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Audi A4 Maintenance and Repair

2367 messages,  Last post on May 16, 2013 at 8:34 AM

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What is this discussion about? Audi A4, Convertible, Sedan, Wagon

    
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Messages Page 133 of 238

#1314 of 2367 Engine Class Action Lawsuit by chelle4

Jul 06, 2006 (7:54 pm)

Hello All, I am looking for any information that I can get. I just recently had the engine and the turbo replaced in my 2002 Audi A4. I was made to feel that I was very, very lucky that they were replacing this, and then I find out on this website that this has been an ongoing problem with Audi. I also had to pay $578.00 to have the timing belt replaced (and some other things). Anyway, now I read that there is also a recall or issue with the timing belts. Can anyone tell me where to look to find this information so that I can confront the dealership/service department with this new info. I am furious and believe that I should sell the car even though they have replaced the engine and turbo. Please HELP!!!
Chelle

#1315 of 2367 Re: HELP - Continued... [shevis_audi] by ka_audi_a4

Jul 07, 2006 (2:52 pm)

Replying to: shevis_audi (Jun 28, 2006 11:51 am)
My 2000 Audi A4 also shakes/pulsates at startup.
 
Several months ago, the check engine light started. I had the guy at the oil change place hook it up to his computer. He messed with the vacuum system and the light went off. It came back on almost immediately.
 
A month or two ago, I used some fuel injector cleaner. The car started shaking/pulsating. A friend who is a mechanic said that oil is slowly leaking from the head into the pistons and that I would have to replace/fix the head. It stopped after that tank of gas was finished.
 
Wend back to the oil change place - the computer read "improper air fuel mixture". Don't go to Audi - they will charge $150 just to hook the computer up. Most oil change places do it for free. Also, the computers cost $100, if you want you own.
 
It started again. Some slight power loss. Am taking it to Midas in a few minutes.

#1316 of 2367 Re: HELP - Continued... [ka_audi_a4] by shevis_audi

Jul 08, 2006 (8:05 am)

Replying to: ka_audi_a4 (Jul 07, 2006 2:52 pm)
Hey,
Thank you so much for the reply! You gave a lot of information which seems useful, but im confused as to what you want me to think the problem is....you mentioned the vacuum system making the engine light go out...the piston being the possible problem...and that once you replaced the altered fuel, your your car stopped shaking...so what do you think the actual prob was?? Well in any case, thanks for the info - and its good to know that i can get one of those diagnostic/code computers for myself. Although, i really want to just get rid of the Audi now(about 3 months into it..i wonder if thats a record. lol)...since its not like these Audi dealerships reasonably price their services, and im afraid of what other problems may lie around the corner, since this used car has had a paint job and apparently, a replaced bumper (making it seem like to me, that its been in an accident before, perhaps an intense one). The check engine light has been on for about 2 weeks now, and its shaking more intensely day after day...it feels like the engine is basically Struggling to stay on. If it is the Mass Air Flow Sensor - which 2 car guys have told me (just based on me describing the issue) that it probably is, then one Audi dealership quoted me at $400+ for that. The other Audi dealership quoted me at like $200, but i think that dude had given me the price for the Vacuum Leak, not the Mass Air Flow Sensor (one he gave me the price for, one he didnt).
I guess i may stop by a Midas...since thats where you went. The places that i used to go for my Hyundai, dont even deal with/know about Audis. Go figure. I mainly used to take my Hyundai to Walmart or Meineke, but i stopped by an NTB the other day and NTB was like "we dont mess with any check engine stuff...Especially on an Audi". The car's cute and all...but i dont have time/money for any big issues. Im trying to go back to college very soon - this August - and it may be out of state...It would Really suck if the car broke down 400 miles up the road. I wonder how urgent the Mass Air Flow thing is. *sighs* It Sounds Urgent. Along with the slightly more intense shaking, its also been making a loud UNNN sound once i get to 50 mph and the rpm is at between 2 and 3 while im at 50 to 60 mph...then later, i think it comes down...but only after ive passed, or gone below, those speeds.
 
Later sweeties.
 
~Shevi
 
P.S. In the manual, i did read not to use any Fuel Altering stuff, since it may damage the car , i guess thats what you used (?) I read that part of the manual around the time i was thinking of using one of those fuel additives that are supposed to make your gas last longer. After reading the manual, i decided not to. I've mainly ony put the highest level fuel in my car, except for about 3 times (i think i put 87 in 2 times, and Plus in once).
 
