SQ8 Engine Heat Issues Linked to Air Flap Malfunction

I had a similar issue with my 2017 S7. As someone with some hands-on experience working on cars, I initially thought it was just a regular cooling system problem, but the diagnostic scan pointed to the active air flap system. The check engine light appeared first, followed by rising temperature readings. The root cause turned out to be a defective flap motor in the air intake system. The electromechanism controlling the flaps had failed, leaving them stuck in one position, which affected proper airflow and engine cooling. The repair cost me 590 Euro, covering both diagnostics and the replacement of the faulty components. The workshop confirmed this is actually a known issue that can cause car overheating when the active air flaps dont function properly. Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you share: Have you noticed any unusual noises from the front of the engine bay? What temperature readings are you seeing exactly? Did the diagnostic scan show any specific error codes? Has the car had any recent maintenance work done? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with my vehicle.

Had my latest service at 90000km and the workshop replaced the transmission fluid and did a general inspection. The fault code reader shows P2008 and I can hear a slight clicking sound from behind the grille shutter when starting the car. Engine temps are hitting around 105C during normal driving. The thermal management system definitely seems compromised, as these symptoms started right after I noticed reduced airflow through the front. Called the dealer and they quoted 750 Euro for diagnosis and potential active air flap replacement.

Thanks for providing those details, this definitely confirms my initial suspicions based on my S7 experience. The P2008 code and clicking noise match exactly what I encountered before my repair. The grille shutter system on these models has a common weakness in the flap motor assembly. When the thermal management system starts acting up with those symptoms (clicking noise, high temps, reduced airflow), its almost always the actuator mechanism failing. 750 Euro seems a bit steep compared to my repair cost of 590 Euro. The diagnostic scan and flap motor replacement shouldnt require that much labor time. The part itself costs around 350 Euro, and the job typically takes 2-3 hours max. Since youve already had recent maintenance, we can likely rule out other cooling system issues. Your temperature reading of 105C matches what I saw before the repair, its high enough to trigger concern but not yet critical. My suggestion based on the matching symptoms and code: 1. Get a second quote from another workshop that has experience with VAG active air flap systems 2. Request they focus specifically on the flap motor, since your diagnostic scan already pinpointed the issue 3. Ask them to check if the grille shutter assembly itself has any damage while theyre in there Let me know if you proceed with the repair, interested to hear if the fix resolves your thermal management issues like it did for mine.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. Your experience with the S7 definitely helps confirm what I suspected. After getting your input about the repair costs and the common nature of this active air flap issue, I called around and found another certified workshop willing to do the job for 620 Euro, much more reasonable than the dealer quote. Going to book it in next week since all signs point to the same problem you had, the P2008 code, clicking noise, and compromised thermal management are too similar to ignore. Really helpful to know the actual repair time is only 2-3 hours too. That helped me negotiate a better rate. Will update once the work is done, but feeling more confident now about the diagnosis. My main concern was spending money fixing the wrong thing, but the matching symptoms and fault code make it pretty clear the active air flap system is the culprit. Just glad I caught it before any serious overheating damage occurred.