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leondavis1

Audi S6 NOx Catalyst & Emissions System Warning Signs

I am getting quite concerned about my 2005 Audi S6 (gas engine, 171909 km). The check engine light keeps illuminating and my mechanic found error codes related to the emissions system. There is also some exhaust leakage, and I suspect the NOx catalyst might be failing due to age. Has anyone experienced similar issues with their S6? Looking for advice on whether this needs immediate attention and what repair costs I should expect. My last mechanic visit was not great, so recommendations for handling this problem would be really helpful.

4 comment(s)

maximilianjung29

Having dealt with similar issues on my 2008 Audi S4, I can confirm this requires prompt attention. The symptoms you describe match a failing catalytic converter combined with exhaust leaks, which significantly impact both fuel efficiency and emissions control. During my repair experience, the diagnostic revealed the nitrogen oxides catalyst had deteriorated due to age, causing incomplete conversion of harmful emissions. The exhaust leak was located at the flex pipe connection, which commonly fails around this mileage point. The emissions system problems triggered multiple check engine codes, and waiting would have led to: Further damage to surrounding components, Increased fuel consumption, Risk of failing emissions tests, Potential damage to oxygen sensors This type of repair qualifies as serious since the catalytic converter is a crucial emissions control device. A failing unit combined with exhaust leaks can allow harmful gases to enter the cabin and cause engine performance issues. The complete repair should include: Full emissions system inspection, Catalytic converter replacement, Exhaust leak repair, Oxygen sensor testing, System diagnostic reset Getting this fixed by a specialist familiar with Audi emissions systems is essential for proper diagnosis and repair.

maximilianjung29

Having dealt with similar issues on my 2008 Audi S4, I can confirm this requires prompt attention. The symptoms you describe match a failing catalytic converter combined with exhaust leaks, which significantly impact both fuel efficiency and emissions control. During my repair experience, the diagnostic revealed the nitrogen oxides catalyst had deteriorated due to age, causing incomplete conversion of harmful emissions. The exhaust leak was located at the flex pipe connection, which commonly fails around this mileage point. The emissions system problems triggered multiple check engine codes, and waiting would have led to: Further damage to surrounding components, Increased fuel consumption, Risk of failing emissions tests, Potential damage to oxygen sensors This type of repair qualifies as serious since the catalytic converter is a crucial emissions control device. A failing unit combined with exhaust leaks can allow harmful gases to enter the cabin and cause engine performance issues. The complete repair should include: Full emissions system inspection, Catalytic converter replacement, Exhaust leak repair, Oxygen sensor testing, System diagnostic reset Getting this fixed by a specialist familiar with Audi emissions systems is essential for proper diagnosis and repair.

maximilianjung29

Having dealt with similar issues on my 2008 Audi S4, I can confirm this requires prompt attention. The symptoms you describe match a failing catalytic converter combined with exhaust leaks, which significantly impact both fuel efficiency and emissions control. During my repair experience, the diagnostic revealed the nitrogen oxides catalyst had deteriorated due to age, causing incomplete conversion of harmful emissions. The exhaust leak was located at the flex pipe connection, which commonly fails around this mileage point. The emissions system problems triggered multiple check engine codes, and waiting would have led to: Further damage to surrounding components, Increased fuel consumption, Risk of failing emissions tests, Potential damage to oxygen sensors This type of repair qualifies as serious since the catalytic converter is a crucial emissions control device. A failing unit combined with exhaust leaks can allow harmful gases to enter the cabin and cause engine performance issues. The complete repair should include: Full emissions system inspection, Catalytic converter replacement, Exhaust leak repair, Oxygen sensor testing, System diagnostic reset Getting this fixed by a specialist familiar with Audi emissions systems is essential for proper diagnosis and repair.

leondavis1 (Author)

Thanks for the detailed response on the emissions system repair. I ended up having similar problems with the catalytic converter and NOx emissions on my Audi S6. The car diagnostics showed multiple fault codes and the air quality inside the cabin was becoming concerning. Did you track the total repair costs for your S4? My mechanic quoted a significant amount but I want to compare prices. Also curious if you had any related issues pop up after the initial repair was done?

leondavis1 (Author)

Thanks for the detailed response on the emissions system repair. I ended up having similar problems with the catalytic converter and NOx emissions on my Audi S6. The car diagnostics showed multiple fault codes and the air quality inside the cabin was becoming concerning. Did you track the total repair costs for your S4? My mechanic quoted a significant amount but I want to compare prices. Also curious if you had any related issues pop up after the initial repair was done?

leondavis1 (Author)

Thanks for the detailed response on the emissions system repair. I ended up having similar problems with the catalytic converter and NOx emissions on my Audi S6. The car diagnostics showed multiple fault codes and the air quality inside the cabin was becoming concerning. Did you track the total repair costs for your S4? My mechanic quoted a significant amount but I want to compare prices. Also curious if you had any related issues pop up after the initial repair was done?

