a4 problems
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a4 problems
I know this note sounds like flamebait but it's not.
I stopped at the local dealer today and walked around the back to the shop. I noticed a tech heavily into an A4 which was on a lift, and I chatted with him. Here is the short version of our discussion:
- there is a problem with fuel tanks on the A4 leaking. He sees about 1/month. It usually shows up as a "check engine" light before you notice the leak itself. The faulty tanks have bad seams.
- he doesn't recommend the 1.8t engine as it's a "VW engine" deep down. He says that the 2.8v6 is a far better engine. He says that shortcuts were taken to get power and went into some details about connecting rods, oil delivery, etc. Bottom line is he doesn't think they are robust and pointed to a new crated 1.8 that had just arrived from Germany, waiting to go into another car. The bad engine had 40k miles on it. He says the TT is a bit better as far as the oil delivery because they use a chain "like american cars".
I'm not that familiar with the innards of the 1.8 to know if this makes sense, but he knew his stuff and had no reason to lie to me. Likewise, as a prospective A4 owner, I have no reason to make this up.
Comments?
I stopped at the local dealer today and walked around the back to the shop. I noticed a tech heavily into an A4 which was on a lift, and I chatted with him. Here is the short version of our discussion:
- there is a problem with fuel tanks on the A4 leaking. He sees about 1/month. It usually shows up as a "check engine" light before you notice the leak itself. The faulty tanks have bad seams.
- he doesn't recommend the 1.8t engine as it's a "VW engine" deep down. He says that the 2.8v6 is a far better engine. He says that shortcuts were taken to get power and went into some details about connecting rods, oil delivery, etc. Bottom line is he doesn't think they are robust and pointed to a new crated 1.8 that had just arrived from Germany, waiting to go into another car. The bad engine had 40k miles on it. He says the TT is a bit better as far as the oil delivery because they use a chain "like american cars".
I'm not that familiar with the innards of the 1.8 to know if this makes sense, but he knew his stuff and had no reason to lie to me. Likewise, as a prospective A4 owner, I have no reason to make this up.
Comments?
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Funny, on a thread below, someone posted just the opposite...
Someone posted the opposite information, stating that the 2.8v6 is the "bad" engine of the two. Check out his arguments, click on the link below.<ul><li><a href="http://www.a4.org/forum/m/a4/162184.phtml">Anti-2.8 thread</a></li></ul>
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And the war between the 1.8's and the 2.8's continues! You...
...say tom"ay"to, and I say tom"ah"to! Everyone is going to have their own opinion.
I can tell you that while the head is fairly new, the block of the 1.8 has been around for a very long time. Both the 1.8 and 2.8 have been around long enough to prove themselves, however, and I think arguing over which one is better is merely a matter of jealousy on the part of one or the other.
The 1.8's only weakness was the turbo and it's hoses in early cars. Otherwise, I believe the 1.8 is very strong. Infact, Cameron has bored his out to 2.0l and is running a lot of boost, with no problems that I know of.
Charles
I can tell you that while the head is fairly new, the block of the 1.8 has been around for a very long time. Both the 1.8 and 2.8 have been around long enough to prove themselves, however, and I think arguing over which one is better is merely a matter of jealousy on the part of one or the other.
The 1.8's only weakness was the turbo and it's hoses in early cars. Otherwise, I believe the 1.8 is very strong. Infact, Cameron has bored his out to 2.0l and is running a lot of boost, with no problems that I know of.
Charles
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Statistics 101. The mechanic didn't have a valid sample.
Dan, I know you know Audis so take all these questions as retorical.
If there's one thing that can be learned from reading the Internet(Usenet especially) is that everyone has an opinion and few are backed up by statistics. Maybe the mechanic is right, I doubt it but maybe he is. Has he taken a 1.8T or 2.8 apart? Does he have the credentials and experience to objectively analyze the engine itself in terms of construction and design? Has he done real statistical analysis? How many has he worked on with serious problems?
On all of the above, I doubt it. No manufacturer these days is going to cheap out an engine too much. Especially one that they offer a 100k mile warranty on. The warranty costs will kill them if there's something seriously wrong with it not to mention what it will do to their reputation(something neither VW or Audi can afford right now).
Another thing that can be learned from the 'net is that ALL cars have problems that are outliers on the bell curve. This includes things like Hondas seizing engines at 20K and Toyotas having undiagnosable electrical problems.
'He says the TT is a bit better as far as the oil delivery because they use a chain "like american cars"'. That says it all.
