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Audi A6 Maintenance and Repair

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Comments

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Get an attorney. Jiffy Lube may very well be responsible if you have some credible evidence, such as repair order, the old filter, etc.
  • kirby2010kirby2010 Member Posts: 136
    I took the Audi in this week for its 90K service (2001 2.7T w/6-speed). The car runs like a top. I was thinking I'd drive another 90K since there really isn't much in it's class to choose from - especially with a manual. Then I saw the A5/S5. I can hardly wait until November.

    Anyway, for those of you thinking about a 2001 or so I have to tell you that I have been pretty pleased. I bought it new February of 2001 and have had it in for service every 5000 miles for oil and tire rotation.
  • pcodeonepcodeone Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2002 A6 3.0 with 54000 miles. When I turn the ac on it makes a whining noise that seems to increase with the speed of the car until i get to a certain speed. When I get to higher speeds (40mph +). It only makes the noise when you are moving and It only does it in the auto mode. When i switch it to the economy mode the sound goes away but of course in the economy mode there is not much cool air coming out. Can anyone help?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    sounds like the AC belt, when engaged is putting tension either on the compressor or on some idler pulley upon which the AC belt revolves. So I'd guess you have a noisy idler pulley bearing or AC compessor pulley bearing. Going on economy disengages the AC clutch and therefore the belt has no tension or pull on it, and this relaxes the noisy bearing.

    Just a guess but it makes sense.
  • dpelldpell Member Posts: 3
    Just bought a used 2001 A6 Avant with 78,000 miles. The interior and exterior are like new and it has 4 new tires, battery, drive belts, and brakes. One problem I'm having is that when I get to 55-60 mph there is a slight vibration which feels like it's coming from the front end. The dealership which put the new tires on balanced them twice and said there should be no further problems but the vibration is still present. Could this be an alignment issue or a front end problem or even need to be balanced again? Also, when does the timing belt need to be changed and what is the average cost of doing the job. The engine is very smooth and quiet, how will I know it's time?
  • bcurrierbcurrier Member Posts: 1
    Hi Im a college student who has a 2 hour drive to school and a 1 hour round trip to work every day in the summer. The cars Im looking at both have around 100,000 miles on them, are for a good price, but from the repair costs I am seeing it looks as though all of my money earned in the summer would have to go towards repair costs should these cars break down. I realize this thread is attracting those specifically who have had problems with the car, but exactly how likely is it the car will break down?? please help me I have to start work soon and the car I am using for trade in cannot afford too many more miles.
  • liferulesliferules Member Posts: 531
    I don't think anyone can tell you the likelihood of either car breaking down, as there is no way to predict this.

    Common sense dictates that the older car may be more likely to have worn out parts than the one 3 years younger. If the younger car was mainly driven highway miles, then the high mileage may not be as "rough" on the engine. Some say turbo's break more than nonturbo cars, but the 2.7T has had all the kinks taken out over the last many years, so it is pretty reliable.

    If you really want something that won't break, then get a Honda or Lexus, as they have statistically lower rates of breaking down than the Audi's in the time period you are looking at. Unfortunately, with those miles, neither car will qualify for extended warranties from anywhere.

    OTOH, the Audi's are just more fun to drive and look so nice. My preference is the 2.7 as it is a very fast engine.

    Good luck with your decision.
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    When turning at a slow speed with the steering at or near full lock, 2005 A6 3.2 with quattro makes a grinding noise, and a bad vibration is felt throughout the vehicle. New tires did not help the problem, as the dealer thought (needed em anyway).

    I'm suspecting an issue with the front differential or hub assemblies out near the wheels, but haven't heard anything about that. I would suspect the steering pump, but it happens when the car is moving, not when it is sitting still.

    Any ideas? Dealer is stumped and vehicle owner is getting rather miffed about this vehicle.

    -Paul
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Do you feel this vibration in your hands, through the steering wheel?

