Lots Of Faults

[marf]

hey all, one of my first posts so excuse me for banging on but here it goes.

first of all after much hard work and saving i finally bought my first A8 back in december. i wanted specifically the D3 4.2TDI Sport in black. i found one 200 miles awway in coventry and lapped it up for £26.000.

right now, after a few weeks driving i started to colate a list of faults that i clearly was unhappy with and wouldnt expect from a 3 year old car, heres the list :-

rear lights led's blown
boot release not working intermitant and auto open sluggish
rear windscreen demist and radio interferance
rear brake pads low (flashed up on way home)
o/s rear door release not working
oil leak
oil burning on exhaust smell (after a faster drive)
o/s headlight washer stuck out
The Steering keeps going heavy on some turns
There appears to be a coolant smell vapour coming from the undershield area on occasion.
Key not in vehicle keeps flashing on the dash even when the key is next to me (fitted new remote battery and no change).
The radio will not hold a station and keeps losing signal (NO AF)
Satnav keeps freezing and resets
Headlights condensation
Gearbox thumps
mirror fold in dosent work
MMI dosent always pop up (have to reset)
Accelerator hessitates and also feels like it sticks


plus this list of fault codes from VCDS





00956 - Key 2

002 - Lower Limit Exceeded

00668 - Supply Voltage Terminal 30

002 - Lower Limit Exceeded – Intermittent

01964 - Control Module for Seat & Steering Column Memory (J136)

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

00065 - Left Rear Footwell Heater (Z42)

012 - Electrical Fault in Circuit - Intermittent

01854 - Heated Seat; Right Front (Z46)

011 - Open Circuit - Intermittent

01856 - Temperature Sensor for Heated Seat; Right Front (G345)

010 - Open or Short to Plus - Intermittent

Tuesday,21,December,2010,17:34:48:50666

VCDS Version: Release 10.6.3 (x64)



Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 4E0-910-279.lbl

Control Module Part Number: 4E0 910 279 Q HW: 4E2 955 113 C

Component and/or Version: ILM Fahrer H15 0230

Software Coding: 0143121

Work Shop Code: WSC 02313 785 00200

Additional Info: 4E2910113C Wischer WWS D3 H60 0440 4E0910557A REGENLICHTSENSORH13 0090

VCID: 3669D4C138C1

2 Faults Found:



01520 - Rain and Light Recognition Sensor (G397)

002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent

00908 - Control Module for Wiper Motor

002 - Lower Limit Exceeded – Intermittent



00664 - Fuel gauge

002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent

01406 - No Flame



01964 - Control Module for Seat & Steering Column Memory (J136)

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent



01333 - Door Control Module; Rear Left (J388)

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent



Tuesday,21,December,2010,17:36:33:50666

VCDS Version: Release 10.6.3 (x64)



Address 34: Level Control Labels: 4E0-910-553.lbl

Control Module Part Number: 4E0 910 553 J HW: 4E0 907 553 F

Component and/or Version: LUFTFDR.-CDC H06 6310

Software Coding: 0015510

Work Shop Code: WSC 02313 785 00200

VCID: 2A51F0B1FC79

1 Fault Found:



01398 - Signal Conductor for Central Locking; Doors Open

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent



01299 - Diagnostic Interface for Data Bus (J533)

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

02268 - Switch to Deploy Display Unit

007 - Short to Ground - Intermittent



02272 - Quiescent Current Stage 1

000 - - - Intermittent



02273 - Quiescent Current Stage 2

000 - - - Intermittent



02276 - Quiescent Current Stage 5

000 - - - Intermittent



02274 - Quiescent Current Stage 3

000 - - - Intermittent


02277 - Quiescent Current Stage 6

000 - - - Intermittent



lets go as far as to say i was not impressed at all. anyway, coventry audi took the car back for 2 weeks and fixed most of it, including fitting a new gearbox after finding water in there from a leaky cooler. ive now had the car back for 2 weeks and heres the new list including some faults still there

Gearbox thuds in second gear
headlights flickering
MMI freezes in reverse camera mode change
Accelerator hessitates and also feels like it sticks
Gear lever release now badly clunks when you push the brake pedal
Satnav keeps freezing and resets
Headlights condensation
Power steering loud hum thats intermitant

so 2 days ago i took it to crawley audi my local dealer and said if it goes back to coventry then its staying there. because of this coventry decided to help and pay for 2 hours diagnostics at crawley which was nice i suppose (or the fact they would have had to reverse £26.000). ive picked it up today only to be told they cant find a problem but what they can find a problem with they cant seamt o find the cause to fix it. however they are supplying me with a new satnav disk lol :aargh4:



so anyway, as i own 3 garages and am a mechanic ive decided to find the faults myself, any ideas anyone to help me out? and anyone got any clue why coventry and crawley have ruined my audi experience, atm i certainly wont be going back in 3 years for another A8 :zx11:



jez

[Guest 2]

Wow that is probably the most faults I've seen on a car in the time I've been here!