maximilianjung29

After getting my S4 repaired, I can confirm the NOx storage catalyst aging issue was completely resolved. The exhaust leak repair cost 265 Euro, which included fixing the connection points and replacing worn gaskets. The automotive repair shop did a thorough job addressing the nitrogen oxides emissions problems. Since the fix, my vehicle has shown much better fuel efficiency and the check engine light has stayed off. The air quality improvements were noticeable right away, no more exhaust smell in the cabin. The NOx emissions are now within normal range according to the latest diagnostics. I should mention that having a specialist tackle these emissions system repairs was worth it. They identified and fixed additional small issues that could have developed into bigger problems. My advice would be to have them do a complete system check while they are working on it, as catching related issues early can save money in the long run. The fix has held up well for the past several months with no new fault codes or emissions-related problems surfacing. Getting the repair done promptly prevented damage to other components in the exhaust system.

maximilianjung29

After getting my S4 repaired, I can confirm the NOx storage catalyst aging issue was completely resolved. The exhaust leak repair cost 265 Euro, which included fixing the connection points and replacing worn gaskets. The automotive repair shop did a thorough job addressing the nitrogen oxides emissions problems. Since the fix, my vehicle has shown much better fuel efficiency and the check engine light has stayed off. The air quality improvements were noticeable right away, no more exhaust smell in the cabin. The NOx emissions are now within normal range according to the latest diagnostics. I should mention that having a specialist tackle these emissions system repairs was worth it. They identified and fixed additional small issues that could have developed into bigger problems. My advice would be to have them do a complete system check while they are working on it, as catching related issues early can save money in the long run. The fix has held up well for the past several months with no new fault codes or emissions-related problems surfacing. Getting the repair done promptly prevented damage to other components in the exhaust system.

maximilianjung29

After getting my S4 repaired, I can confirm the NOx storage catalyst aging issue was completely resolved. The exhaust leak repair cost 265 Euro, which included fixing the connection points and replacing worn gaskets. The automotive repair shop did a thorough job addressing the nitrogen oxides emissions problems. Since the fix, my vehicle has shown much better fuel efficiency and the check engine light has stayed off. The air quality improvements were noticeable right away, no more exhaust smell in the cabin. The NOx emissions are now within normal range according to the latest diagnostics. I should mention that having a specialist tackle these emissions system repairs was worth it. They identified and fixed additional small issues that could have developed into bigger problems. My advice would be to have them do a complete system check while they are working on it, as catching related issues early can save money in the long run. The fix has held up well for the past several months with no new fault codes or emissions-related problems surfacing. Getting the repair done promptly prevented damage to other components in the exhaust system.

leondavis1 (Author)

Thanks for the advice. I wanted to share how my repair experience turned out. After checking several automotive repair shops, I found a specialist who really knew about NOx emissions systems and catalytic converter issues. The inspection revealed the original diagnosis was spot on. The NOx catalyst had completely failed and there were multiple exhaust leaks around the connections. The total repair came to 2100 Euro including: New catalytic converter, Exhaust system repairs, Updated oxygen sensors, Full emissions system testing The fuel efficiency improved noticeably after the fix. The cabin air is much cleaner now and the check engine light has stayed off. The repair took about 2 days but the results were worth it. My advice to others facing similar issues, get it checked right away. Waiting only leads to more expensive repairs and potential damage to other components. Finding a qualified shop that specializes in emissions systems made a big difference in getting the problem fixed correctly the first time.

leondavis1 (Author)

Thanks for the advice. I wanted to share how my repair experience turned out. After checking several automotive repair shops, I found a specialist who really knew about NOx emissions systems and catalytic converter issues. The inspection revealed the original diagnosis was spot on. The NOx catalyst had completely failed and there were multiple exhaust leaks around the connections. The total repair came to 2100 Euro including: New catalytic converter, Exhaust system repairs, Updated oxygen sensors, Full emissions system testing The fuel efficiency improved noticeably after the fix. The cabin air is much cleaner now and the check engine light has stayed off. The repair took about 2 days but the results were worth it. My advice to others facing similar issues, get it checked right away. Waiting only leads to more expensive repairs and potential damage to other components. Finding a qualified shop that specializes in emissions systems made a big difference in getting the problem fixed correctly the first time.

leondavis1 (Author)

Thanks for the advice. I wanted to share how my repair experience turned out. After checking several automotive repair shops, I found a specialist who really knew about NOx emissions systems and catalytic converter issues. The inspection revealed the original diagnosis was spot on. The NOx catalyst had completely failed and there were multiple exhaust leaks around the connections. The total repair came to 2100 Euro including: New catalytic converter, Exhaust system repairs, Updated oxygen sensors, Full emissions system testing The fuel efficiency improved noticeably after the fix. The cabin air is much cleaner now and the check engine light has stayed off. The repair took about 2 days but the results were worth it. My advice to others facing similar issues, get it checked right away. Waiting only leads to more expensive repairs and potential damage to other components. Finding a qualified shop that specializes in emissions systems made a big difference in getting the problem fixed correctly the first time.

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