    Can you increase or decrease the vibration slightly by small adjustments in the steering wheel (turning slightly one way or the other?)

    If yes to one or both, I'd say steering pump.

    If no, then possibly it is a front diff issue after all, if the tire clearances and stops have been checked and if there is no interference with body cladding, shields, etc.
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    Feel it through my butt, hands, back... the whole car vibrates.

    Can increase or decrease the vibes not by turning, but by changing speed (like from 5 MPH to 2 MPH). There is a sharp turn into the garage for parking at the house and when it is cranked to turn, it starts to shake. I'll have to check and see if it does it sitting still (honestly never thought to have him try it, but never noticed it at that time).

    Tires/wheels, etc are all stock, so they shouldn't be rubbing. Checking the stops may be something I can have him do, once I know where to look for the stops. :)

    -Paul
  • loyalloyal Member Posts: 1
    Beware Audi 1999 A6 Owners: On May 2nd My Car Was Scheudled For Service. I Indicated To The Audi Service Department That My Car Had A Very Strong Penetrating Sulfur Smell Coming From The Inside W/wo The Ac On. I Received The Car Back On May 9th. A Week Later On May 16 The Car Caught Fire While Driving And I Barely Made It Out Of The Car. I Watched The Car Burn Completely. Some Days Later I Found Out That There Was A Recall Initiated In July 2004. The Service Department For Audi Missed The Recall. I Had Never Taken The Car Anywhere Else Since It Was Purchased. How Could This Have Happened? In Good Faith I Contacted Audi Regarding This Matter And Requsted A Replacement Of My Vehcile. A Fair Request For Having Put My Life In Danger. At First, They Stated They Had Performed The Recall. After Further Review They Accepted The Liability. My Life Was Placed In Danger Due To Audi's Negligence. The Way This Has Been Handled Is Unprofessional And Completely Unacceptable. I've Advised All My Friends And Families Of Audi's Bad Business Practice. They Are In Shock Over This. I Have Been An Advocate Of Audi Now For Almost Eight Years But After This Its Clear That The Manufacturer And Its Agents That Handles These Type Of Situations Are Conducting Bad Business Ethics. Please Be Aware Of All Recalls In Particular To Those That Have To Do With The Electrical System. This Is A True Story. I Tried To Resolve This With Audi Directly But Unfortunately It Has Come To Taking This To The Next Level. I warn all Audi drivers to review the recalls for the Audi 1999 A6. I was a loyal and dedicated Audi owner who serviced the car three-four times a year since I purchased back in 1999. The way this situation was handled has made it very difficult for me to consider another Audi.
  • g8summitg8summit Member Posts: 1
    My dealer has a bunch of idiot who can't figure out how to fix the problems with my smart/advanced key. It will no longer work to do anything, be it unlock doors or start the engine. I can't even get the remote buttons to work. The dealer refuses to replace my key. I figure the key must be dead or something. Anyone know how to replace the battery inside the key? :cry:
  • tbessmantbessman Member Posts: 2
    I have a 1997 A6 quattro. The front passenger window has started to lower randomly on its own. It may go down an inch or all the way down. Sometimes you can't roll it up. Is there a common cause for this issue?
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    Pop it open, install new battery. You can get the battery nearly anywhere (typical CR2025 battery IIRC).

    If you have MMI, you may want to have them check the code. My neighbor had a similar problem and they reflashed his MMI and did something to it. But his battery died about 5 months later. He asked me to change it.

    -Paul
  • tbessmantbessman Member Posts: 2
    I have a 97 a6 quattro. I bought it at a reasonable price but have put a considerable amount into it. Front CV joints, rear brakes, new brake lines at the wheels.... every time I take it to the Audi dealer they want to do something to it. the last time they wanted to flush the brake system. All repairs are expensive. Be cautious.
  • ezhfjsezhfjs Member Posts: 1
    If I were to do it again, I would not buy an Audi. After 31k miles the transmission on my A6 went (believe me that is an expensive repair). Many of the above posters who are experiencing vibrating and/or shudders, beware as that is the warning signal I first experienced before it deteriorated to this. I repeatedly brought it to the dealer and they never could find anything, until my car was out of warranty, of course. I regularly service my Audi and treat it like a baby. I would never buy such a poorly made and expensive car again. :mad:
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    Can you elaborate on the shuddering/vibration? Was this straight line or did it occur when turning?