OH AND ALSO: My A/C , Heat has been making a weird noise as of the past 4 days or so - at first it sounded like a piece of paper was flapping inside of the vent or something, and for some dumb reason i decided to turn the level Up, i guess just to see if it would knock the paper out of whereever it was. Once i did that it made a noise kinda like when a vacuum gets a big piece of paper or a sock or something, in the hose part of it, it was a muffled type sound and the air flow was noticeably reduced...then i turned it down. The sounds have changed slightly since then...i dont know whats up with it. Tell me - if you think you do. Thanks.

#1317 of 2367 Re: HELP - Continued... [shevis_audi] by a43311

Jul 08, 2006 (12:03 pm)

Replying to: shevis_audi (Jul 08, 2006 8:05 am)
First problem is going to the dealership, try to find a independent shop that will work on german cars. From my experience labor is usually cheaper "sometimes a good amount" and the people you deal with are more trustworthy.

#1318 of 2367 Bad Battery, i think.... by shevis_audi

Jul 10, 2006 (7:38 am)

Hi (again),
My car has ended up not starting after i shut it off in the past - that happened a couple of times. It made a fast clicking sound when i tried to start it up - like a tiny machine gun going off. Im sure you guys know what im talking about. So anyway, i got a jump and it immediately was okay - that coupled with the fact that the voltometer or whatever, was down to about 8. After that, I went to Walmart and they told me that they had the battery for about $60. After they got under the hood though, they said they didnt have it. After that, i went to NTB, but they quoted me at about $120, then when i asked "So that includes any labor charges?" The guy kinda smirked and said .."Oh, thats about $20 more...So $140" or Whatever he quoted me at. Then i remembered that someone told me that if you already have a battery, you can go by NTB and they'll intall it for Free, so what the H#$% was he gunna charge me a $20 fee for? For me asking, i guess. So, i dont think i'll go to that NTB.
Anyway, the car didnt start Twice yesterday. I had noticed about 4 days ago, that it was turning over slightly slowly as i started it up...but i figured it was due to the shaking issue and that the car has been having. I got (finally) got it jumped yesterday and it started up just fine. Later though, when it was umped, it didnt start, until the guy ened up making Sparks by puttling the clamps on the engine block and Other areas he touched the clamps with. I guess he knew what he was doing, because it ended up starting up. But just before they gave me a jump, the cashier at the gas station said that the clicking/tiny machine gun noise was a sign was that it Wasnt the battery, but the Starter and that if i just keep trying to start it, it'll probably start up. I told him that it made that same noise in the past and a jump worked. But i took his advice. As i suspected, it didnt start until later on when i got a jump.
I couldnt find a car place that was open yesterday (since it was Sunday. I had seen Some store that said Open on Sundays, but i couldnt remember what store it was or where it was).
So today...just my luck..the car wont start. Well, it did Start to turn over for like 1 second but then went to the clicking noise and at that point the battery/voltmeter showed it as being at 12....as i tried starting it again, and again, the voltmeter went down to just ablove 8...so that makes me fee confident that it Is the battery, and not some other prob. I guess I'll know for sure once i get a new battery at NTB or somewhere later on today.
 
For the person who said "first mistake, taking it to a dealership" Well its an Audi; it only made sense to me to therefore take it to the dealership, to compile as much Audi related info as possible at least...and may as well get a quote while im there. Its not like i paid for any of their services. And i Have tried to look up/find Audi/German car people in the Northern VA area, and i havent been able to..i saw like 1 or 2 listings.
 
Well, i gotta go try to get a jump.
 
Later,
 
Shevi

#1319 of 2367 Re: Bad Battery, i think.... [shevis_audi] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 10, 2006 (8:20 am)

Replying to: shevis_audi (Jul 10, 2006 7:38 am)
You should approach this a bit more logically.
 
Charge the battery up and then have the alternator output tested. If you keep jumping a dead battery and let the alternator try to charge it up time after time, you are going to wipe out the alternator soon enough.
 
With a fully charged battery you can get accurate test results on load-testing the battery and also checking alternator output.
 
If you just replace the battery, you may have cured only the symptom, not the disease....and thrown away a good battery and still have a bad alternator.

