Ask the Car People.SM


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

    
Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153

Messages Page 155 of 237

#1537 of 2367 Stranded in the Smokey’s, 2006 by pacifier

Jun 23, 2007 (12:57 pm)

Replying to: Karen@Edmunds (May 23, 2001 7:27 am)
I purchased a 2006 Audi A4 quatro July 2006. Less than 1,000 miles it left me stranded at the Smokey Mountains. The car was flat bedded to Kentucky Audi who determined the starter had to be replaced. Needless to say, it ruined my vacation.
 
Subsequent to the Smokey’s fiasco, the car has been making a loud noise at the top of cold starts. After a couple of trips to the dealer they were unable to determine and chalked it up to what they called a normal noise when starting.
 
Fearing getting stranded once again, I purchased a recorder and recorded the noise on several occasions. As a result, Audi is now (6/23/2007) going to replace the starter, which I have been waiting over a week for the phone call to come in and fix.
 
I love everything about the Audi except for the aforementioned and the time lag accelerating. The car is for sale when the warranty expires. Too bad, cause I would stay with Audi’s if they got their act together. And, what’s this I hear about engine noise and cylinder problems with the 2007s?

#1538 of 2367 Re: 2004 A4 1.8T Quattro 6sp manual clutch failure at 29k [christian78] by ryannail

Jun 25, 2007 (10:54 am)

Replying to: christian78 (May 31, 2007 6:09 pm)
Christian78:
 
I feel your pain. I was just stranded yesterday under similar conditions. I finance a 2004 A4 1.8T Quatro Audi and the clutch went out without warning at about 36K miles.
 
After crawling to a stop in San Francisco my passengers jumped in a cab while I called Audi Emergency Road Service. The service was horrible. I had to wait over 2.5 hours for a tow truck to arrive (they told me it would be 45 minutes or less) while watching other tow companies drive by every 30 seconds.
 
The dealer just called me and said it would be either zero (if covered by warranty) or $3,100 if there is evidence of abuse such as overheating.
 
Hearing your stories, I am not expecting a positive result.
 
I will keep you updated.
 
Any news on your end?

#1539 of 2367 Re: 2004 A4 1.8T Quattro 6sp manual clutch failure at 29k [ryannail] by pacifier

Jun 26, 2007 (11:10 am)

Replying to: ryannail (Jun 25, 2007 10:54 am)
Sorry to hear, I should have done my homework before buying the audi. I heard about the sludge problem they once had with the older models causing the engine to seize, but they assured me this problem was rectified in the newer models. After reading all the problems in this forum I’m seriously considering trading in the car for a lexus, which is more reliable.
 
Got the call yesterday my starter was in. Figures I receive the call after I blasted the dealer during their follow-up customer service survey.
 
Hope the warranty covers the clutch!

#1540 of 2367 Audi Coil Failure Again - Audi Fails to Reimburse by erwinn

Jun 29, 2007 (8:46 am)

My 2002 Audi A4 coils failed previously. As you may know Audi used defective parts and was the subject of a class action lawsuit about this. Well they replaced my coils at 30K(car had to be towed) and now they have failed again at 80k. I asked for some compensation from the dealer (Valley Motors, Hunt Valley MD) and they refused. I contacted Audi of America and they said they would talk to the dealer - but they refused again (failed to call back twice also). I asked for the zone manager contact and they refused to give me the contact information. I am now filing a complaint with the Maryland Attorney General's office. It is my contention that it these parts were to fail repeatedly like this they should be replaced as part of the service. More imporantly this is a major safety problem as you lose 2 of 4 cylinders - not something you want with a 18 wheeler on your tail. Any other ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

#1541 of 2367 Re: Audi Coil Failure Again - Audi Fails to Reimburse [erwinn] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 29, 2007 (9:34 am)

Replying to: erwinn (Jun 29, 2007 8:46 am)
I'd just eat it if I were you...they've stepped up once already and now the car is out of warranty...I suppose if you put enormous energy into it you might get a gesture of assistance, but how much is your time worth? Legally I don't think you have a case here because at 80K any part on any car can fail. It's hard to call a part "defective" if it lasts 50,000 miles. But sure file a complaint...sometimes it might dislodge them enough to perhaps offer you a discount on the repair, so that would be worth some of your time I think. This would come from the factory, not the dealer, unless the dealer can pry money out of the factory (not an easy task). This isn't the dealer's problem.