    -Paul
  • liferulesliferules Member Posts: 531
    That's wild! Your transmission failed at 31,000 miles?! And it was out of warranty? That means it was driven very little over the 4 years of warranty (less than 7700 miles/year).

    If this is true, I would certainly talk to AOA about this and see if an audi specialist can help you. If you have documentation of bringing it in for problems that eventually were found to be the transmission, they would have no recourse but to pay for the new transmission.

    As I said, this is incredibly odd to have the transmission fail at 31,000 miles, and your car certainly is an anomaly to the standard quality of the brand.
  • petroniopetronio Member Posts: 18
    I own a 1997 A6 quattro with 115k miles. It's been sitting in my garage since last April and the battery has died. I can install the new battery but the radio will be in SAFE mode. I don't have the radio car with the code. Is there any way to reset the radio without going back to a dealer? There is no Audi dealer anywhere near Poughkeepsie. Last time I needed an Audi dealer I went to the one in Manhattan and they ripped me off big time.

    Thanks,
    Mike P.
  • liferulesliferules Member Posts: 531
    If I remember correctly, you just need to know the radio code to enter to get it out of safe mode. It was given to me when I bought my car and I put it in the owner's manual.
  • dneumetdneumet Member Posts: 2
    I brought my car to the dealer because after counting down miles the SERVICE! indicator came on. This indicator is never correct but I wanted the message to go away. The dealer confirmed that I wasn't due for service for another 5K miles so he said that the indicator would be reset. After the "service" I made a couple of short trips and the SERVICE! indicator came back on. I called the service advisor and he said that since I was more than half-way to needing service, this is perfectly normal. In other words, my car will need service in 5 months (at the rate I drive) so I'm reminded of this practically every time I put the car into Drive. I called Audi customer service and the rep there concurred with this. I'll mark it on my calendar for December. Wait, the lease is up in December. UGH.
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    If you have kept all your service records , and it is on those records about your complaint i would contact consumer complaint at Attorney General office in your state , I am in a battle my self with my A6 that still in waranty and i think i be soon going to mediation with Audi and Attorney General to get it straight , Tell you how Stupid and Cockey Audi USA is they have not responded to Attorney General , Gee i hope when they get that notice to report to court they don't show either , sad I wish you luck keep your cool keep all notes and times and names you talk to , even any bad comments or smart [non-permissible content removed] remarks
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    I am going through the samething with my 06 A6 , i have so many electrical glitches that it is no longer safe to go any further then a taxi ride back home because i fear it to just start to smoke and burn up , Dealer has reset that light so many times make sure each time it done you get a service paper on it and don't let them bull [non-permissible content removed] you that no paper generated
  • bossfiftybossfifty Member Posts: 3
    If you need some support on this, contact me.
    AUDI USA should be banned from being able to do business in this country.

    They do not support their customer and, worse yet, treat their dealer network not much better.

    They have "bob and weave", "ooooh I love a side step" , "not my problem" and "tell someone who cares" down to a science.

