is heated and none of the surrounding components if at all possible. These should be covered if necessary. — Unscrew shear bolts using vice-grip pliers (see arrow in illustration).
13. The two shear bolts screwed into the control unit do not need to be heated. They can be removed without heating.
14. Detach protective housing from control unit connectors.
15. Release connectors on engine control unit and unplug connectors.
16. Remove old Simos control unit J361 and install new Simos control unit J361.
17. After installation, the protective housing must be re-fitted on the control unit.
18. Clean threaded holes for shear bolts to remove any residue from locking fluid. This can be done using a thread tap.
19. Always use new shear bolts.
20. Activate engine control unit via vehicle diagnostic, testing and information systemVAS 5051B in "“Guided Functions”" mode, "“Replace engine control unit”".

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