#1542 of 2367 Re: 2004 A4 1.8T Quattro 6sp manual clutch failure at 29k [ryannail] by christian78

Jul 02, 2007 (12:37 pm)

Replying to: ryannail (Jun 25, 2007 10:54 am)
Ryannail & Athornton:
 
Thanks to those who responded to my original post regarding my premature clutch failure. Two and a half months after my car broke down, I finally have a resolution through the Better Business Bureau's Auto Line arbitration program. In a nutshell, I won my case but still managed to lose financially.
 
Prior to the case hearing on June 11th, a third party mechanic from the BBB went to Audi of Santa Barbara to inspect the vehicle at my request. The third party technical expert concluded that there were "no signs of abuse" and that I was "not responsible to any degree for the failure of the clutch" (what I have been saying all along!). This report from the third party mechanic, along with the testimony of two witnesses who were in the car with me at the time of the clutch failure, formed most of my argument at the hearing. The representative that Audi sent to the hearing seemed ill prepared and basically just reiterated their original assessment that the damage was not due to normal wear and tear and that therefore the warranties do not apply. To support this assertion, he provided a document that was barely legible which had been printed from some internet site showing various clutch failures and possible causes for each type of failure. The arbitrator himself picked the document apart, and was annoyed that Audi waited until the hearing itself to produce any documentation. In the end, the arbitrator awarded me repair of the clutch and towing to my local dealer to have the repairs performed near my home. The arbitrator's conclusion read:
 
"I find that the failure of the clutch is a substantial nonconformity because it is a safety problem that can result in a condition that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven, as well as substantially impair the use and value of the vehicle."
 
Once I accepted the decision (binding Audi to its terms), I then had to fight Audi a second time over the towing part of the decision. They tried to assert that they didn't have to pay for the towing of the car. I had to request a clarification of the arbitrator's decision, but then a few days later Audi offered to pay for a rental car so that I could pick-up the vehicle (120 miles from my home). Beaten down, I agreed. My car should be ready any day now.
 
In the end, while I feel a definite sense of vindication--it was not (at all) worth the effort and trouble for a ~$1000 repair. Plenty of people warned me that this would be the case. In my defense, when I started this fight I thought Audi of America would come to their senses after just a few letters. Still, I learned a lot and I'm thankful for the good folks at the Better Business Bureau. Anybody interested in knowing more can e-mail me.
 
Good Luck,
 
Christian78

#1543 of 2367 Re: 2004 A4 1.8T Quattro 6sp manual clutch failure at 29k [christian78] by athornton

Jul 02, 2007 (6:56 pm)

Replying to: christian78 (Jul 02, 2007 12:37 pm)
Christian:
Many thanks for the update, and congratulations on your persistence and overall success!
I am collecting posts such as yours in preparation for an approach to the State Attorney General's Office with a request to investigate the practices of Maplewood Audi, Minnesota, and the Audi Corporation of America.
Thanks
Regards
Arnold T

#1544 of 2367 Audi A4 1.8 2001 Cam follower or Lifter startup clatter by pchi

Jul 02, 2007 (7:42 pm)

have a 2001 A4 1.8, 87K miles, that on start up has a cam follower clatter for about 6 seconds or so, just started this a few weeks ago. I know these lifters have a tendency to seep oil and thus need to be reoiled on start up but how do you pin down which lifter or lifters needs replacing and what would the time be to replace the faulty part. Are any special "audi" tools required. I recently did an oil change with 0/40 synthetic with an expensive K&N oil filter. Is there a special oil filter required to prevent lifter leak down??? Is the K&N over kill and should I have gone with a thicker oil. Any Audi techs out there that are familiar with this.

#1545 of 2367 Re: Audi A4 1.8 2001 Cam follower or Lifter startup clatter [pchi] by shipo

Jul 02, 2007 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: pchi (Jul 02, 2007 7:42 pm)
"Is the K&N over kill..."
 
No, it's simply a complete waste of money, just keep using factory filters. Period, full stop, the end.
 
"...and should I have gone with a thicker oil?"
 
Nope, the Mobil 1 0W-40 is perfect for your car.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1546 of 2367 Re: Audi A4 1.8 2001 Cam follower or Lifter startup clatter [pchi] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 03, 2007 (9:40 am)

Replying to: pchi (Jul 02, 2007 7:42 pm)
Bingo! DONT USE aftermarket oil filters with an Audi engine!
 
I bet if you put the Audi filter in, your noise will go away or diminish.

Messages Page 155 of 237

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement