Hi Guys,,
I've written a thread before about my problem with my Audi A4, and the misfire that was in the engine, as well as the oil consumption problem. The dealership (star motors, Clarcksburg) has spent about two months to finish the repairs, and when I went to get my car back, they told that they have spent about 6 hours to make sure that everything goes right in the vehicle and it does not have any oil consumption problem or misfire. To test the repairs they told that I need to use the car for 10.000 miles in order to test the oil consumption. surprisingly, after four days of getting the car back, the problem is still there, and nothing has been changed. The low oil light came on, before reaching 300 miles even!! the car burns oil, and building up carbon again!! so the problem circle will be back again, they would probably need to replace the cylinder head again if I ignore the repairs. I called the dealership immediately and I told them about the problem, expecting that they will be responsible for the repairs, they told me all what they have done is just the first step to determine the problem, and there might another problem is exist!! I told them that I spent over 3700$ for nothing!! I can't believe that a dealership cannot determine the problem!! I called Audi of America, and they told me that the dealerships are their business partners and they cannot force them to do anything!! I feel like they used me to pay more and more!! and I really don't know what to do!! if Audi themselves cannot help me!!I took a promise on myself to not suggest Audi for anyone in the world and not thinking about Audi for ever!! I really hate them!! Please, if you have any suggestions let me know, because I'm really depressed... I have attached some pics to give a look for the crap they have done to my car. I have an appointment on Friday at Sewickley Porsche Audi INC and I will see what will happen, they might charge me 10.000 for nothing as well, who knows!!!

 

Did you pay with credit card? If so dispute the charge with your credit card company.

Also, look in filing a small claims suit against the dealership for not completing repairs, especially if it was not disclosed before that this was only "stage 1" of repairs. For oil consumption issues, AOA has been replacing pistons and pistons rings. It may have been the dealership incorrectly diagnoised the problem and the fix, and want to stick you with the bill as the real fix is "stage 2", which will likey require the cylinder to be removed again (labor that you want you to pay for 2x), plus the labor and parts to remove and replace piston and piston rings with new revised components that address the are likely to address your oil conumption / misfire / soot build up issues.

The claims that 10,000 miles is need to test is likely a way to get you to away. Per the manual it is "acceptable" to burn 1 liter / 1000 miles. It sounds like you are already exceeding this criteria.

Make sure you retain all documents - estimates, work performed and make sure you get all parts they swapped out. Document who you talked to and what was discussed and when. File a complaint with BBB and State Attorney, and if that doesn't work file a small claims suit, using all info / photos.

Gather all information regarding the oil consumption issue and fixes from this forum and other and use in your complaints as well.

I am assuming you are out warranty, correct? Is the car still misfiring?

 

You are saying they kept your car for two months and did the stage 1 oil consumption test that is done in less than a day and they charged you $3700 whereas other people out of warranty have been quoted $500-$700? I find it hard to believe a dealership would do such thing. What does the paperwork say? If it says that they have changed a rebreather valve, crank seal, and reprogrammed the ECU, then you have overpaid big time. In such case the dealership will either tell you to come back after 600 miles or that it works in 90% of the time and not tell you to come back. There is no guarantee this would work and if your car had a severe oil consumption before (< 1500 miles per quart) and is a 2009, this won't work for sure.
If your paperwork says they changed pistons and rings (stage 2), then what you paid is not bad at all. People have been quoted 5-7k with AoA offering to split the cost, but I have not heard of anybody actually doing it. People would negotiate further to have AoA cover the full cost. If they have done stage 2, there should be some warranty for that work (e.g. 10k miles or 1 year) and they will fix the problem free of charge. This is a serious work on the engine and it's not immune to problems hence the warranty.
Find out if they did stage 1 or stage 2. If they have done stage 2, ask about the warranty and they will likely work on the car again for free. If they have done stage 1, your options are to either negotiate stage 2 with AoA and the dealer bringing up that you have severely overpaid for stage 1 or get rid of the car.

 

Thanks guys for your responding,,,
the bill was for changing the cylinder head, and changing the breather as well as reprogramming the vehicle. They changed the cylinder head and ignore the main problem that caused the misfire, which is the burned oil in the valves. They did not determine the problem correctly!

 

I have no warranty, the misfire is fixed now..

 

Would I need to pay 5k to 7K$ again?!!!!

 

Please use the default font size.

Did the dealership tell you that changing the cylinder head, etc would solve the oil burning problem? Did they write this down anywhere?

 

No, they told me all that major process will help in solving that problem, but what they made mainly for the oil consumption problem was just replacing the breather, and making new programming for the computer as well as adding premium fluids! The main cause for replacing the cylinder head is the oil problem, this why I'm worry that I will need to do the whole thing once again!! when I brought my car to them, they told they will fix the misfire, the oil consumption, and the shaking problem! they did not repair the most important thing! I believe that they would need to change the pistons and the pistons rings, and I told the service adviser about that, he told me the pistons have nothing to do with the oil consumption!!!

 

Your posts are a bit confusing.. but it sounds like they fixed the problems created by the oil leaking.. which cost you $3700. But the have not fixed the oil leak itself. Is that correct?

If that is correct.. I'm not sure the dealership ripped you off...it's more that you weren't paying enough attention to the repairs being done.

If you could post some of the documentation from the work.. Maybe scan it, and clip out all your personal info, and the dealer info.. It would help understand what all is going on.

 

sorry to hear about your on going oil consumption issue. Let us know what year and how many miles are on it, so we give some specific ideas. Below are my thoughts based on the same issue.

my 2011 with 36k miles went through stage 1, and it did not help. (since it was under warranty it was free)

The dealer said they would do stage 2, but I was tired of the grief and traded it in. I have read others saying they did stage 2, and got additional warranty time. If I would have known this, I may have given stage 2 a chance.

I live in California, and get letters every few months from law firms in regards to Audi A4 oil consumption issues. California has some strong lemon laws and it appears the lawyers are coming hard. I bring this up incase you keep your A4 and Audi won't stand behind it.

Based on the this being a well known problem, I think you should contact Audi of America, and try and get them to fix it for free (and also pay you back for the last service).

From my experience and what I've read from others, it appears Audi is walking back the company line of a quart of oil every 1,000 miles is fine. A few years ago it was tough to get stage 1 or 2, and now the dealers and Audi are doing them on a regular basis for free.

Good Luck, and let us know what you do, and how things turn out....