#1320 of 2367 Re: Bad Battery, i think.... [Mr_Shiftright] by shevis_audi

Jul 10, 2006 (8:40 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 10, 2006 8:20 am)
I dont see how getting a battery jumped, thats gone bad randomly is "not approaching something logically". You talk as if EVERYONE on earth would know about the alternator output, etc etc. How about You approach the situation logically and with an open mind? The battery was doing fine until yesterday and this morning, and during those times, i couldnt get to a car place. Think about it. Also, If i knew everything about cars, i wouldnt be on this website making inquiries.
 
ANYWAY, I just got the battery charged, and im going to NTB now. I got some advice about the battery issue and how to charge it on my own. Since inconsiderate people like you are reading(thats my polite way of saying it), i hardly even want to share the info...but for the nice people, i will: This lady said that she's started her battery before using SODA. I really didnt think it would work but I walked to store and came back and tried it. Sure enough, my car started up. Isnt that something? Well anyway, I'll go have the whole battery situation looked at now, hopefully whatever the issue is, NTB will fix it - thats not always how it goes.

#1322 of 2367 Re: Bad Battery, i think.... [shevis_audi] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 10, 2006 (9:40 am)

Replying to: shevis_audi (Jul 10, 2006 8:40 am)
Well no offense intended I assure you. By "logically" I meant the problem, not you. I was just trying to suggest how to avoid a costly mistake and also to avoid damaging your alternator. I wish you luck solving your problem.

#1323 of 2367 Re: Bad Battery, i think.... [Mr_Shiftright] by shevis_audi

Jul 10, 2006 (12:20 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 10, 2006 9:40 am)
Thank you for the clarification. A lot of people are quite rude online and have warped mentalities. I guess they're dumb/inadequate in every other area of their lives so they feel the need to come online and act like they are the leading authority on something like Cars and act like smart a#$es all day. I have a high I.Q., love learning, and im Much more compassionate than most. So it irritates me when people act like they're on some higher level than the next person(when there's a 99% chance that im smarter than them about most subjects). I used to be extremely modest...but i think its time i set the record straight.
 
But back to the car: I just left Merchant Auto Center. I had gone to NTB and asked them about doing a diagnostic on the battery/alternator and told him that someone said contsant charged would mess up the alternator or something. He said he didnt know what they were talking about as far as that, but that based on what i told him about the car immediately starting up after the jumps, its Definitely not anything other than the battery. But they ended up telling me that they dont have some Electronic Coding thing that has to be done along with the battery, but that i could go to Merchants. I went to Merchants and the guys there were very professional/helpful(apparently, Merchant and NTB are affilated, he pulled up my info based on a previous NTB visit). It took about 2 hours for the guy to go get the battery (and toher parts they needed for their store) from some other place, but after he got back, my battery was Installed in like 20 mins. That was wonderful. I asked if they checked the alternator and stuff and the guy said that he didnt but that basically if the car starts up fine once your started it and shut it off, about 3 times in a row, then you know the alternator and everything else is fine (I know, its a run-on sentence...but oh well).
So the battery issue should now be completely rectified. Thanks for the bits of helpful information that i was able to salvage from the sometimes erroneous comments that you all have made.
Oh and the cost of the battery was $104. The labor/installation was $10 so it came out to about $127. At first he said $150 something. Then i said "Its $150? But he told me earlier that it was like $104 for a battery then $10 for labor." He said that they put a $15 Complete Check charge on there. He mumbled that He doesnt usually charge for complete checks,and said that he would give me $10 off. In the past, i would have just been like "okay" or really, i probably wouldnt even have said anything at the point of him saying it was $150..i wouldve just paid. But times have changed just a little, plus im low on cash. I said "Okay...But really, if they didnt do a "complete check" then i shouldnt be getting charged for it" Then he said "Was it outside before i went and worked on it?" I said "It was outside ALL DAY" Then he said "Okay, well I'll take the Complete check off".
So now im just left with the Engine light issue - which could be a mass air flow sensor problem or a vacuum leak problem. But it will have to wait for now..and hopefully it can. Merchant said that they dont deal with that, or things like my A/C prob and that i would probably have to go to the dealership..or some other little shop that may work on those issues.
 
Later,
 
Shevi

Messages Page 133 of 238

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