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Comments
It broke down completely on the 2nd day - the dealership kept it the garage for a few day because they had no clue what went wrong - had to call their tech line - finally they recognized that the ignition coil needed to to be replaced.
Fine, the car was repaired.
4 days later, one of the key remotes stopped working on occasions - the dealership's only solution was to reset the electrical system.
Couple of days after that, the same key stopped working completely - the dealership suggested that apparently two people were using both key remotes at the same time and were too close and the system locked itself - that's ridiculous, and "two people" were not using both key remotes at the same time. So, the dealership asked to bring the car again because maybe there needs to be a part replaced in the remote. Here goes my 3rd visit at the garage - just to find out that they don't have the part and have to get it from Germany, so I had to bring my car again when the part arrived. That was my 4th visit.
Ok, the key remote was finally repaired.
But, that's not everything. A couple of weeks after, I started to feel a very abrupt and harsh change of gears (automatic transmission) when slowing down or coming to a stop. At first it would happen once/twice a day, and within a week it started to happen with every slowing down and with every stop. It was so harsh that it was even felt in a passanger seat.
Slowly I was running out of patience. It was time for yet another visit at the dealership.
Meanwhile, when driving with the sunroof open, all of a sudden the sunroof started to close and stopped half way. This happened only once - the dealership didn't know what the problem was but they had a brilliant solution - as always - resetting the electrical system!
Back to the transmission problem - on one hand the mechanic denied feeling/hearing any noise, but on the other he said that the shifting down was abit harsh plus his computer showed something faulty in the transmission. The solution? Of course, resetting the electrical system. Fine. It resolved the the problem for about 2 weeks. Now, I was into my 6th visit at the garage because the "harsh shifting" started to reappear. It started gently, so I was not able to guarantee that the problem will be duplicated when I take my car in. I told that to the mechanic, and he almost went out of control, yelling "What do you want me to do? How can I fix the problem if you don't show me what the problem is!". It was a bit offensive, but I am patient (perhpas too much). This time his computer did not show any problems, so I asked him to phone his tech line and find out if they heard about a smilar case and to find out how to fix it. He said he would do that and phoned me back - have not heard from him since.
A couple of days after that visit, I was driving and had to come to a stop, and all of a sudden there was this big thump in the transmission. It happened once, twice and after the third time and simply turned back and headed for the dealership (coincidentally it was nearby). They were about to close for the day, all mechanics were gone, but luckily one of the customer service guys was able to go for a ride with me and experience the noise. It was not as harsh as a half an hour before but were were able to experience it twice during a short drive. So, now I will be bringing my car for service for the 8th time, and it has been only 3 months since I bought it.
Audi customer advocates and even customer reps from Germany, both of whom I contected don't give a damn about my problems. All I hear is "We are sorry" (pg. 1 of the customer service manual), "We are very, very sorry" (pg. 2 of the customer service manual), "We apologize for the inconvenience" (pg. 3 of the customer service manual). I'm sick of hearing the word "sorry"!
So, my recommendation for everyone out there would be: DO NOT BUY AUDI!
It was my first and last Audi purchase and I have become a walking anti-Audi advertisment. Noone will hear anything positive from me about this brand ever!
Best of luck,
Byron
Now my wife was driving home and the key wouldn't come out of the iginition. Has anyone had this problem or know how to correct it?
http://www.autoshoppingcenter.com/servicelights/Audi.html
I think i have the same problem with my 1997 Audi a4 1.9 TDI some times the power it cuts in half it goes until 4000 rpm i think its a electrionical problem when i turn off the engine and start again it works just fine if you have the same problem and you solvet it please let me know.
Ylli
I have a 2001 A4 and my timing belt failed while driving earlier this summer. I checked my manual, and similar to older models, it states that the timing belt does not need maintenance or attention until 105,000 miles. My timing belt failed WELL before 105,000 miles. Because of this, I am wondering if additional years have been added to the class action lawsuit (97- 99)? I called A of A last month and received NO help.
Any help or information on this would be greatly appreciated as I am still roughly 6k in the hole!!!!
Thanks!
Anyway, it took me about an hour and a half just to get to the battery, as there are several trim pieces that interlock with each other above the battery that you have to carefully remove. I also had to remove the windshield wiper arm to get the last trim piece off. You need to unscrew a few fasteners and then very carefully pull the trim pieces apart from each other and the gasket like seal they have at the firewall. I took it very slow so I wouldn't break one of the parts and eventually I was able to get all the pieces out that I needed to in order to put my hands on the battery.
