The first ever time letting me down

[fat controller]

For the first time in my ownership, my A4 let me down this evening and I am now wondering what lies ahead. I set off from work and headed to mother in laws, with the drive taking about 20 minutes in moderate traffic. I parked up and went in for a quick natter (15 mins maybe) and then came back out and got in the car. I started it, and almost immediately that the engine fired, it died. At first, I thought that I must have lifted my foot off the clutch or something, so went to restart it. The engine simply turned over and over and over showing no signs of starting at all - so I stopped it and gave it a minute or two and tried again; same thing.

After another couple of minutes, and taking the key right out and locking/unlocking the car, I tried again - same thing, it just kept spinning over with not an suggestion of firing. Bonnet opened, and by now swearing like a trooper, I shoved my head under the bonnet (for all the good I was going to do!), and checked that there were no obvious leaks, nothing loose, no belts off etc and took a peek into the oil filler just to satisfy myself that there was actually oil in it (which there appeared to be - it wasn't dry, that's for sure). I got back into the car and tried again, and it started.

I then continued with my evening journey home, knocking off the auto start/stop in case it decided to switch itself off and then not restart whilst in an awkward position. It drove fine, no lights or warnings on the dash, no nasty noises or smells - but, the car would not show me what the oil level was on the screen. I know that it takes a wee while of driving before it works out the oil level, but I was driving for an hour at least and still it wouldn't show me the oil level.

I got home and parked up in the driveway (reversed in lest it become a tow job), and switched off. Gave it a minute or two and restarted - fired up instantly, and oddly the oil level indicator also started working, showing just under half. A couple of on/off cycles were also fine so I came indoors.

So, any ideas ladies and gents?

I have kinda set my heart on getting an A6 later this year or early next year, so don't really fancy a big repair bill...

[Doctle Odd]

You'll need to plug her in FC see if any codes are logged, Hopefully it's something simple like a dry joint

[Boy]

Puzzling, but that is what happens when you start thinking seriously of changing!

[fat controller]

It was very odd - I just hope that it was a one off. VCDS cable has been put in a 'safe place' by Mrs C, so goodness only knows where it is :biglaugh:, but I will have to dig it out.

It is true I think - they know when they are being viewed with the eyes of replacement..... since I started thinking of it, the clutch judder has gotten worse, the vibration at motorway speeds is back (reckon it is DMF related), I had a run on bulbs at the back (gave up doing them in ones and replaced the bloomin' lot in the end just to be done with it), and now this....

Still, on the bright side, I have just seen a rather nice A6 SE in silver, which has heated seats and electric seat adjustments as extras, and only just over 40K on the clock on a '12 plate..... very, VERY tempted....

[fat controller]

OK - there is definitely something going on, but no idea what. Car started and ran fine today, but a VCDS scan showed the following:

Address 01: Engine (J623-CAGA) Labels: 03L-906-019-CAG.clb
Part No SW: 03L 906 022 NN HW: 03L 906 019 AL
Component: R4 2,0L EDC H20 5070
Revision: 25H20---
Coding: 12194012232503080000
Shop #: WSC 06325 000 00000
ASAM Dataset: EV_ECM20TDI03L906022NN A02002
ROD: EV_ECM20TDI03L906022NN.rod
VCID: 7EF9E021E1EC549

1 Fault Found:
5149 - Internal Control Module
P1603 00 [032] - Failed Self-Test
Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 138849 km
Date: 2015.07.29
Time: 17:04:15



Address 17: Instruments (J285) Labels: 8T0-920-xxx-17.clb
Part No SW: 8K0 920 980 N HW: 8K0 920 980 N
Component: KOMBIINSTR. H19 0253
Revision: 00100000 Serial number: BXW62HR69
Coding: 2F05100002002600010000
Shop #: WSC 06325 123 12345
VCID: 3D7B272DA46A8F1

1 Fault Found:
00003 - Control Module
005 - No or Incorrect Basic Setting / Adaptation
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01100101
Fault Priority: 6
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 201
Mileage: 123019 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2014.03.30
Time: 10:11:34



Address 46: Central Conv. (J393) Labels: 8K0-907-064-46.clb
Part No SW: 8K0 907 064 DP HW: 8K0 907 064 DP
Component: BCM2 1.1 H02 0321
Revision: 00002001 Serial number: 0119270027
Coding: 013F0622203904C00020020400000000
Shop #: WSC 06335 123 12345
VCID: 81031BDD1812AB1

Subsystem 1 - Part No: 8K0 951 177
Component: DWA-Sensor H02 0040

Subsystem 2 - Part No: 1K0 951 605 C
Component: LIN BACKUP HO H03 1301

2 Faults Found:
02615 - Fuel Tank Cap; Lock
009 - Open or Short to Ground
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01101001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 254
Reset counter: 225
Mileage: 106750 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2012.11.04
Time: 13:51:43

02616 - Fuel Tank Cap; Unlock
009 - Open or Short to Ground
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01101001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 4
Reset counter: 212
Mileage: 132444 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2015.01.09
Time: 14:56:15

(I am not overly concerned about anything other than the first one, as I realise they are pretty old codes)

However, there is a further development. Temptation is currently proving too much...... I have booked a test drive of the aforementioned A6 SE tomorrow :)

[markp306]

I have some thoughts here....

I bought a brand new 2008 Avant 143 like yours and it let me down from 9 days in. Audi were a little embarrassed and put me straight into a new A6 Sline for a couple of weeks whilst they sourced ECU parts from Germany (or China maybe)? Then I had almost all the issues seen on this forum from ignition lock, central locking, filler cap and pressure sensor, right through to DMF. Then, at 5 years and 34,000 miles it failed the MOT with rear shocks. I spent £700 getting it fixed and serviced and then immediately went around to another Audi dealer to pick up a cabriolet (which is 'good as gold'). I also spent £1k the previous year for other maintenance costs including a new clutch whilst the DMF was changed - Audi wouldn't cover that as they said the old clutch still have some service in it, but thought it made sense for me to do this at the time...not knowing what the next 12 months had in store for me!

If you have the funds at the ready, get around to the A6 dealer....or get yourself an A4 B8.5 (better than B8). Mine was the most frustrating money pit car I have ever had and I put up with it for longer than I should have. As you can see, I won't recommend a B8 to anyone but have stuck by Audi as the 8.5 seems to be so much better and hopefully they've got it right with the B9 too (from what I have read online so far, its all good) although I would think twice about being first in the queue for a new model a second time.

You have done well to get this far IMHO but I would ditch it now before the big bills start coming your way. And they will.

Very odd symptom you experienced though! So it started, shut itself down, then didn't want to know you until you simply opened the bonnet and swore at it?! ;-)

[fat controller]

That is exactly what it did. I at first wondered if it might be the clutch switch as the clutch and DMF are getting worse, but then I twigged that the engine wouldn't be turning over at all if that were the case.

I can't complain about my B8 to be fair, this is the first time it has properly let me down, and even then it was only short lived - I do see bills on the horizon though, so think the time may be here to change.

I am going to have to wait a bit longer though as the dealer have cancelled today's test drive as the V5 hasn't appeared for the A6. Ironically, I can't find my V5 either so have ordered a replacement from DVLA

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[fat controller]

And two days after ordering a new V5, the original is found! Sods law

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