I think the electrical pixies have decided to live in your car just like the corrosion pixies are living in mine :(

Can't really give you advice as I'm not really mechanical minded but it sounds/looks like a total nightmare!!

Hope it all works out in the end :)

[marf]

thanks criss. yer a lot of faults and TBH i think ive missed a few. im so annoyed at audi, aswell as putting an extra 4000 miles on my car with travelling to and from coventry and also extended testing, i just feel like ive wasted my time and should have picked a crapper out of the paper. im very technically minded but im also old school, good with electrics and a piston etc so im gonna dig myself and then rip heads off after. if i cant diagnose within 2 weeks im gonna give the car back i think.

whats happened with yours and corrosion? how old is it? my A8 is Ally and i thought the A6 was aswell?

[Guest 2]

If I were you I'd give the car back, honestly. It could turn out to be a future never ending money loss. Did you buy the car from Audi Coventry? Least they gave you a satnav disc lol.

My A6 is only over 3 years old and has gained a spot of corrosion on the OSR door sill, it's only the size of a 10p piece but it seems it's blistered through the paint.

Audi are taking it in next week to get repaired under the 12 year corrosion warranty so all is good :) I also noticed a tiny spot at the fuel cap last week and they are looking into that for me aswell. I always thought the A6 was aluminium aswell but obviously not where it's corroding.

I take pity on you as a quality car shouldnt be deteriating like that at 3 years old. I would maybe expect it on an older, higher mileage car but not a young one.

Good luck anyway!

[marf]

If I were you I'd give the car back, honestly. It could turn out to be a future never ending money loss. Did you buy the car from Audi Coventry? Least they gave you a satnav disc lol.

My A6 is only over 3 years old and has gained a spot of corrosion on the OSR door sill, it's only the size of a 10p piece but it seems it's blistered through the paint.

Audi are taking it in next week to get repaired under the 12 year corrosion warranty so all is good :) I also noticed a tiny spot at the fuel cap last week and they are looking into that for me aswell. I always thought the A6 was aluminium aswell but obviously not where it's corroding.

I take pity on you as a quality car shouldnt be deteriating like that at 3 years old. I would maybe expect it on an older, higher mileage car but not a young one.

Good luck anyway!


im gonna give it 2 weeks for me to diagnose. however last night my shift release has suddenly decided to clonk louder :zx11:.

thats bad how you have rust already, do you live in salt? lol

[Micha_elD]

I wouldn't spend any more time or money on that car. Its inconceivable that it will go in for repair, then come out and be faultless for the next few years.

I've had mine from 18months old to current 5 years old, and its worn out tyres, battery, a screen motor, thats about it. Which is what you'd expect from a quality car like an A8. There is something seriously wrong with yours that has caused so much damage across the car, just send it back and try again.

Incidentally, the A6 is steel, and as a result it weighs more than the A8, despite its smaller size

[marf]

I wouldn't spend any more time or money on that car. Its inconceivable that it will go in for repair, then come out and be faultless for the next few years.

I've had mine from 18months old to current 5 years old, and its worn out tyres, battery, a screen motor, thats about it. Which is what you'd expect from a quality car like an A8. There is something seriously wrong with yours that has caused so much damage across the car, just send it back and try again.

Incidentally, the A6 is steel, and as a result it weighs more than the A8, despite its smaller size

yer my thinking, but trying to find a same replacement isnt proving succesfull. i never knew the A6 was steel, good pointing.

[Guest 2]

Incidentally, the A6 is steel, and as a result it weighs more than the A8, despite its smaller size

You learn something new everyday! Thanks :)

[meffe]

Hi Jez,

Mate, that sounds like a nightmare. I too recently bought an A8 in November and started having eletrical problems with the 'coming /leaving home lights' staying on throughout the night, killing my battery!! anyway, took it to Lancaster Audi who having diagnosed it, said its the main Computer circuit located in the headlining (behind interior light)...Cost..approx £300 +!!! Luckily i know an electrical whizz, who was keen to open the unit to check - Turns out the unit has around 4 main plug connections going into it...seemed all fine, but then after inspecting closer, one of the plugs had not been completely 'plugged in over the snap-on connector...well done that...and hey presto..Problem Solved!!

