So my new 2.7T was driven away on a flatbed for the second time last night at 4am. I'm 9 or 10 hours from home (RI) visiting a great friend in Richmond, VA. Last time I saw this guy was the first time the car got driven away on a flatbed. Hey may be bad luck, but he's a heck of a friend. He's such a good friend that just seeing him probably means the subject line of this post isn't accurate, but here's the sob story:

Thursday morn., as a pre-trip checkup, I had Audi service take a look at my engine. Specifically, I had them check out a faint, faint noise it makes and I described a loss of power/ whooshing sound that happened once or twice on really hot days recently. VAG codes and diags checked out and the sound (which is like the sound diesel engines make and is most noticeable between 2 & 3 K RPM) appeared to be OK. The loss of power problem was apparently too vague to rank notice.

Thus began a great day. I put on my new sneakers (ATP S5s and Pirelli Super Sport 235 15 17s from Tire Rack) and drove to Richmond. I love the new footwear and had a great ride. Late yesterday, the engine started stumbling badly and gave a check engine indicator -- it pretty much can't be driven. I checked the TBB and looked for loose hoses and indicators. No story there. I called roadside service, who seems to be AAA. I knew they used AAA, but the roadside folks REALLY don't know anything about Audi at all. I really think I'm just as well off calling AAA directly from now on. Anyway, they offered to have it towed to the Richmond dealership. The website for that location indicated being closed on Saturdays and the website for the dealership 60 miles away indicated indirectly that service would be open on Saturday. I need to be back in RI on Monday at noon, so I argued until I could get the car towed 60 miles. That took until 4am. This morning, I called and found that service there is closed on Saturdays too. I'm not back at square one -- I'm way farther back than that!

I'm an hour from the car, 9 or 10 hours from home, I need to be home on Monday, I can't get service until Monday, I don't know what to do from here. There seems to be no one to call on a weekend and the dealership warned me that they don't do loaners at all, ever. And I was thinking of asking to grab one today, in advance of service opening up!

So, if you're having a good day (and your Audi is in good shape), please spill a little gas on the curb at the station for your lonely homey Steve.

 

I spilled a little lucky gas for you! Keep us posted on what is wrong.

 

That's pitiful... When they say roadside assistance, I assume they mean an Audi technician comes over and looks over the car.. If it's just a minor problem that can be corrected on the spot, the technician can fix it then and there, before taking it to the dealer for a thorough lookover..

I guess the old saying holds true... You get what you pay for.. Audi makes nice cars and are very competitve in price.. If only their dealer service and sales were up to par with the other makes they compete with like Mercedes or Lexus.. After purchase experience has something to be desired at Audi.

 

Sounds like you are far enough from home that Audi will pay for the rental car or hotel if you are totally disabled. Up to $100 per day for up to 5 days.

 

Sounds like a leaking intercooler hose happened to me a week ago. Was also on a hell of a hot day so boost pressures would have been maxed out. SM

 

Thanks SM -- I'm also SM.

I emailed one of the service guys from back home and told him about the engine stumbling. He emailed back and asked if it was idling rough or surging. It is, so I figure he knows what's up.

How's your car now? I hope you're back in the saddle. Where were you when things went bad?

SM

 

You rule April. I did happen to find that out and start planning based on using the trip continuation stuff. But you still rule, b/c if I hadn't of found that out, it would have been very helpful info. Thank you VERY much.

 

Oh, on the west side highway in 94 degree heat last weekend in NYC! Car is fine now and believe me I tested it out Saturday. Didnt panic cause I had the same thing happen on my worked 1.8T engine. Strange that I was able to baby the gas and make it home and to dealer, maybe this is the improvement in the bosch electronics over three years who knows. SM