If there's one thing that can be learned from reading the Internet(Usenet especially) is that everyone has an opinion and few are backed up by statistics. Maybe the mechanic is right, I doubt it but maybe he is. Has he taken a 1.8T or 2.8 apart? Does he have the credentials and experience to objectively analyze the engine itself in terms of construction and design? Has he done real statistical analysis? How many has he worked on with serious problems?
On all of the above, I doubt it. No manufacturer these days is going to cheap out an engine too much. Especially one that they offer a 100k mile warranty on. The warranty costs will kill them if there's something seriously wrong with it not to mention what it will do to their reputation(something neither VW or Audi can afford right now).
Another thing that can be learned from the 'net is that ALL cars have problems that are outliers on the bell curve. This includes things like Hondas seizing engines at 20K and Toyotas having undiagnosable electrical problems.
'He says the TT is a bit better as far as the oil delivery because they use a chain "like american cars"'. That says it all.
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I know that mechanic- he is the one that makes us take our car back 4 times..
you know, the one that everyone complains about.
How come we haven't heard this before?
What can you tell us about this mechanics qualifications.
This is probably the guy thats been over-filling the oil because he can't figure out the capacity differences between two engines. Or was he the one that keeps telling us we have no problems...its okay...its within spec. hmmm.
Seriously, I'm not putting down all mechanics, I'm just saying we know the dealers don't always have the best mechanics...but all the dealers mechanics have opinions.
How come we haven't heard this before?
What can you tell us about this mechanics qualifications.
This is probably the guy thats been over-filling the oil because he can't figure out the capacity differences between two engines. Or was he the one that keeps telling us we have no problems...its okay...its within spec. hmmm.
Seriously, I'm not putting down all mechanics, I'm just saying we know the dealers don't always have the best mechanics...but all the dealers mechanics have opinions.
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My Audi Tech called A4 "Bulletproof"
I had lost tip function, and the Audi mech consulted the shop manual frequently as he worked, saying he'd never seen the problem before, and that generally, the A4s had had fairly routine issues.
In fact, he mentioned the loose clamps on power steering hydraulics (causing low fluid levels) that I learned about first from posts on this board, so he was not claiming perfection, just that the major components had no serious flaw pattern in his experience.
He tightened the power steering hydraulic hose clamps, replaced the shift gate; I think there may have been some abuse from a previous owner; the plastic cover of the shift gate was wrinkled and out of its tracks when I first got the car.
Reading some of the near-horror stories on this board, I've driven with a very careful eye on gauges, fluid levels, shift patterns, sounds, but 4000 troublefree miles later, I'm coming around to the mech's assessment--it's looking like a reliable car (8800 total miles). I'll relax completely when the odometer rolls over to 100,000 and I've not had to anything but routine maintenance. I have Hondas to blame for that expectation.
Lewis
98.5 1.8T QSTip
In fact, he mentioned the loose clamps on power steering hydraulics (causing low fluid levels) that I learned about first from posts on this board, so he was not claiming perfection, just that the major components had no serious flaw pattern in his experience.
He tightened the power steering hydraulic hose clamps, replaced the shift gate; I think there may have been some abuse from a previous owner; the plastic cover of the shift gate was wrinkled and out of its tracks when I first got the car.
Reading some of the near-horror stories on this board, I've driven with a very careful eye on gauges, fluid levels, shift patterns, sounds, but 4000 troublefree miles later, I'm coming around to the mech's assessment--it's looking like a reliable car (8800 total miles). I'll relax completely when the odometer rolls over to 100,000 and I've not had to anything but routine maintenance. I have Hondas to blame for that expectation.
Lewis
98.5 1.8T QSTip
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Re: a4 problems
The tech in question was someone I had never met, but claimed to have over 20 years at the dealer level. He only works on the new cars, and the "problem" ones at that - like I said, he had most of the back drivetrain of a 1.8tq down, to replace the gas tank.
I'm not providing the level of detail that was in our discussion as I have to confess to a lack of knowledge of engine innards - I know a lot, but not enough to wax poetic here.
Again, this wasn't a troll post, and he certainly had no reason to volunteer this info, we were just chatting about Audis...
I'm not providing the level of detail that was in our discussion as I have to confess to a lack of knowledge of engine innards - I know a lot, but not enough to wax poetic here.
Again, this wasn't a troll post, and he certainly had no reason to volunteer this info, we were just chatting about Audis...
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I was just going to post the same thing! After...
...some dealer mechanic experiences I have had, I wouldn't take anything they say too seriously. It took three mechanics at University Audi in Seattle to point out the filler tube for my headlight washers on my 90Q! My independent shook his head in disbelief when I told him about that!
Charles
Charles
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