Fish or cut bait thoughts/opinions on '05 A6 3.2 w/ bad AC Compressor and valve leak
09-05-2014, 04:54 AM
#1
Fish or cut bait thoughts/opinions on '05 A6 3.2 w/ bad AC Compressor and valve leak
It looks like I'm finally at the point of deciding whether to keep fixing my '05 A6 3.2 with 154k miles or to just cut my losses. I really like the car when it isn't requiring trips to the shop. It is in very good shape cosmetically and I have always done the scheduled maintenance and repairs. The plan was always to keep the car until 200k but that might not be wise at this point.
Recently it has been making a really loud noise that my young boys described as a jet engine sound, which turns out to be a bad AC compressor (possibly the pulley itself). Local VW dealership quoted $2k to repair and also quoted another $1.2k for fixing valve cover gasket and a vacuum pump. KBB values the car at $6k.
I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have spent over $4,800 in the past 18 months (not counting the $1.5k on Michelin PS2s) trying to fix a surging problem that this forum suggested was a bad TC. Actually it was just a bad throttle body, which only cost a few hundred to replace with a rebuilt one. Unfortunately, that wasn't diagnosed until after I had already spent over $4,500 on all sorts of other items like carbon cleaning, fuel sensors, fuel pumps (both), coils, belts, new ATF, transportation back and forth from the Audi dealer 75 miles away, etc.
Thoughts comments? It looks like a used AC Compressor costs $500 and probably another $500 for installation but then I still have a car with 154k miles and a leak in the valve cover gasket but, hey, it does have cleaned valves, new fuel sensors, fuel pumps, coil, belts, ATF and a rebuilt throttle body and some fairly new PS2's!
Interested to hear what everyone thinks.
Recently it has been making a really loud noise that my young boys described as a jet engine sound, which turns out to be a bad AC compressor (possibly the pulley itself). Local VW dealership quoted $2k to repair and also quoted another $1.2k for fixing valve cover gasket and a vacuum pump. KBB values the car at $6k.
I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have spent over $4,800 in the past 18 months (not counting the $1.5k on Michelin PS2s) trying to fix a surging problem that this forum suggested was a bad TC. Actually it was just a bad throttle body, which only cost a few hundred to replace with a rebuilt one. Unfortunately, that wasn't diagnosed until after I had already spent over $4,500 on all sorts of other items like carbon cleaning, fuel sensors, fuel pumps (both), coils, belts, new ATF, transportation back and forth from the Audi dealer 75 miles away, etc.
Thoughts comments? It looks like a used AC Compressor costs $500 and probably another $500 for installation but then I still have a car with 154k miles and a leak in the valve cover gasket but, hey, it does have cleaned valves, new fuel sensors, fuel pumps, coil, belts, ATF and a rebuilt throttle body and some fairly new PS2's!
Interested to hear what everyone thinks.
09-05-2014, 09:20 AM
#2
It looks like I'm finally at the point of deciding whether to keep fixing my '05 A6 3.2 with 154k miles or to just cut my losses. I really like the car when it isn't requiring trips to the shop. It is in very good shape cosmetically and I have always done the scheduled maintenance and repairs. The plan was always to keep the car until 200k but that might not be wise at this point.
Recently it has been making a really loud noise that my young boys described as a jet engine sound, which turns out to be a bad AC compressor (possibly the pulley itself). Local VW dealership quoted $2k to repair and also quoted another $1.2k for fixing valve cover gasket and a vacuum pump. KBB values the car at $6k.
I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have spent over $4,800 in the past 18 months (not counting the $1.5k on Michelin PS2s) trying to fix a surging problem that this forum suggested was a bad TC. Actually it was just a bad throttle body, which only cost a few hundred to replace with a rebuilt one. Unfortunately, that wasn't diagnosed until after I had already spent over $4,500 on all sorts of other items like carbon cleaning, fuel sensors, fuel pumps (both), coils, belts, new ATF, transportation back and forth from the Audi dealer 75 miles away, etc.
Thoughts comments? It looks like a used AC Compressor costs $500 and probably another $500 for installation but then I still have a car with 154k miles and a leak in the valve cover gasket but, hey, it does have cleaned valves, new fuel sensors, fuel pumps, coil, belts, ATF and a rebuilt throttle body and some fairly new PS2's!
Interested to hear what everyone thinks.
Recently it has been making a really loud noise that my young boys described as a jet engine sound, which turns out to be a bad AC compressor (possibly the pulley itself). Local VW dealership quoted $2k to repair and also quoted another $1.2k for fixing valve cover gasket and a vacuum pump. KBB values the car at $6k.
I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have spent over $4,800 in the past 18 months (not counting the $1.5k on Michelin PS2s) trying to fix a surging problem that this forum suggested was a bad TC. Actually it was just a bad throttle body, which only cost a few hundred to replace with a rebuilt one. Unfortunately, that wasn't diagnosed until after I had already spent over $4,500 on all sorts of other items like carbon cleaning, fuel sensors, fuel pumps (both), coils, belts, new ATF, transportation back and forth from the Audi dealer 75 miles away, etc.
