servicing questions

[jon123]

Hi All,

Just got a few questions that I hope someone can help me with please:

1. I have an Audi A4 2004 model 1.9 TDISE (6) with around 85K on the clock. I have had the car 7 months now & its last service was done sometime last year by the previous owner via the ********hips...... Anyway, the next one is now due in around 3K or next year to be precise. It seems that the car is on a long life service, but I am thinking if this is right or not - I normally do around (if not less) 10K/year & the car (by the previous owner) used to do mainly motorway mileage. Should I keep it on the 2 year service or would u say I should get it done once a year? Is it healthy to keep the car going without a yearly service?

2. As the ********hips charge an arm & a leg, I am considering getting the servicing done by a Skoda dealership instead - I know that this will mean that it wont get the 4 ring stamp on it, but with Skoda being part of the VAG group, do they still use the same OE parts on an Audi or is there some kind of 'comprimise' - I know the servicing will be cheaper, but will they do exactly what Audi would do from a service point of view?

3. I have recently noticed (especially in the cold weather) when starting the car, the brakelight symbol comes up in the DIS, flashes & then bleeps 3 times then clears & display retuns to normal. What does this mean? It's happend twice, but its not stayed on whilst driving nor has it happend everytime I start the car - As I've mentioned its happend twice, in particular when its really cold. May sound stupid, but is it some sort of 'warning' to say be careful because of driving conditions?

Any help on these questions would be greatly appreciated.

Jon

[RickT]

Hi,

Please see my thoughts below..

Question 1 -

Long life is aimed for 20k miles or 2 years.. standard is 1 year or 10k...

Either way it does not really matter if your going to be doing around 10k a year... for ease... stay long life... i prefer to service mine with long like filters but service it as i would on a standard life...

Question 2 -

Your best bet... find a local VW Express or contact your local VW garage.. Skoda, Seat and VW labour prices are all around the same..

That way if your concerned about the stamp, the VW stamp will look more in favor..

Question 3 -

You will have a rear brake bulb on its way out... the cold makes the filament's for brittle and this sounds like your issue..

if your going to replace the bulbs.. buy the tail light bulbs also and replace them all at the same time... its not much hassle to do, but i prefer to change them all at the same time as it one job done then...

Rick

[jon123]

Hi Rick

Thanks for that - much appreciated! Just want to ask though (apologies if this sounds dumb!):

1. what do u mean by tail light bulb? Is it the rear light bulb?

2. I had asked a Skoda dealer for a price on servicing & was quoted £250 (which to be honest still sounds quite high) - Having read the threads here, Seems that Audi charge £300+... Would you (or anyone for that matter) know of any VW/Audi specialists /independents in the Middlesex area? I am (like everyone I guess) looking for someone honest with reasonable rates......


Jon

[Marco34]

Hi All,

Just got a few questions that I hope someone can help me with please:

1. I have an Audi A4 2004 model 1.9 TDISE (6) with around 85K on the clock. I have had the car 7 months now & its last service was done sometime last year by the previous owner via the ********hips...... Anyway, the next one is now due in around 3K or next year to be precise. It seems that the car is on a long life service, but I am thinking if this is right or not - I normally do around (if not less) 10K/year & the car (by the previous owner) used to do mainly motorway mileage. Should I keep it on the 2 year service or would u say I should get it done once a year? Is it healthy to keep the car going without a yearly service?

2. As the ********hips charge an arm & a leg, I am considering getting the servicing done by a Skoda dealership instead - I know that this will mean that it wont get the 4 ring stamp on it, but with Skoda being part of the VAG group, do they still use the same OE parts on an Audi or is there some kind of 'comprimise' - I know the servicing will be cheaper, but will they do exactly what Audi would do from a service point of view?

3. I have recently noticed (especially in the cold weather) when starting the car, the brakelight symbol comes up in the DIS, flashes & then bleeps 3 times then clears & display retuns to normal. What does this mean? It's happend twice, but its not stayed on whilst driving nor has it happend everytime I start the car - As I've mentioned its happend twice, in particular when its really cold. May sound stupid, but is it some sort of 'warning' to say be careful because of driving conditions?

Any help on these questions would be greatly appreciated.

Jon

Hi, here is my take on it...

1. I don't like long life servicing. 2 years and no inspection, ok for average joe who isn't bothered about his car. I do 10k or less a year and as my trips to work are short I change oil every 6 months using 505.01 not the long life. Every year would be fine though if the engine has a reasonable run daily. Other problems may not be noticed if you wait two years for a full inspection underneath. Just my thoughts

2. I do mine myself as I don't trust any ******* and the stamp has proven worthless outside of warrent (in my experience). My TDI was from a mate and when I changed the oil and filter (after a full audi stamp of 4 years) the oil filter was crumbling apart... Find a good independant if you don't fancy doing it yourself.

3. I thought that error was brakes! I;ve had that on mine once when very cold. I assumed the connection was a bit flakey from the pad. Some cleaned and WD fixed it. Rick seems to know that this could be bulb also!! I'd go with that way of thinking too.

Cheers

[RickT]

Hi Rick

Thanks for that - much appreciated! Just want to ask though (apologies if this sounds dumb!):

1. what do u mean by tail light bulb? Is it the rear light bulb?

2. I had asked a Skoda dealer for a price on servicing & was quoted £250 (which to be honest still sounds quite high) - Having read the threads here, Seems that Audi charge £300+... Would you (or anyone for that matter) know of any VW/Audi specialists /independents in the Middlesex area? I am (like everyone I guess) looking for someone honest with reasonable rates......


Jon

Hi,

1- When i say tail lights... i just mean the rear bulbs which come on when you turn your lights on...

2- I know VW charge around £220 for a service... it depends on which dealer you go to.. they all seems to range about £40-50 over the UK..

3. I thought that error was brakes! I;ve had that on mine once when very cold. I assumed the connection was a bit flakey from the pad. Some cleaned and WD fixed it. Rick seems to know that this could be bulb also!! I'd go with that way of thinking too.

Cheers

If its the bulb symbol,(with Brake above or below) its will be bulb related.. if its the Disc brake symbol with "!" its brake related...

Let us know how you get on.

Rick

[jon123]

Hi Guys,

Thanks alot for your response, its much appreciated! Rick, the symbol is the brakelight with the ! symbol, but it hasn't happend again since my thread, so who knows?!

Maybe its to do with the brakefluid being too cold, or it kind of 'settles' in the cold before the car is switched on? Last time it was changed was by the ******** via the previous owner & is due for change next year....

Jon

[Marco34]

Hi Guys,

Thanks alot for your response, its much appreciated! Rick, the symbol is the brakelight with the ! symbol, but it hasn't happend again since my thread, so who knows?!

Maybe its to do with the brakefluid being too cold, or it kind of 'settles' in the cold before the car is switched on? Last time it was changed was by the ******** via the previous owner & is due for change next year....

Jon

Sounds like a blip like I had. Possible cold weather cause. If it's not there now I wouldn't worry.

[RickT]

Hi Guys,

Thanks alot for your response, its much appreciated! Rick, the symbol is the brakelight with the ! symbol, but it hasn't happend again since my thread, so who knows?!

Maybe its to do with the brakefluid being too cold, or it kind of 'settles' in the cold before the car is switched on? Last time it was changed was by the ******** via the previous owner & is due for change next year....

Jon

just see how you go... you could check the brake fulid level... remember that if you top it up you will have to drain it when you install new pads as it will be overfilled.

Rick