paulroad

"Dad...the allroad is feeling funny while under boost. Its shaking a bit, the CEL flashes and then its fine. Feels like a Coil Pack...."

Alex nursed the ar home we plug it in asap.
"Cyl 4 Misfire."

Off to Anchor....for the part only. $39.95, get it home, total repair time...3 minutes.

Done.

Casablanca Avant

tell them what needs to be fixed and not pay the $90+ they charge is fantastic - being able to find out what is wrong and fix yourself is almost priceless, less the cost of the part.

SKIroad'r

Raising son to be in house Tech is Priceless.

paulroad

Priceless? You've got to be kidding.

AudiOx

Dealer visit 1. Back in 2003, I suspected my MAF was bad in my '00 S4 (even had a dealer Audi tech suggest it). I was getting intermittant CEL lights etc.
I do some runs with VAG hooked up. Stock maf # is like 250gcm. I had around 130gcm....way too low.
I cleaned the MAF and the problem went away for a few months (also suggested by dealer Audi tech).

Dealer visit 2. Problem comes back of course, so I take it back to the dealer. Explain the problem throroughly given the VAG data values, everything I did.

What happens....."we've never heard of a problem with the MAF" and "uh, we can't find anything wrong. We just cleared the check engine light." What does my invoice say "customer states check engine light is on."

F-it. I buy a new maf, now just over 70000 miles, replace it, and no more problem. About 1 month later, I get a notice from AoA about a maf TSB. ##%^&()(^%$$%%@#%$^&#!!!!
I call AoA. They didn't help since I had no documentation about the maf on my invoices.

I didn't go back to Jim Ellis service for 4 years after that. Just went there finally to replace the airspring. First time they've fixed something for me without 3 visits, although I dropped car off on a Thursday (expecting it back Thursday afternoon). When do I get it? Tuesday. Of course I had to pay for a p.o.s. rental through the weekend for that too. At least they were very apologetic about it this time.

SKIroad'r

mine is only 18 months, I can only imagine what the later years are like.

paulroad

Its his money..or 90% his. I buy the tools and little things. He works..for us during the summer and he works well and hard. So it does have its benefits.

I'd rather have a kid with a car addiction than what other parents have to deal with.