I would consult an 'Audi Specialist'... In my experience (ive got a BM too) ive dealt with specialists, and friends of mine who own several supercars will not use the main dealers - as they dont always have the know-how. Not to mention, these guys are Keen Mechanics. Well, after all, these guys love the cars they work on - unlike the dealerships, whom employ trainees, and allsorts etc.

You'd be better off getting their advice, and if it is a an expensive fix - take it back to the garage, and threaten them with legal action - we've got so many fantastic 'buyer protection laws', we dont take advantage of.
You cant buy an expensive item, and its got numourous faults, and having been 'repaired', its still got issues?? Look up on the net, theres probably a good few people that have had issues similar to yours?

Anyway, i wish you the best of luck, as these cars are honestley Brilliant, and its just not nice when you spend a whole lot of dough on a car thats supposed to be oozing with refinement/luxury, but instead lighting up warning lights like a xmas tree!!

LET US KNOW HOW U GET ON?

SAF

[drpellypo]

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that's been flood damaged.

[n1cka8]

I am feeling your pain mate. I have had a few niggles with my A8 3.0 TDI Quattro. Mine appear to be what others have had or 'known faults' BUT to be honest on a car of this calibre you don't expect it.....

Hope you get sorted

[marf]

cheers guys. i know it hasnt been flood damaged as ive already had the carpets up to inspect and the usual tell tales etc but like you all say, i shouldnt expect it with a car of this expence. ive now diagnosed a few things myself and graphed a few sensors to find a few interesting faults (not just plug it in and see whats red like audi fitters do). ive given Coventry Audi 3 options and 48 hours to reply

1. take the car back, reimberse me the full purchase price and a small amount of compensation to cover costs of items ive had to replace already.

2. take the car back and supply me with a suitable replacement (quattro) not an A6 le'man with crappy 35 profile tyres that break my back and wheel spin constantly like they normaly supply. fix it properly, making sure there isnt a single fault with the vehicle and also to have an audi A8 master tech from head office come and inspect the car before delivery.

3. replace the car with exactly the same.


if none of these are met then Audi UK customer services have already told me to call them back immediately and they will issue a full investigation into Coventry Audi and the car and reimberse me with compensation if need be or exchange the car etc etc.

i apreciate what you have all said and i will certainly keep you all informed but for now, anybody wishing to buy an audi in the midlands, i would steer clear of the Listers Group if i was you.

cheers all

jez

[GlynC]

Hope you get yours sorted mate
Mine has been OK so far, I am almost scared to have it connected to the machine after reading your list of faults
;)

[marf]

right, after 13 hours of diagnosis (audi WILL pick up my bill @ £40 per hour). ove diagnosed some of the faults that they aparantly couldnt.

boot release not working intermitant and auto open sluggish bad boot switch, the contacts arnt always engaging.

rear windscreen demist and radio interferance replacement screen fitted and ariel works properly

o/s rear door release not working broken handle

oil leak needs further diagnosis but coming from rear timing cover

oil burning on exhaust smell (after a faster drive) gearbox has coolant in and seaping past seals

o/s headlight washer stuck out replaced

The Steering keeps going heavy on some turns replaced sensotronic steering control unit

There appears to be a coolant smell vapour coming from the undershield area on occasion. turned out to be auxillary heater

Key not in vehicle keeps flashing on the dash even when the key is next to me (fitted new remote battery and no change). needs a new ariel in driver arm

The radio will not hold a station and keeps losing signal (NO AF) fixed with new screen

Satnav keeps freezing and resets replaced disk now all seams well

Headlights condensation nothing i can do about this unless we change the headlights (£940 a piece)

Gearbox thumps this is linked with the throttle response and has turned out to be the TBS

MMI dosent always pop up (have to reset) needs a new MMI motor and a battery

Accelerator hessitates and also feels like it sticks TBS


so why audi couldnt diagnose these i do not know, what a joke. im absolutely fuming at them and have now said Another vehicle or full refund, ill let you all know what happens.

[Guest 2]

Forget the new car, get petrol threw over it and get the marshmallows out!! :D

[marf]

Forget the new car, get petrol threw over it and get the marshmallows out!! :D


26 k marshmallow :firedevil

[Guest 2]

26 k marshmallow :firedevil

It wouldve tasted good though.

Have you decided wether to get a replacement or a full refund?

[marf]

It wouldve tasted good though.

Have you decided wether to get a replacement or a full refund?

na not yet, ive given them the choice. i dont want to buy a different vehicle, this hasnt put me off, its just a 1 off vehicle i think

[Guest 2]

When you do get another car, go over it with a fine comb! You don't want a repeat of this one.