Thoughts comments? It looks like a used AC Compressor costs $500 and probably another $500 for installation but then I still have a car with 154k miles and a leak in the valve cover gasket but, hey, it does have cleaned valves, new fuel sensors, fuel pumps, coil, belts, ATF and a rebuilt throttle body and some fairly new PS2's!
Interested to hear what everyone thinks.
Simply put, you've fixed a LOT on this car, consider it preventative maintenance...as for the work you are looking to do, the AC compressor can be relatively costly and your budget it about right. But for valve cover gaskets...that is less than an hour job with a $40 (max) part! Any decent indy shop will do this for under $150 including parts and labor!
Spend the $1K or so, get it running at 100% and enjoy it.
09-05-2014, 09:25 AM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
Can you drive thru the winter season and worry about it next year before it gets hot?
09-05-2014, 01:29 PM
#4
raj99.... thanks for the comments, it would be nice to keep it. I just worry about additional repairs on top of what I would have to pay for this and all other repairs recently
uberwgn.... good question, the strange thing is that AC still works, though I'm told that when it goes out completely it may cause more damage to the rest of the AC system. The noise is pretty bad, makes a nice car appear to be a complete beater. Yesterday was 95 in GA so AC is pretty much a necessity now but soon it will be cool enough to not need AC for a while, of course by then it might have more damage with a higher expense to repair.
uberwgn.... good question, the strange thing is that AC still works, though I'm told that when it goes out completely it may cause more damage to the rest of the AC system. The noise is pretty bad, makes a nice car appear to be a complete beater. Yesterday was 95 in GA so AC is pretty much a necessity now but soon it will be cool enough to not need AC for a while, of course by then it might have more damage with a higher expense to repair.
09-05-2014, 03:00 PM
#5
AudiWorld Super User
It looks like I'm finally at the point of deciding whether to keep fixing my '05 A6 3.2 with 154k miles or to just cut my losses. I really like the car when it isn't requiring trips to the shop. It is in very good shape cosmetically and I have always done the scheduled maintenance and repairs. The plan was always to keep the car until 200k but that might not be wise at this point.
Recently it has been making a really loud noise that my young boys described as a jet engine sound, which turns out to be a bad AC compressor (possibly the pulley itself). Local VW dealership quoted $2k to repair and also quoted another $1.2k for fixing valve cover gasket and a vacuum pump. KBB values the car at $6k.
I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have spent over $4,800 in the past 18 months (not counting the $1.5k on Michelin PS2s) trying to fix a surging problem that this forum suggested was a bad TC. Actually it was just a bad throttle body, which only cost a few hundred to replace with a rebuilt one. Unfortunately, that wasn't diagnosed until after I had already spent over $4,500 on all sorts of other items like carbon cleaning, fuel sensors, fuel pumps (both), coils, belts, new ATF, transportation back and forth from the Audi dealer 75 miles away, etc.
Thoughts comments? It looks like a used AC Compressor costs $500 and probably another $500 for installation but then I still have a car with 154k miles and a leak in the valve cover gasket but, hey, it does have cleaned valves, new fuel sensors, fuel pumps, coil, belts, ATF and a rebuilt throttle body and some fairly new PS2's!
Interested to hear what everyone thinks.
Recently it has been making a really loud noise that my young boys described as a jet engine sound, which turns out to be a bad AC compressor (possibly the pulley itself). Local VW dealership quoted $2k to repair and also quoted another $1.2k for fixing valve cover gasket and a vacuum pump. KBB values the car at $6k.
I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have spent over $4,800 in the past 18 months (not counting the $1.5k on Michelin PS2s) trying to fix a surging problem that this forum suggested was a bad TC. Actually it was just a bad throttle body, which only cost a few hundred to replace with a rebuilt one. Unfortunately, that wasn't diagnosed until after I had already spent over $4,500 on all sorts of other items like carbon cleaning, fuel sensors, fuel pumps (both), coils, belts, new ATF, transportation back and forth from the Audi dealer 75 miles away, etc.
Thoughts comments? It looks like a used AC Compressor costs $500 and probably another $500 for installation but then I still have a car with 154k miles and a leak in the valve cover gasket but, hey, it does have cleaned valves, new fuel sensors, fuel pumps, coil, belts, ATF and a rebuilt throttle body and some fairly new PS2's!
Interested to hear what everyone thinks.
09-06-2014, 02:13 PM
#7
AudiWorld Super User
I got a 2015 TDI Prestige with all of the options except the B&O stereo. It is a big step up from the C6. But I do miss the sound of the V8, the highway cruising power, the under seat full size draws and the larger trunk.
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09-09-2014, 06:48 AM
#8
Can anyone speak to the quality of Mahle-Behr and/or Denso products? They each have AC compressors for a fraction of the price of a new OEM Audi version but I'm not sure about the quality/reliability. Comments?
09-09-2014, 08:33 AM
#9
I recall reading up that the Mahle-Behr products are considered quite good. I know they are based out of Stuttgart and I believe they do act as an OEM to some manufacturers.
