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Audi A6 Maintenance and Repair

1404 messages,  Last post on Jun 15, 2013 at 8:57 PM

You are in the Audi A6 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi A6, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 131 of 141

#1300 of 1404 Re: 1996 A6 Electrical Gremlins [chandler661] by jkaudia6

Jul 26, 2010 (11:33 am)

Replying to: chandler661 (May 05, 2010 10:39 am)
Hi, So sorry it took so long to get back to you but I was on vacation.
If you have not already taken car of your brake bleeding I would suggest going to
Erwin.com Audi America. Buy an hours worth of time and get the brake bleeding procedure and diagrams directly from them.
You need your VIN Number (Veh.ID) to correctly ID your vehicle.
They will have all the diagrams you need.
Good Luck
 
JKAudiA6

#1301 of 1404 Love Em or Hate Em, CARS COST MONEY by jkaudia6

Jul 26, 2010 (2:16 pm)

I've been doing some research since reading a number of Posts on the Audi Maintenance section, in particular about Transmission problems and ATF Oil changes.
Just a short note to some, who have, no question had some bad experiences which resulted in bashing Audi, or some other model automobile.
First let me say, that in most if not all cases, Auto Manufactures "DO NOT" manufacture all the components on vehicles which they build. Today's vehicles have literally thousands of parts the greater portion of which are build by third party companies who specialize in a particular areas. The Vehicle manufacture provides those companies with specifications or tolerances in most if not all cases. That being said, I've included links to a Company called ZF Group, a German company which builds transmission along with several other components for vehicles of different types. ZF is a world wide organization, among those, the North America Division which has Manufacturing and rebuilding plants as well as a service chain which repairs and services there products. What this means, if I read it correctly is, they are independent of Audi dealerships which means that those who drive a Audi or other vehicle with a ZF transmission or other ZF product have an option for repair. So here are the list of transmissions and vehicles for which they were build
including a list of recommended Automatic and Manual Transmission OILS (ATF)
that are recommended by ZF. Please note that within the ATF list there are recommendations as to which ATF should be used and that "Failure to use the proper ATF Fluid can very well lead to Transmission failure". Finally, that even though ZF has it's own ATF Synth Oil which extends the servicing intervals of OIL changes they still recommend ATF OIL Changes.
http://www.zf.com/na/zfXmlServlet?resultUrl=/na/content/en/north_america/corpora- te_na/products_services_na/product_overview_na/ProductContentPage.jsp&sessionAtt- ribute=xmlRoot&serviceUrl=http://appsprod01.zf.com/zf.productDataBase/service/ap- plicationLayerSelect&applicationID=12288&applicationGroupID=&productTechnicID=12- 141&productGroupID=17902&productFormID=&productTypeID=316700&languageISOCode=EN&- businessUnitShortcut=&divisionShortcut=#menuArea

Hope this helps:
Best Regards
JKAudiA6

#1302 of 1404 Late Model Reliability and Dealer Service in DC Area by aklein2

Aug 22, 2010 (10:22 am)

I was considering buying an A 6 until I started reading about their mechanical problems, at least the older models, and weak local service ( live in Northern VA). Anyone care to comment, especially answering (i) are the more recent models, say those after 2007, better and less prone to mechanical problems (as Mercedes seems to be) than the older ones, and (ii) where can exceptional Audi warranty and later service be found -- if anywhere?

#1303 of 1404 Re: Late Model Reliability and Dealer Service in DC Area [aklein2] by metalbluedog

Aug 22, 2010 (11:26 am)

Replying to: aklein2 (Aug 22, 2010 10:22 am)
i have had maby audis all 150000 pkus miles all incredably reliable but ifv you need main dealer very expensive if you can fix your own thenn they are brilluant

#1304 of 1404 Re: Late Model Reliability and Dealer Service in DC Area [aklein2] by gbosley

Aug 22, 2010 (6:31 pm)

