Audi A4 Maintenance and Repair

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

You are in the Audi A4 Forum.

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

    
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#1445 of 2367 Re: 2002 A4 3.0 CVT [texasa4dude77] by 2tearsnabucket

Dec 08, 2006 (2:40 pm)

Replying to: texasa4dude77 (Dec 06, 2006 11:43 am)
Texasa4dude77, I am also in Texas. I live in the Dallas area and have been dealing with Boardwalk Audi in Plano, TX. I took my A4 to AutoScope (down the street in Plano), which is a specialty shop that deals with foreign makes, and they recommended a new transmission. Another Audi dealer in Atlanta quoted me that a completely new transmission will cost $5,220.39 plus another $1500-1700 for labor ( $128/hr). Anyway, after I left AutoScope, I took the car immediately to Boardwalk Audi since they seem to be the only CVT specialists around. After several days, they finally reported back that I had a bad valve body. The valve body is a computer-controlled hydraulic component that varies the width of the pulleys in the CVT so the belt can ride at different heights on the pulleys. This provides the varying gear ratio. Boardwalk says that runs $3700.
 
I am the original owner with just over 50k miles. It has been behaving this way for a while, but started to worsen within the past 2-3k miles.
 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has an on-line database to track defects, e.g. Office of Defects Investigation: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm
 
Check it out.

#1446 of 2367 Re: 2002 A4 3.0 CVT [2tearsnabucket] by 2tearsnabucket

Dec 11, 2006 (4:05 pm)

Replying to: 2tearsnabucket (Dec 08, 2006 2:40 pm)
And now the latest on my CVT saga... After a week with very little news from the service manager, Boardwalk Audi called this morning to say that Audi America (based in MI) will be paying 75% of the cost of the new valve body. They would not pay 100% because the car is just barely beyond the stated warranty at 50,302 miles. I reminded them that I was complaining before the car's warranty expired, but the service rep claimed he couldn't feel the transmission jerking at that point in time. Admittedly, it was subtle, but it didn't take long for it to get worse. The good-will on my dealer's and Audi's part may help salvage my opinion of the brand.
From this experience, I've got several recommendations for people driving an Audi A4 with CVT:
1) Obey fuel octane requirements. Try not to put anything under 93 octane fuel. Doing so could result in engine/transmission problems.
2) Allow the engine to warm-up a bit, especially on cold mornings before driving off. I recommend letting the engine idle no higher than 1100 rpm before engaging the transmission.
3) Insist on snythetic motor oil, especially if you live in a hot climate like Texas. The 10,000 mile service interval is probably too long, so I would recommend getting the oil changed every 5k miles during the summer months. This is especially important if you have the 1.8L turbo 4cyl engine. It only carries 3.5 quarts of oil. Audi is well aware that natural oil burns up within 10k mile service intervals.
4) The CVT transmission does require some maintenance. An Audi specialist recommended getting the fluids replaced every 20k-25k miles. The transmission control module in the '02 CVT ran firmware that wasn't necessarily designed for driving conditions in the US. Audi flashed the module with all new firmware in subsequent '03 models. From what I understand, the software upgrade is supposed to ensure smoother launches from a stop as well as compensate for aging oil and poor octane fuel.
 
Regards,
2Tears

#1447 of 2367 Re: PLEASE HELP!!! A4 1.8 Quattro Horsepower and Lag problems [01a4owner] by noalittle

Dec 14, 2006 (10:44 pm)

Replying to: 01a4owner (Nov 28, 2006 6:59 pm)
hey,i would defintely change your spark plugs,change you wires and boots.fill up with high octane and ad a octane booster.if you cat is cloged you need to change it,but fist try banging it with something [dont put a hole in it or break it]just hit it.sometime carbon fills up in the filter.make sure you always use synth,oil!for that car.sound like tune up issuses,buy the stuff your self and tune it up your self.dont bring it to the shop until you do that first,becaus all they will do is rape you,and maybe fix the car and mabe not,and you could have more probs then before.always do the basics.[do a full tune up]so if you have to bring it in you know that it not related to your work you did

#1448 of 2367 Cam chain adjuster seal by jdzbox

Dec 20, 2006 (7:50 am)

I'm planning on to buy a used 02 a4 1.8T Quattro which has a cam chain adjuster seal.
It was found during a safety inpection. Dealer is trying to charge 420 bucks for fixing it. I want to drive it to my mechanic who is about 600 miles away. Do you think it's safe to do that? The dealer says "large oil leak" and do not mention what category it is.
Thanks.

#1449 of 2367 2006 A 4 automatic transmission problem by mlorimer

Dec 21, 2006 (9:21 am)

My leased A4 transmission "shudders" when coming to a stop. Dealer recognizes problem and they "are working on it" but the problem still exists. Anyone have luck in "exchanging" vehicles or being let out of lease?

#1450 of 2367 1999 A4 won't turn over by bucko64

Dec 21, 2006 (10:10 am)

In the past 2 years I have replace the battery and alternator in my 1999 A4 1.8T. Last week it began a new problem of barely turning over and won't start. It turns over a little better when I jumt it and it will start then. The battery and alternator check out OK. I'm thing the battery cable or starter motor but I starter motor seem to work or not work. Any suggestions?

#1451 of 2367 Re: 2006 A 4 automatic transmission problem [mlorimer] by jacob0404

Dec 22, 2006 (6:04 am)

Replying to: mlorimer (Dec 21, 2006 9:21 am)
There is a tech bulletin on this problem at least with the 2004. My dealer finally replaced my CVT transmission with an updated version and it works great. Good luck with yours.

#1452 of 2367 Re: 2006 A 4 automatic transmission problem [jacob0404] by mlorimer

Dec 22, 2006 (6:36 am)

Replying to: jacob0404 (Dec 22, 2006 6:04 am)
Thanks for the heads up. Wonder why this has been a problem for 3 model years? I will follow up with the dealer and Audi corporate.

#1453 of 2367 Re: PLEASE HELP!!! A4 1.8 Quattro Horsepower and Lag problems [01a4owner] by grennie

Dec 28, 2006 (6:34 pm)

Replying to: 01a4owner (Nov 28, 2006 6:59 pm)
I had a similar, but not identical, problem and it turned out to be 1 of the ignition coils. I did get a MIL and since I have a code reader was able to diagnose. I replaced for $25 and the problem was "fixed" except that due to the shaking the flexible coupling in the exhaust had to be replaced. BTW, the stealership price for the identical coil was almost $50 so shop around for parts.

#1454 of 2367 Not all A4s have problems by grennie

Dec 28, 2006 (6:42 pm)

I know this is a forum for A4 problems, but thought I'd add some thoughts from a happy owner. I now have over 150K on my 01 A4Q (manual trans) and have had very few problems. I use synthetic oil changed at Audi's recommended intervals, I replaced a rear wheel bearing at 120K (I actually changed both since I misdiagnosed the bad one), finally got around to replacing the timing belt at 150K, replaced brakes at 80K (they didn't need it I just wanted low dust pads), replaced 1 ignition coil at 100K and my Symphony stereo has the common ERR1 on the internal CD player. Other than that NO problems.
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