water pumps failing everywhere
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
water pumps failing everywhere
All,
first the good news. I called my local audi dealer and very firmly 'requested' the water pump be replaced in my S5 cab under warranty. It's the first one they sold/delivered last year. They did the work for free and kept me as a happy customer for now.
The bad news. I warned a co-worker about her Q5 water pump. It failed this morning on her way to work. It could have failed a day or two ago and then she could have been stuck in a blizzard with her family! I also learned another co-worker with Q5 also had the water pump replaced recently.
Audi is being very disgusting here by not handling this correctly. They are going to get someone killed because of their dishonesty. Really, even Toyota is looking good right now....
Finally, I saw some goober attempting to drive an S5 on the LIE in the blizzard on Sunday afternoon....clearly with the summer tires on the car. Sliding all over, front and rear tires spinning. Looked like a fish out of water. I was in my 4Runner. People, please put the right winter tires on the cars as you too are going to kill someone being so reckless.
first the good news. I called my local audi dealer and very firmly 'requested' the water pump be replaced in my S5 cab under warranty. It's the first one they sold/delivered last year. They did the work for free and kept me as a happy customer for now.
The bad news. I warned a co-worker about her Q5 water pump. It failed this morning on her way to work. It could have failed a day or two ago and then she could have been stuck in a blizzard with her family! I also learned another co-worker with Q5 also had the water pump replaced recently.
Audi is being very disgusting here by not handling this correctly. They are going to get someone killed because of their dishonesty. Really, even Toyota is looking good right now....
Finally, I saw some goober attempting to drive an S5 on the LIE in the blizzard on Sunday afternoon....clearly with the summer tires on the car. Sliding all over, front and rear tires spinning. Looked like a fish out of water. I was in my 4Runner. People, please put the right winter tires on the cars as you too are going to kill someone being so reckless.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Likes: 1
From: Maine
yes it's been a big issue for q5 3.2 owners for awhile. All B8 based cars with the 3.2 or the 3.0t are susceptible to it. Basically for awhile they were using pumps with plastic housings, the housing crack/break and the car dumps it's coolant. It is NOT like the old 1.8t/2.0t issue with plastic pump IMPELLERS, where the car would overheat but was still somewhat driveable. When the plastic housings go you loose everything and are SOL.
The fix is an updated pump with a metal housing. Certain cars may have been equipped with the metal pump fromt he beginning, but at least from the q5 side we have had trouble finding any specific production date correlation that would signify a changeover. Not sure on the 3.0t but on the 3.2 it is very easy to look and tell if you have the plastic or metal pump as it actually sits on top of the engine in the v between the cylinder banks.
The fix is an updated pump with a metal housing. Certain cars may have been equipped with the metal pump fromt he beginning, but at least from the q5 side we have had trouble finding any specific production date correlation that would signify a changeover. Not sure on the 3.0t but on the 3.2 it is very easy to look and tell if you have the plastic or metal pump as it actually sits on top of the engine in the v between the cylinder banks.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,480
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It appears that this WP issue tends to surface more with those of us in the colder climate. Good to hear that your dealership is taking steps to take care of you.
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Audi will no more fix stuff that isn't broken "yet" because you think it will than a doctor will give you hip replacement surgery when you are 40 because you just know your hip will be broken when you are 75. They have a process. It took me a couple of weeks to get the shimmy in my '10 A5 fixed but they did it and instead of being rude I accepted that they would take care of me. The dealer managed to replace a $1000+ control board under warranty (that I had blown putting in LED dome lights) because I was civil and understanding with them.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 0
apples and oranges. Faulty waterpumps is a known issue, with an RVU issued, only to be pulled back due to lack of replacement pumps available to do a RVU or recall.
That's what RVU's and recalls do. They do not typically wait until something breaks when one is issued.
That's what RVU's and recalls do. They do not typically wait until something breaks when one is issued.
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Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 96
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From: Denver
Unless you ask for it, or you have a failure, they are not likely to replace them. I suppose back in the day when a water pump failed you bent valves it was probably more urgent, but if everybody walks in and demands a replacement when theirs hasn't failed then those who haven't had a problem yet will be stuck without a car for some time. Perhaps the world we live in...me first.
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AudiWorld Senior Member
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not correct.
If you bring your car in for routine service or repair (of soemthing else), and if there is as an outstanding RVU or recall, they replace it without you asking for it, and before it breaks.
RVU= required vehicle update- to fix a known issue that will most likely fail.
If you bring your car in for routine service or repair (of soemthing else), and if there is as an outstanding RVU or recall, they replace it without you asking for it, and before it breaks.
RVU= required vehicle update- to fix a known issue that will most likely fail.