After I finally got the battery out I went to Autozone because I called them and they said they carried a replacement battery. Fortunately I took the old battery with me because the battery they said would work would NOT have fit in the compartment that the battery sits in. I ended up driving to numerous auto parts stores until I found a battery at an O'Reillys that was close enough to fit in the compartment. It is actually a little bit smaller than the original but could be clamped down adequately by the original clamp. It was a higher amp battery than the original and so far has worked fine and not bounced loose.
It took me another hour and a half or so to install the new battery and replace all the stupid dash parts that cover it up. Definitely NOT the place to put a NON Maintenance-Free battery if you ask me. I had never thought to check the water level of the battery because I just couldn't imagine them placing one in such an inaccessable space that would require service. I couldn't believe that they still made non maintenance free batteries anymore. Anyway, that was all my fault since I should have known that the battery wasn't a maint-free battery.
I would recommend that you just go very slow and have an "assistant" available to help you because there are a few parts that require more than two hands to get to and the battery is pretty heavy. Patience and a slow pace should keep you from breaking any of those expensive parts that are covering the access to your battery.
Audi certainly didn't design this vehicle to be service easily by the backyard mechanic that is for sure. If your car is still under the warranty I would let the dealer do this work, it was a fairly involved process for what should be a fairly simple task.
Good luck.
Secondly, they told me that the air bag light was always on because of high resistance electrical failure and the cost to replace the bag is $750.
Frankly, I don't trust the dealership - A 4 yr old car with 37000 milies - These expenses should be covered by the manufacturer.
Your thoughts?
Any thoughts on whether this is a systemic problem for this model ? Any suggestions on how to reduce this problem?
My mechanic (don't trust the dealer's) said the replacement unit is approx. $900 and another $200-300 for labor to fix it.
I looked online and there's a few places that will rebuild the Bosch ABS unit that is used.
Here's the information I found online, checkout autoecu.com
I'm not endorsing or recommending them in anyways. Hope this helps.
I don't know them, haven't used them yet, but will most likely and follow up here with my experience.
Have you had any other problems with your Audi A4 1.8T 2001? I have on another occasion had the bottom portion of my engine rebuilt because of oil on the spark plugs. My Audi also eats light bulbs like there's no tomorrow. Two interior door handles broke and two broken motors for the electric windows.
Thanks for any feedback.
Drowning in debt also..... :lemon:
You could not pay me a million dollars to own another audi of any model I have a 2001 A4 1.8T with two payments left and 83,000mi. I have had quite a number of problems with this $35,000 car and wish for nobody else to go thru what I have. I am now looking at paying $6,200 for a new engine because of civil action lawsuit for timing belt and I was never notified of this by the dealer. :lemon:
Daget
On 8/24/05 timing belt went out on my Audi A4 2001 1.8T. Only has 83,00 miles and has been in for every 10,000 mile check up and then some. I have two payments left till I own the P.O.S. (piece of [non-permissible content removed]). Now I have to pay $6,200 for a rebuilt engine due to the timing belt breaking. Four weeks ago service person recommended that I have the timing belt replaced at my next visit (I still had 7,000 miles to go). My question being now is there anybody out there that knows the lawyer that won the civil action case against Audi and perhaps a number where this person may be reached. I would like to know if I have a chance to recoupe what I have lost, or the terms and agreements made while settleing the class action lawsuit. :lemon:
Many thanks to anyone who can help.
Apparently the 'coolant temperature sensor' costing £27 Sterling had a fault but was now showing as working OK and the light reset. It may have just been a loose plug on the switch but nevertheless I am having the sensor changed because at £75 for the fault diagnosis I cannot afford for it to keep happening.
Much more of this contrived robbery and the A4 will go!
I got a 2005+ Audi A4 manual. I really wanna keep it in good condition. And from the previous Msgs someone said that did an interim change with Audi approved Mobile01 oil (change by using oil extractor ourselfves) will get a good result. Does anyone do that and have a good result without violating the service agreement?
and how to avoid the sludge problem? is it related to the gas you pump or any driving habit??
Thank you very much
The process is very simple and clean and I get out about 3.5 quarts of the oil using this method.
JR
You know, what people seem to not note is that while Audi says to change the oil every 10k, they mention that the interval should be more frequent if the car is driven short distances, in freezing weather, or dusty environments. Imagine that :P .
Byron ('06 A4Q manual, sports, ect)
so do I have to buy the European spec oil of Mobile01? what's the difference if it is not European spec??
And now I'm just in my break in period.. and the first oil change will be 5000mile. Do I have to change oil myself before 5000mile??(like at 2000 OR 3000 miles)
besides, you said that you change 3.5quarts yourself. but isn't that the total oil changed will be like around 6.5 quarts? so you just change part of it? is there any reasons?
sorry for my stupid question.. Thanks again for the answer