    They knowingly outfitted certain production of the 03 A6 4.2 Quattro with 16 inch wheels and tires (carry over from an A4 design) that did not have the ride capability, steering control and wear characteristics necessary to support the weight of that vehicle. They quietly switched to 17" in a running change that year and have denied that there was ever a problem.
    Result for consumer is constant rotation of tires every 3000 miles, redoing alignment every 10,000 and STILL have the tires "cup" and "rumble" about 8-10,000 miles and be worn out at 15,000.
    I will be dumping this PIG before warranty expires.
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    I have a 2006 A 6 with a 4.2 it is fully loaded maybe that the issue , my electrical nightmare has been on going since week 2 of taking delivery , it been everything from Keyless start , Adaptive Cruise Control , GPS freeze up or just go black for second or so , gas gauge just drop to empty sometimes it return back to where it was or half way or just stay on empty , my dealer i think has tried everything for me and i do believe that this car is melting down reason for that is my a/c just started to blow extreme hot temp , out of drivers far left vent and the passenger rear vent , at first it was 110 degrees but after several try with he help of Audi Technical help on the phone they succeeded in bringing it up to 180 degrees , it took month plus to get Audi Field tech in to look at it and possibly repair this nightmare , All of the above problems have been back to Audi Dealer no less then 3 times for repair and the heat -a/c took 4 times , I have spoke to every advocate at Audi , it took 65 days to finally get the audi rep to call me it took week and half after that to sit down with him , i can't tell you any more on that because nothing was settle yet but i will advise you all this If you buy any car and it has any service done keep every piece of paper i did and also do not let any dealer say no paper work required they are covering up something , you need paper mine said they send it i never got it so i went back i have 2 pieces of paper that shows that my repair order was some how deleted and that this shows it and states there mistakes i let 5 other times on my keyless start and gps happen and no paper but i made some of my own notes so i am sure if i get to the point we go to mediation i got everything i need , but beware if your audi blows this hot air there is no slow build up it instant , I told the rep the only good part on my a/6 is the shell , everything under it is going bad , :sick: , i have had my car 23 months it has been to garage 22 times and friday aug 3 with my meeting with audi rep made it 23 trips so it every month plus my car been down over 120 days most of that this year but you spread it out 5 days a month my car is at the baby sitter Audi Garage , so i pay a lease to have it parked at Audi , i am thankfull for the loaners i have them all but there abused cars and dirty from other customers that are so mad there car is down again , Any one that reads this and can tell me what they think of lexus let me know , I have to agree with some of the Others DON"T BUY AUDI , German are still made they lost the war it there way of getting back .Bad joke but you have to laugh
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    i am with you on not allowing them to sell a car , i just have never in 35 years of buy cars every few years had such a experience , i had problem cars but nothing like this and to call there advocates customer care i finally ask them to never connect me to one woman she must be a kinder garden teacher to be talk to like i am in her school room and explaining chain of command and i have to be patient , i told the audi rep yesterday just this issue alone has been 100 days 4 trip in to shop and i would drive my car between 200-500 miles before it blow burning flesh heat out of vent and i park it till they could get me in , and i ask for things i will not say here what for now but more i read i hope they say no becuase i am going up a notch going to mediation , this audi rep said mediation is really more on automakers side i laugh at him , i can not believe you just said that would you write that down , his response no , :lemon:
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    i am not sure you even get this message but here goes , have they fix your gas gauge yet , mine is on number 6 and talk about lease and driving loaner , i am into my 23 month of my 36 month lease i have been to the shop 23 times and this week will be 24 to get that gas gauge look at again and also to have them check my key because they just replace that month ago and friday aug 3 2007 i just left audi garage after a talk with a audi rep , and that is job to have do nothing and get a check , any how i was almost home and my gauge drop to empty and then my key low batter lite came on , it allllllllll new , any how going to make my 24th visit next week and i have to return my phone call to maryland attorney general office monday they want to know how my meeting went , so did you ever get your trouble fix , and what else has happen like to hear :sick:
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    as i mention on last post about fuel gauge not working right and low battery light comes on for the keys , today the GPS started it old tricks it would do a blink a black screen just in blink of eye how it draws your attention it like going from day to night mode and back , i was almost home tonight listening to my x m and lost sound , thinking i may have bump something i turn the radio on and off and start and restart car and hit every possible control that may have something to do with it , I had to head to audi dealer so that i could get salesman to verify it so just in case tomorrow it works so i just parked it there and my lady friend came pick me up in her lexus and she said i tryed to tell you don't buy german :sick:
  • kgarykgary Member Posts: 180
    Gabby,

