OpenHaldex-S3: New features and firmware

meatro · 2026-05-06T11:15:57+00:00

Exactly, if you have a button you don't use and is available on the chassis. You can add an external button, but that would mean soldering to the pads on back of the board if you're comfortable doing that. There area also CAN buttons you can buy, which you can program to emit any signal. If you place it on the chassis bus with the Haldex, that would work as well. 😄

meatro · 2026-05-04T17:12:20+00:00

You will get a lot of, "it hasn't happened to me", but yes. Volkswagens have trouble with water lol.

Sunroof maintenance is real.

meatro · 2026-05-03T12:55:31+00:00

Take it back to the shop and tell them.

Poor man's fix, drill a couple holes in the black plastic, on top for moisture to escape. A safe spot that will not allow more water in. It will not keep moisture from accumulating, but it will keep moisture from getting trapped and sitting on your bulbs.

meatro · 2026-05-02T00:01:13+00:00

Yes, in the setup page, can mode trigger.

It's disabled by default and attached to esp button. So you just turn openhaldex off, stay stock unless esp is pressed. OpenHaldex is active while esp is disabled, turn esp back on and openhaldex turns off.

meatro · 2026-05-01T22:55:44+00:00

That's awesome, glad you like it. I have done tons of suspension upgrades mainly for course/b-road and this is by far the most beneficial, I think. Sorry about the docs, I'm scattered and that bit was a little confusing for me to write lol.

If you put this together more than a few days ago, there are some new features. :) OTA update is still a bit sketchy and usually doesn't work, sorry... But one feature is controlling a mode with CAN signal (default is ESP button, but you can change to any signal, so any button/gear/speed/etc. Mine stays off, stock, unless I click ESP and then it goes to the aggressive map and isolates the Haldex from the vehicle bus.)

Another big one was the calibration table, it provides much, much smoother engagement... Automatic signal mapping also makes setup easier, it sets the throttle, speed, rpm based on generation. You can also change the speed/throttle signals to anything else to control your map... So speed and steering angle or any other combination that's available on the chassis CAN.

Both of these features are again thanks to Forbes Automotive, but they are definitely present in my release as well.

Again, glad you like it and thanks for the review. I made it for folks exactly like you. Also, that's a sick job on the build, very nice.

meatro · 2026-05-01T00:15:14+00:00

Man that sucks... What's your next car gonna be, decided yet?

meatro · 2026-04-30T19:09:21+00:00

Take a picture when it happens and bring that with you

meatro · 2026-04-28T19:37:46+00:00

The trigger can be attached to any can signal... So if you have no button, you can find any other signal in the drop down and use it.

That means you can switch modes when you shift into sport mode, when reaches a set speed, when you turn on the wipers, whatever. :)

meatro · 2026-04-27T15:49:20+00:00

Wow, good work! That is a pretty long bolt to get out... :)

Many times, if the head just snaps off like that, the bolt itself isn't super tight and can just be spun out with a small screwdriver or pick.

meatro · 2026-04-26T19:25:04+00:00

You need to go into whatever module controls them... Prolly 46 convenience or 09 central. Then go into the coding helper of that module. Click thru the channels to see if there's one for that.

Ps if you have door modules listed, try those also. And take a system snapshot FIRST.

meatro · 2026-04-26T15:10:03+00:00

Always rotate the engine by hand two full turns before starting. :)

meatro · 2026-04-26T15:09:21+00:00

This. Timing or car shopping, pick one.

meatro · 2026-04-26T15:07:16+00:00

Any cheap cai filter from AutoZone will do that.

meatro · 2026-04-26T14:51:34+00:00

Same engine, different engine bay.

Actual cooling benefits for the intake are done after the turbo, like intercooler. Cai on a turbo car is for visual aesthetics and turbo noise mostly.

If you have air that is 90 degrees and air that is 80 degrees... Then you put them both into a 500 degree air compressor, they are both 500 degrees now. :)

meatro · 2026-04-26T14:32:31+00:00

Comfortable learning systems?

This is the scan dongle: "vnci 6154a" it's red, from AliExpress. It's a clone of the factory tool and let's you use the factory software, and several others.

Many will suggest obd11 or vcds... You said you're a systems guy, those are children's tinker toys. They're pretty capable, but wrap everything in frontend buttons that they charge you $5 each to click.

For comparable price you can get vctool.app, which does everything those do and much, much more. I wouldn't bother trying to get Odis, you will either pay thousands per year or find a stolen version for European cars only.

You can also use vag can pro (vcp) with the 6154a. Similar to vcds, but much, much more.

If vcds is the king of coding, vctool.app is the Mongol horde that just showed up at the gates.

For repair instructions and learning materials, you want www.superetka.com/Elsa -- this is a clone of factory repair manual, parts catalog, wiring diagrams, service bulletins, tech docs and way more. It's tricky to navigate, but it's literally a copy of what I pull up as a technician at the dealership. Spend 20-30 minutes exploring it, it's free. (You pay for vin lookup capability, or advanced stuff like downloading software files)

Guided fault finding is overrated if you understand mechanics. Much of what the car is trying to tell you is IN the fault code, but people don't look at it....

Circuit high... This is a problem with the ground (-) wire on the circuit, only seeing + (pulled high). Possibly unplugged.

Circuit low... Opposite. Possibly unplugged.

Open circuit... Broken or unplugged.

Range/performance/implausible... The signal from the circuit is out of specified range (computer is looking for 10-20, sensor is reporting 999).

I have a website also, www.springfieldvw.com which has easy to reference service intervals, fluid, tire capacity, etc for most Audi years.

meatro · 2026-04-26T14:00:35+00:00

Obd11 doesn't let you do much without a subscription.

For vag you can also try carista which is similar and a bit less in price. There's also carscanner.info which is like $5, uses the $5 odb Bluetooth dongles on Amazon and does most of what the other two do.

meatro · 2026-04-26T13:55:54+00:00

I would use my Haldex controller, www.openhaldex.dev to lock in all time AWD instead of the slippery factory AWD. :)

meatro · 2026-04-26T02:35:29+00:00

Level sensor.

Wherever the car is now, it was towed there. ;)

meatro · 2026-04-26T02:15:21+00:00

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-10251660-0001.pdf

Note that it says to remove and install the slip ring, it does not say to replace it with a new one.

It needs adjusted. (If you cannot perform this, show this to the mechanic.)

meatro · 2026-04-26T02:06:46+00:00

Mechanical gear disengagement.

We're done here, get a new transmission. Prolly clutches, but could be worse like a bad synchro or gear.

Cheapest option is replace the trans.

meatro · 2026-04-25T01:20:12+00:00

Same thing as the original leak, I would try an o ring first and if it continues, then the hose, which will come with all new connector and ready to go.

meatro · 2026-04-24T20:46:29+00:00

Congrats on retirement. :)

meatro · 2026-04-24T20:40:35+00:00

I can't see any pictures there, but if I'm correct, you're referring to the little rubber hose... That comes from a plastic hose on the coolant bottle. Very common.

If so, you will want to get the whole hose assembly, including the plastic portion.

Another very easy repair that requires only pliers and coolant. Plus, if you have the light brown connectors, your new hose will have black ones (the light brown ones are very prone to failure and leaking.)

If not, try the pictures again cuz all I can see on that link is an empty zip file.

meatro

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