Blown coolant line.....Another reason to HATE @#$%$# Audis

[m21sniper]

No worries bro, i read ad typed every post with a smile and a chuckle.

Oh yeah- K cars were total junk. And damn ugly too.

[Tim Hancock]

Oh what fun!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Eeek! I suggest you fix and sell. That's just scary. 3D modeling gone wrong.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by RPKESQ

This is common in many modern cars. On a Bentley GT it is 30 hours of factory labor to remove the engine. the entire front end needs to be disassembled (bumpers, coolant system, front suspension, engine, thats 30 hours to remove only, no repairs, no reassembly). Which is required to perform any maintenance other than oil changes.

When under warranty, the CA dealers need to obtain factory clearance to pull an engine, as one engine pull and two or three dealer visits will result in the customer utilizing the CA "lemon law" and a total buyback for the factory.

Needless to say these cars will be very cheap (compared to new) when they come off of warranty.

Paris Hilton worries about that a lot.

[javadog]

You know, Audi packed a lot of cool technology in that engine. It's a really nice one to drive. I had a 2000 S4 and loved every minute of it (and if Jim C is still reading this thread, it never had any problems...not even one....)

You realize you could have bought a similar car with a plain, non-turbo V6, I suppose. It would be much easier to work on. Not nearly as much fun to drive but you take your pick, I suppose....

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Eeek! I suggest you fix and sell. That's just scary. 3D modeling gone wrong.

Precisely what I intend to do. I should have took a picture of the pile of parts laying on the floor and on a cart to get to this point. One good thing is that I actually saw about an inch long sliver of one of the turbochargers finally. You could just make it out with a flashlight when viewed at just the right angle.

[Tim Hancock]

[QUOTE=javadog;4125814]You know, Audi packed a lot of cool technology in that engine. QUOTE]


"Packed" is the key word here. I am quite convinced some nerdy little geek at Audi who has never worked on a real car in his life had a blast modeling/sizing/ locating all the components in these cars. Absolutely no common sense in regard to servicability.

[lendaddy]

How many beers do you figure I owe you at this point Tim? Also, if I see your wife in the future should I walk or run in the other direction?

Seriously though, I'm impressed with your courage on that thing. Are you going to sell it after this?

[BGCarrera32]

[QUOTE=Tim Hancock;4125829]

Originally Posted by javadog

You know, Audi packed a lot of cool technology in that engine. QUOTE]


"Packed" is the key word here. I am quite convinced some nerdy little geek at Audi who has never worked on a real car in his life had a blast modeling/sizing/ locating all the components in these cars. Absolutely no common sense in regard to servicability.

I was udner the impression while working on mine that they had a running joke in the office as to who could come up with the more complicated solution...and then they ran with it.

Awesome, awesome cars to lease from new. Then buh-bye when the lease is up...

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

How many beers do you figure I owe you at this point Tim? Also, if I see your wife in the future should I walk or run in the other direction?

Seriously though, I'm impressed with your courage on that thing. Are you going to sell it after this?

Yep it will go bye bye soon. Without me even suggesting it, my wife, after driving her old 288k mile BMW this past week due to the Audi being down, stated she wants a BMW again as she does not trust the Audi anymore (Ironic, as this is why we bought the Audi as she was afraid of the high mileage of the BMW).

We will probably look for a 100k or so e-46 manual trans 3-series which will probably mean some baseline repair work, but then we will be good to go for a 100k or so again.

As a side note, my daughter's 2000 New Beetle is acting up and is next in line to go up on the lift At least the Beetles are MUCH easier to work on, but I am guessing she will be longing for the reliability of her old 924 before long.

[the]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Oh what fun!

OMFG.

I can see going through all that hassle to drive something really cool, like a Ferrari or something.

But a VW/Audi?!?!

You are still the man, though!

[peppy]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

As a side note, my daughter's 2000 New Beetle is acting up and is next in line to go up on the lift At least the Beetles are MUCH easier to work on, but I am guessing she will be longing for the reliability of her old 924 before long.

Have you had to replace a headlight in that thing PITA.

[charleskieffner]

well guess whats in my "IN" basket today????????????????????????????


from: audi of america

to: audi owner / lessee

subject: warranty extension for 2000 model year audi a-4 or audi tt equipped with 1.8l turbo engine.

warranty to be extended cuz of reported internal engine damage due to timing belts breaking.

spawned by california class action law suit. must be inspected or repaired by 9/30/2008.

how can audi continue to put out CRAP while porsche and vw put out quality products????? man my folks used to own a audi 100ls. it was a POS then. thats a billion years ago and they continue to get away building CRAP!

penske audi here i come. more fun...........NOT!

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by peppy

Have you had to replace a headlight in that thing PITA.

Not yet, but I heard there is a trick to it.

In the couple months of driving it, it has had two problems: 1) water pump gave up the ghost. 2) Current bad miss (probably sparkplug/wire/coilpack related)

My daughter will be commuting 30 miles each way to college this fall and my wife and daughter whined that her old '77 924 was too old to be trusted. Well this used VW in two months has already had more problems that my old crappy 924 had in two + years.

The only thing I can say good about the VW is that it is fairly easy to work on (compared to the Audi).

[RPKESQ]

Originally Posted by Mule

Paris Hilton worries about that a lot.

Right, Paris does not worry about it.

But the dealers do and so should anyone purchasing a used one. Rolls Royce is essential constructed the same as are many other modern cars.

New, yes. Used, no. That is a good mantra for most higher end modern cars.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by the

OMFG.

I can see going through all that hassle to drive something really cool, like a Ferrari or something.

But a VW/Audi?!?!

You are still the man, though!

As I was in the process of cutting a spare 10mm box end wrench in half to be able to remove a bolt from some sort of EGR valve that was in the way of the valve cover coming off, I was similarly thinking to myself that this would not be so frustrating if it were a new 911, but this Audi is just a grocery getter that will be worth nothing in several years. On top of that, the thought of going through this song and dance everytime a hose breaks or an engine accesory takes a premature crap is just too much to take.

[john70t]

I kind of like the concept that the front clip swings out- which allows for the engine to be removed straight out the front, and the timing system is more accessable. Very ergonomical, theoretically speaking. If the alternator and a/c pump were kept down at the sides, they'd be easily acessable and would stay cooler (although driving through water would be an issue).
Concept and reality are two different things, though, and I'll take your experienced word that it's a b****.

Other bad designs: I heard the Northstar engine has the alternator located on top of the hot engine underneath the intake manifold. Also saw someone replace an old Buick timing chain, where the gasket material automatically fell back down into the oil pan, which required dropping the whole front clip to get to the pan.

Engineers and mechanics seem to be natural enemies in the wild.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by john70t

Engineers and mechanics seem to be natural enemies in the wild.

Somehow, I ended up being both.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by charleskieffner

how can audi continue to put out CRAP while porsche and vw put out quality products?????

Not so fast my friend. Audi IS VW, and they share a LOT of components. Electical goodies, motors (you'll find the exact same 1.8T in a VW), transmissions, suspensions (that eat bushings like crazy), etc. They just as bad as Audi because they ARE Audi.

[Jims5543]

Saw this on BMW board and thought you would like it Tim.