    The broken English bit is getting old. In addition, we understand that you don't like your Audi. Have you thought about changing the battery in your key fob? Maybe you should trade the Audi in for a new car.
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    sorry kgary ,just that frustration level runs so high , battery been change , key been change, every thing that it been in for has been changed not once but a minum of 3 times except for sound issue that brand new , been in talk to audi rep , he not in any capacity to make decsion apparently , and i am told to wait , i loved my car when i got it ,
  • jeqqjeqq Member Posts: 221
    Gabby, years ago I had an Audi lemon. What I learned from my experience was to go to the (BBB) Better Business Bureau and follow their instruction to the letter and file a claim. All other attempts to resolve with Audi were a waste of time. Audi will and must respond to a BBB hearing. Read your state's lemon law, it can be found on the web. Most states have BBB solutions, hopefully yours does too. Your other recourse is to hire a good lemon lawyer and stay away from the ones that work on a contingency basis.
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    Thank You jegg for your advice , greatly appreciate that , i have contacted maryland attorney general office when going in for 180 degree temps out vent for 4th time , not to be annoying many of readers here audi recieved there letter from a/g office and as of yesterday no response back to them so it been over 3 weeks and as i told them it took 65 days to get a call thanks for the heads up on the lawyer , i truly do think i just got a bad one and for some reason somewhere in middle of management there a road block , thanks
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    thank you jeqq for the link , so sad that you need a law like that to help people to recover money from a company that has not lived up to what it promised , nothing is perfect most things can be fix and then there a few just need to be scraped ,
  • jeqqjeqq Member Posts: 221
    Gabby, reality is: I think most of the auto makers react the same when it comes to lemons and that's why individual states enacted lemon laws. Don't waste time, there are time and mileage restrictions; read the law and file your claim. Good luck to you, hope all goes well. Let us know the outcome.
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    Thank you jeqq , i am in a meeting tomorrow with attorneys i was given a offer and when i called them and fax the offer they laugh , said to come in i know this firm i am a driver for a sedan service and he gave me his card few months ago he use me as a tax deduction i let you know
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    also jeqq i have a mediator at a/g office i will be talking to him also thanks
  • zorozoro Member Posts: 5
    I totally agree !! I just filed suit against Audi for my 2005 A6 after months of trying to get audi to do the right thing. My car has been in the shop over 60 days for problems with the engine, fuel system, etc. I used the lemon law in my state to try to get some action but the lawyer for Audi is just an idiot - even the dealership told her to give me a new car. On two occassions they had to fly in a technician from Audi to figure out the problem. This is my third Audi - the other two I had no issues with - once this is settled it looks like Audi will be losing yet another customer. I just want the attorney fired.
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    I wonder if we all could get some sort of a Class Action Suit against Audi ,I bet that when that 800 # would appear on TV against Audi that might even get Mr Nysschen the Exec VP looking into the ranks below him , Try and send a letter to him Mt Nysschen i believe it was intercepted by advocates , I can not imagine a Dealer that had multiples dealer ship even taking on a Audi dealership since they put there good name on the building with a company that requires the dealers 100% performance but Corporate won't even give any customer care ,
  • jeqqjeqq Member Posts: 221
    I think all the car manufacturers play the same game. If this is of any consolation to you, I too had a lemon but I still leased two others after that. They were great cars with minimal problemas. You guys picked the wrong straws.
  • splicemensplicemen Member Posts: 1
    When I use the turn signal, the hazard lights come on??? All the bulbs are working, I have no idea why this is happening. Anybody else have this prolem?
  • raaizin1raaizin1 Member Posts: 1
    Can someone who has a 2007 A6 3.2 tell me what the oil capacity is if the filter is changed. I didnt get a owners manual. A 2006 & 2005 model year should be the same.
  • dneumetdneumet Member Posts: 2
    I've had all of this with my 2006 A6 3.2. The fuel gauge problem (for me) went away after Audi changed a sensor. For the low battey in the key fob I made an appointment and the service advisor directed me to purchase a battery from the parts department; he would install. The parts guy dropped a battery on the counter that I stock in my office (we're computer guys) that costs me around a buck. Audi charged me $ 8+ for it, but I decided to proceed since the advisor said that he would install it. He may have changed the battery, but a week or so later the "CHANGE KEY BATTERY" indicator came on again. Car goes back in December so I'm ignoring this. My MMI goes blank once in a great while...maybe 4 or 5 times over the last 30 months. It goes into a reset and comes back. Disconcerting but I've accepted it as "just one of those things."
  • zorozoro Member Posts: 5
    I have 9 months left on my lease for my 2005 A6. the engine still sputters at times when taking off from a dead stop when in auto transmission mode - very frustrating. next year is suppose to be new redesign year for the A6. Depending on how my law suite ends up against VW/Audi I doubt I will get another one. After 10 years of driving Audi it may be time to switch to a different brand..
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    when i drop my Lemon A6 off first of this month , there was a gentleman there saying he counting the days till his A6 is gone and all his trouble if you deal in owingsmills md we have met , I wish you luck , I think that German not only destroy there customer base but also destroy the dealership customer base , I am working on a card to slip under windshield of Audi owners warning them to be sure they have all there paper work and never ever go home without a loaner and if no loaner is available make sure it is written on service paper sign by management ,
  • bdkinnhbdkinnh Member Posts: 292
    >"I am working on a card to slip under windshield of Audi owners"

