Battery Vent Tube Preventing Curt C11448 Hitch Install on 2021 Audi A5 Sportback Hybrid

Updated 08/06/2021 | Published 08/05/2021

Question:

I bought this hitch #C11448 for my 2021 Audi A5 Sportback a few months ago, and am now trying to install it. Instructions are to knock out the blank drain covers on the left and right, placing bolts there. However, my car has a plastic tube coming from the hybrid battery that vents out the left drain hole. Do you or Curt have any guidance on what to do with this? There is a middle drain cover as well, but the tube isnt long enough to reach, and Id be concerned that the hitchs large black mounting plate would block the hole anyway. Photo attached, Ive highlighted the tube in yellow.

asked by: Brandon A

Expert Reply:

When Curt did the install, the battery on their vehicle did not have the large diameter battery vent tube you show in your photo, so they didn't run into this issue nor have they received any other reports of this occurring, you can see the photo of the battery that they took during their install, it's labeled # 2 in the photos I've provided.

You are correct, the center grommet that's closer to the rear bumper would certainly be blocked by the mounting flange of the hitch, so that would be ruled out as an option.

I have two possibilities for you. In the photo labeled # 1, I've shown a hole in the floor of the trunk pan and circled in in red, just below the battery. You could drill that hole out to the underside of the vehicle and route the hose out that way. It looks as if the hose is long enough to reach. You'd want to use silicone to seal the area around the tube so fumes don't enter the vehicle.

Or, in the photo labeled # 3, there is a third grommet over to the right (circled in red) that could be used to route the hose out of the vehicle. In order to reach that grommet, you'd need to extend the tube. Once again, you'll want to seal the area around this hose to prevent fumes from entering the passenger cabin.

expert reply by: Mike L