Going in for 20k service & LZ recall Friday
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Going in for 20k service & LZ recall Friday
While there, I'm having the dealer look into an odd feeling/noise that happens to the left front wheel over bumps at low speed (<20mph). There's a good chance the service dept will be closed by the time I drop the car off, so won't be able to road-test it with them, so I'm trying to write it up for the tech. If anyone has experienced something similar, or can give me better automotive lingo to use in the letter I'm going to put on the front seat, please let me know!!
It happens when the left front wheel goes over a series of little yellow lane markers, only when going <20mph. It's a clunking sound, with a slight vibration through the steering wheel. Also happens when pulling into some parking lots, if there is a short ramp from the roadway into the lot. Never noticable at higher speeds, or when the right front wheel goes over similar bumps. Definitely feels suspension related, not tires (although it did seem less obvious when I got rid of the stock Pirellis). Car tracks fine and alignment is perfect. Other than what seems to me is an over-active compressor in the rear, my suspension operates fine, with no problems moving between levels.
Steering system components? Bushings, rods, shocks?? Definitely feels like something is loose. My auto lingo is so bad I don't know where to tell the tech to begin looking, or is my description is good enough?
TIA.
It happens when the left front wheel goes over a series of little yellow lane markers, only when going <20mph. It's a clunking sound, with a slight vibration through the steering wheel. Also happens when pulling into some parking lots, if there is a short ramp from the roadway into the lot. Never noticable at higher speeds, or when the right front wheel goes over similar bumps. Definitely feels suspension related, not tires (although it did seem less obvious when I got rid of the stock Pirellis). Car tracks fine and alignment is perfect. Other than what seems to me is an over-active compressor in the rear, my suspension operates fine, with no problems moving between levels.
Steering system components? Bushings, rods, shocks?? Definitely feels like something is loose. My auto lingo is so bad I don't know where to tell the tech to begin looking, or is my description is good enough?
TIA.
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My similar noise was upper control arm bushings. They were shot at 47K miles.
The control arms are the parts that hold the top of the move-with-the-wheel parts to the chassis. They pivot up and down about 30 degrees as the suspension moves through its travel. At the chassis end, they are made of a sleeve surrounded by a rubber bushing, surrounded by the arm that moves. The sleeve gets a bolt through it, which fixes it to the chassis. As your suspension moves, the rubber flexes to allow the arm to move. After a while, the rubber tears and there's a loose connection that makes a clunking, hollow sound when you go over cracks, Bott's dots, and driveway edges. My alignment shop - Custom Alignment - says it's a common Audi problem, but 20K miles seems really early for it to show up.
HTH-
-df
HTH-
-df
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That's a start, thanks.
At least I can mention it and make them think I know what I'm talking about ;~)
I remember needing them replaced on my old 88 M5 at 105,000 miles, so agree 20,000 would be early.
Warranty item surely?
I remember needing them replaced on my old 88 M5 at 105,000 miles, so agree 20,000 would be early.
Warranty item surely?
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This condition has occured on my 03 allroad since about 3000 miles...
Every time I have the dealer look at it, they say they cannot replicate the sound. It has bothered me for the last ten months. Same exact symptoms, same exact speeds, same exact conditions. It is VERY evident when entering and exiting driveways (loud clunk), though it only occurs while turning left. Driving over small cracks and highway bumps it chatters like crazy. I described it to the dealer as a loud clunk coming from the front drivers side suspension/wheel area.
Please let us know how this turns out! Do you have sways on the front? If you have the H sports, I would recommend replacing them with the stocks before you go to the dealer. I am sure they will find a way to sneak out of warranty work if you leave aftermarket sways on.
Please let us know how this turns out! Do you have sways on the front? If you have the H sports, I would recommend replacing them with the stocks before you go to the dealer. I am sure they will find a way to sneak out of warranty work if you leave aftermarket sways on.
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H-sports
My H-sports are on order, and I've specifically been waiting to get past my 20k service, and this clunking problem, before having them put on.
The description of your clunk is identical to mine, seems like I'm not alone.
The description of your clunk is identical to mine, seems like I'm not alone.
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I was going to just drive the clunk...
until it went away or totally destroyed something...this way, the service at my dealer could actually "find" the problem and fix it. It reallly amazes me you know. The dealers really don't believe in " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". They just cut costs and spend as little time as possible "looking" for a small problem. Are they gambling that our "small" problems will just go away?
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Could be that...
the dealer can't get reimbursed from Audi for time spent looking for a problem that doesn't get resolved. They do get direct reimbursement for warranty replacement of parts. So from a selfish (for the dealer) business persepctive, it makes more sense to wait until something breaks. Of course, they have to balance that with customer satisfaction as measured and recorded by AoA...
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Re: Going in for 20k service & LZ recall Friday
For what it's worth mine has been doing it for the last 7k miles, Went in they couldn't find it,
but they could hear it.. It's now waiting for a power steering rack. That's what they said it is.
I am bummed this car has been in the shop 10 times already for different things. I am trying to love it but it's getting pretty frustrating.
My wife won't drive it at all.
but they could hear it.. It's now waiting for a power steering rack. That's what they said it is.
I am bummed this car has been in the shop 10 times already for different things. I am trying to love it but it's getting pretty frustrating.
My wife won't drive it at all.
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