    I hope you're kidding about that. If you're not, you'd better stay the hell away from my car.

    I'm sorry you've had a bad experience with your car, but man - let it go. I'm in the process of Lemoning a Lexus, and I'm not even 1/10th as bitter as you. I'm sure you've been through a lot, as I have, but once my experience is over I'm not going to troll Lexus message boards and trash talk Lexus.

    Also, if you're expecting perfection from everyone, you should look into using more punctuation; it really makes things easier to read.
  • cerealcereal Member Posts: 1
    Hello Gabby10

    I am experiencing the same A/C blowing (extremely) hot air problem.

    Service at dealership states they have never heard of this problem before (sure?).

    Can you tell me if you have made any progress on having the problem resolved or Audi America accepting any sort of responsibility?

    Thanks,
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    have your service manager contact Stoler Audi in owings mills md , talk to service manager there , i think it is a rare issue but they finally sent in a field tech to work on it even if it did take 45 days to get that tech in , there was so many other issues with my car that when i look at my paper work it just would be easier for the two garages to talk , i had a 06 A6 canyon red , I think possibly the a/c issue was taken care of but i was able to get out of my lease so once i got my a6 back , i parked it till i had a meeting with audi rep which took over 65 days to get that to happen from may to july, and on that same day i had that meeting going home i had fuel gauge to fail again , gps to freeze up , and go dark and back on , low battery light on key phob which was new , then by time i was taking it back to garage to have it look at I lost sound system also ,so that week a deal was struck , I can only encourage everyone never leave shop with out paper work , keep all your records , and if your entitle to a loaner car get it , I don't think Audi USA will accept any responsibility or show any Care . Good Luck have you had any other electrical issues just curious
  • credcred Member Posts: 3
    My 2003 A6 was feeling soft around corners and over bumps so I had my dealer look into it during a recent oil change. He said that 1 of the 3 motor mounts was 'blown' and needed to be replaced. My A6 has only 40K miles on it and is in tip top shape otherwise. Is this a common problem on a car only 4 years old with 40K miles? I plan to call Audi to see if they will give me relief on this since it's only been out of warranty for 9 months. Thanks!
  • gabby10gabby10 Member Posts: 32
    just seeing if you had any luck with your a/c issue
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