What is the fault code P3193 for Audi A6?
3 Answers
Audi A6 P3193 indicates that the intake manifold runner control circuit for bank 1 has exceeded the permissible opening range. Dirty air filter: The air filter is designed to protect the engine and reduce wear, typically requiring replacement around 10,000 kilometers. If not replaced in time, insufficient air intake can cause low idle speed, resulting in engine shaking. Simply replacing the filter element can resolve this issue. High-voltage line break: A high-voltage line break refers to a broken conductor core in the high-voltage line, which can affect ignition and cause engine shaking. Use a multimeter to measure the resistance and replace the one with significantly higher resistance (several times higher than normal).
Recently, my Audi A6 also displayed the P3193 fault code, which is quite annoying. A professional technician told me this error indicates insufficient air intake during engine idling, like suddenly being out of breath while running. There are three common causes: the mass air flow (MAF) sensor being clogged with oil residue, carbon buildup in the throttle body restricting its movement, or cracks/leaks in the intake piping. In my case, it was a throttle body issue—cleaning it after removal solved the problem. As a reminder, frequent short-distance driving is particularly prone to carbon buildup, so I recommend occasionally taking the car on the highway to clear it out. If you decide to clean it yourself, remember to disconnect the battery to avoid electronic system faults. The MAF sensor can be sprayed with a dedicated cleaner—never use carburetor cleaner, as it can corrode the sensor.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience driving Audis, I've encountered the P3193 fault code quite often. Simply put, it's when the engine struggles with rough idling at low speeds, and most of the time, cleaning the throttle body can fix it. The last time my car had this issue, I first noticed the tachometer jumping erratically like it was dancing during idle, and the engine would easily stall during cold starts. After checking it myself, I found the air filter was clogged like a rag—replacing it significantly alleviated the symptoms. The key is to inspect the sealing of the intake system, especially the rubber hoses in turbocharged models, as aging and cracking are common. If the fault light remains after cleaning the throttle body, consider replacing the mass airflow sensor. During repairs, remember to reset the throttle adaptation data using the ODIS system, or you might end up wasting your effort.
