Rob

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/Invoice.jpg"></center><p>I want to offer a "Beware Bulletin" for anyone thinking about getting their car serviced at Checkered Flag (Porsche, BMW, Audi) in Va Beach, VA.

I just got back from getting my TT "repaired" there. Unfortunately, I didn't look at the repair invoice until I got home. Probably a good thing that I live over an hour away from this dealer, otherwise I would have gone back to "talk" to the mechanic. (See attached image of invoice)

A little background first:

I had taken the TT to this dealer a few months ago when the windows refused to work properly. The lead Audi mechanic looked at the car and was not sure what the problem was. His solution was to spray silicon in the window track grooves. He did not know how to perform the one touch up/down reset but said he would call around later and try and find out how to do it. (So the windows still didn't work) I also asked him a few questions about the diverter valve problems and if he knew when Audi was going to come up with a fix. He basically did not know of any diverter valve problems and I actually had to show him what the diverter valve was on this car. Finally, I had him check the rear trunk screen, which was noisy. He told me there was no fix for that...period.
In his defense, he explained that he'd been an Audi mechanic for less than a year, his specialty was Toyotas...8 years experience working on those.

Now this lead Audi mechanic sent me away not having fixed any of the problems which I'd driven over an hour to have repaired. I wasn't pissed, just dissapointed. So when Audi-O-America called me up a few days later to ask me how my service experience was at Checkerd Flag, I told them exactly what happened. I didn't bust on the mechanic or the dealer, just told them what I went in for and what was actually fixed.

Back to the present:

I'd taken the TT in to this same dealer a few days ago because I happened to be in the area and the windshield washer wasn't working. It shouldn't have been empty because the indicator hadn't come on and I'd filled it only a few weeks earlier. About ten minutes after the service writer had taken the car, the mechanic (Gage, the same guy who'd worked on it before) came out and told me there was nothing wrong with my car. He said he'd put some water in the bottle and it worked fine now. (my first thought was "It's 35 degrees outside and he's putting WATER in my windshield washer tank?") He went on to tell me he was suprised to see me back at Checkered Flag after I'd "Dogged him so badly after my last service there." He wanted to know what I was so pissed off about and why I'd call Audi-O-America and tell them I'd never come back to this dealer. This guy was visibly upset and acting in an unprofessional manner in the showroom.
I told him about my conversation with Audi, and how I had not "Dogged" him. However, when Audi had asked me if everything had been fixed to my satisfaction on my last visit, I had to say no, and told them the reason.

Well he calmed down after a couple minutes and explained how he was having a bad morning and he was sorry he acted the way he did. I told him not to worry about it (we all have lapses in judgement) and had written the whole thing off. Until I got home and saw what he'd written on the invoice about the car being highly modified, which did not have a freaking thing to do with the windshield washers not working.
I realize that the invoice goes back to Audi and out to all Audi dealers, so now if I ever have an issue that can POSSIBLY be traced to the ECU, exhaust or intake (or OTHER POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS) the dealer is probably going to refuse any warranty considerations at all. Just because this mechanic was pissed at me.

My advice to anyone thinking about going to this dealer...The sales staff isn't bad. Beware of the service staff. And to all: NEVER intone to any service people, no matter how nice and understanding they may seem, thay you may have modified anything on your car.

Sorry about the length of this post, but thanks for letting me vent.

Whew...I feel beter now.

Rob

VenTTed

If you modify your car and then are surprised to find that Audi mechanics feel obliged to report the mod, you miss an important point. No one but YOU can safeguard yourself from an overzealous mechanic who is doing his job. Leaving the ECU in the car for a service trip is risky - we all know that and therefore we take it out unless we know our mechanic personally.

While this documentation will follow your car, the mere fact that you have mod's is not proof that warranteed items will not be covered in the future. The proof of failure due to mod's will be up to the dealer - a tough charge to prove in most cases.

I would NOT return to this dealership. Instead, I would speak to the Dealer Management. Ask them what such documentation means and let them know that you feel it was done so as a result of a personal vendetta by said mechanic. You may be able to get that documentation removed... it is worth a shot.

Sorry to hear of your troubles... not a great way to start the New Year.

Glen

Larrytt

Rob:

Frist of all, what chip do you have in the car? Do you have a spare ECU?

What intake and exhaust do you have?

If you have a spare ECU, I would do the following:

Call the dealer up and tell them that you didn't read the service invoice until you got home and were very upset after reading it. Tell them that you DO NOT have a "highly modified reprogrammed ECU" in your car, whatever that might be.

Tell them you have an air intake and an exhaust.

Ask them what the big deal with having that in your car is.

I would also report the dealer and the mechanic to both AoA and also the Area AoA Executive (rep).

I know, now everyone is going to jump on me for telling you to be deceptive. Well that dealer was as deceptive, if not more so.

E-mail me if you want.

Rob

I just don't have a spare ECU. (APR chip, Neuspeed intake, Borla exhaust)

The mechanic didn't know for sure I had a chip in there. Back when we were friendly, and he'd told me how he'd modified a lot of diferent cars, he asked me if I was going to chip the TT. I told him I was thinking about it...that's all. The next time I went in, he apparently drove the car and assumed it was chipped. (well, it was)
Since he was freaked out on my trip there last week because Audi had told him I gave a poor review for my prior visit, he wrote that irrelevant drivel about the modifications on my repair invoice.

When Audi calls back this time Re: my windshield washer repair...and they will. I'll let them know exactly what went on.

Rob

Larrytt

If you want to borrow a spare ECU for a few days let me know

AugusTT

Hi Rob,

I live in Virginia Beach and will be buying my car from Checkered Flag so this was a very, very informative post. Guess I'll have to look into getting it serviced elsewhere

You have any ideas where another service area might be? I hate to drive all the way to Richmond. I know caseyimports sells Audi's but not sure if they repair them.

BTW, Checkered Flag VW is the same way. I received a lot of hell from them about my TDI Beetle with a Wetterauer chip

steve TTQ

Bought mine at Checkered Flag also - thanks for the advice

Rob

I'll keep it in mind if I ever do have an emergency where I may need to rely on the deviosity (is that a word? deviosity = devious+generosity) of a fellow TT owner.

You're a peach!

Rob