Replying to: aklein2 (Aug 22, 2010 10:22 am)
I had a 2006 A6 4.2 Canyon Red Paint Job with 98% of all option , i loved that car the handling and performance and really gas mileage was great , And Then about a year and half into my lease i am not sure of miles but had to be in lows 20,000 miles i thinking it went south , started with fuel gauge just going from fuel level to empty , GPS freezing up the icon not moving on map as the car was traveling , so i took it in to my dealer in western part of baltimore county and thinking all issues where taken care of and few days went by when i am on belt way and it blew extreme heat out the a/c vents so hot i had to turn it off you could not touch the left side of steering wheel or turn signal , back and forth to dealer this issue not corrected i got a thermomator it was blowing 180 degrees at a snap of a finger , and then fuel gauge gps and other small stuff was happening radio would go to full volume it was having it seems a electrical melt down , finally dealer contacted audi to get a tech to come , well 45 days till that happen my car sat , i could not drive it , the customer care people must read a script i think there is no help there the customer rep for audi would not call me till it got to a very heated moment at dealer and on phone .
 i finally met him in late july or first of august 2007, this all started at end of march i think it was August till finally got audi to take the car back. truly a very difficult and stress full time which it should had not been communication was big failure for audi,
   the day that happen there was two customer in service having a melt down with service rep over there issues , and i spoke to one ask him about his car , his statement to me was this is my second A6 and it my last , when first one was a lemon i just thought no way this would happen to me two times , so i know it was not just me , and looking at all comments on here i am surprised that any one buys one , and if you do decide to step into audi market buy extended warranty , and make sure that you never leave dealership with paper work showing worked performed and always demand a loaner if it in for warranty no matter if it a quick fix
   if you ever have to call 800 customer care line start a log , date and time and who you talk to and what about
  i think the car looks great but quality for money you pay for is not there or at least when i got mine and I even sent a Constructive letter to Audi CEO in Michigan about all my troubles and lack of care i was getting from there rep he did not even have enough courtesy to even send a letter back to say TOUGH , and if dealer says that service is included get copy of what is and for how long and be sure it on there letter head and signed , I had to get Maryland Attorney General office consumer affairs involved to get a result and did . As one audi owner said to me back during my troubles welcome to world of 4 rings hell , good luck

#1305 of 1404 Re: 1995 Audi A6 Quattro [dalia1] by jkaudia6

Aug 23, 2010 (10:24 am)

Replying to: dalia1 (Jun 20, 2010 10:24 am)
Greetings Dalia1,
This may very well be to late but here goes:
The Automatic Gear shift lever release is controlled by several devices.
1. There is a sensor in the Ignition switch area ID's the Key
2a. The Ignition switch is encoded so when you put the key in the switch it knows if
its the correct key for that vehicle.
2b. The ignition key is encoded so the ignition switch can ID the Key.
3. There is another which which released the Automatic Trans gear shift lever when
items (1&2 have been done correctly.
4. In the center consoled area under the ash tray is a switch which allows you to release the gear shift should the vehicle need to be towed, for example.
Hope this helps.
jkAudiA6

#1306 of 1404 Re: Late Model Reliability and Dealer Service in DC Area [gbosley] by jkaudia6

Aug 23, 2010 (11:09 am)

Replying to: gbosley (Aug 22, 2010 6:31 pm)
Hi Gbosley,
Well your message is certainly laud and clear, in particular the portions that refer to "Customer Service and being responsive in a timely manner".
There are several lessons to be learned for all who read your comments.
a. The most important thing about any car purchased is not how fast it is, the paint color or the extras list.
b. That when you have a problem with a particular dealer or it's service department
you should make a calculated decision to find a more helpful/reliable Certified dealer service department or independent shop.
c. When all else fails, in particular when a vehicle is "a young timer" (within warranty& low mileage) do what ever it takes to get results, including the Attorney Generals office.
All of that being the case I'm particularly interested in where these vehicles are Mfg'd. I say that because although the emblem indicates "Made In Germany" I'm not so sure they are. I say this because in Germany, where I live, the independent
automotive Magazines, including ADAC (The equivalent of AAA) give Audi the highest reliability ratings. These ratings are based on Customer service feed back and confirmed service statistics for Germany.
And more to the point what is "Made in Germany" really mean. Engineered in Germany, built in the USA or Africa or Hungry or Poland??????????????
Well you get the point.
I don' t know how the fine print reads for extended warranties in the USA but in Germany it's a contract.
One year at a time
Kilometer dependent, that is as the kilometers increase on the Odometer the amount of extended warranty decreases;ie, 100%/90%/80%.................
It is a limited Guarantee based on Kilometers and length of ownership but transferable within that time period.
It is service dependent in that owners service booklet must reflect the Mfg's recommended servicing.
In general it only covers major components:
Drive train excluding normal wear items: (Brake pads, rotors, mufflers,etc.)
Electrical and electronics.
Finally I would simple tell you that when I had a BMW the rules of the game were
about the same, and I suspect that most every Vehicle Mfg. will have similar rules.
There is an old saying in the Sales profession:
"Sell the sizzle not the steak"
or in the words of Kenny Rogers (The country Western singer):
"You gotta know when to hold'em and know when to fold'em".
Hope your in a better position now than when you purchased you last one.
Best regards
jkAudiA6

#1307 of 1404 Catalytic converter Failer by willie94

Aug 25, 2010 (6:34 pm)

willie94 My right catalytic converter now failed in my audi A6 2003 AVK 3.0 After I had 6 ignition coil replaced Thur recall due to 1 ignition coil went bad. Also cam position sensor went out well as my mass air flow exchange the change over barrel broken between Actuator mechanism and timing belt change. In all 3,155.07. I had letter from Audi Oct 09 said not to bring the car in unless the check engine light came on <(MIL-Malfunction Indicator Lamp will illuminate then let us know)=from Audi letter.. This check engine light came on in August 2010, one coil failed, and also my car was shaking so badly too. That's when I got this fixed and now right Catalytic converters has fail.

#1308 of 1404 Re: Catalytic converter Failer [willie94] by jkaudia6

Aug 27, 2010 (3:08 am)

Replying to: willie94 (Aug 25, 2010 6:34 pm)
Hi Willie94:
Are you the original owner of this vehicle???
If it's a diesel engine and depending on the model (Vehicle year) the catalytic converters in earlier models were not self cleaning;ie, they got dirty after a number of years then have to be replaced. This has since been changed, in that, catalytic converters are now self cleaning. OK.
If it's a Gasoline engine, then what kind of motor oil are you using?
See an earlier post of mine with a link to a PDF showing all approved motor oils for Audi/VW.
I don't mean the brand, I mean, Mineral based or Synthetic? VW/Audi has recommended Motor Oil standards and they should be followed. In particular Mineral based motor oils leave deposits on the "Lumda Sonda" sensor which is usually located in the catalytic converter. Check your owners manual or the Audi Web page for recommendations. Another options would be "The Car Bible" web page http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html#blackdeath.
I don't know what kind of Cam Positioning Device your Audi has but in my previous BMW it was an electronic devise with no moving parts. If it went bad it would seem to me that your engine would have been trashed as all the timing factors related to Valve and piston timing would be non functional.
As for the Air Flow meter meter, I've read information, again on the Car Bible, that spraying cleaner fluids, to remove dust, for exampled will level deposits on the hair fine wire causing it to give incorrect readings. Of course the control device for that unit is electronic as well.
I'm not familiar with the abreviation "AVK" but if it' means a rebuild engine, who did the work????
JKAudiA6

#1309 of 1404 Re: Catalytic converter Failer [jkaudia6] by bigdadi118

Oct 30, 2010 (7:19 pm)

Replying to: jkaudia6 (Aug 27, 2010 3:08 am)
Re I'm not familiar with the abreviation "AVK" but if it' means a rebuild engine, who did the work????
AVK is Engine Code
 
CAT Converter has mandatory waranty of 8 years / 80,000 mi ... Audi has to replace it for free if within that.
 
For reference : Mini-Cat-Cel-Fix
 
There is MAF sensor cleaner made by CRC ... I saw my local PepBoy carries it.

Messages Page 131 of 141

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