Audi A4 coolant failure at 18k miles?

[scarlet knight]

This a continuation of a recent thread. After 13 days at the dealer, my car is ready. It sounds like the entire coolant system failed. Repaired under warranty.

The same dealership performed a 20K service on my car about a month ago. Is it possible that they broke something then or forgot to connect something? I find it odd that a two year old, low mileage car would have this problem.

[Bstewart]

All things are possible with Audis and their dealerships.

[scarlet knight]

My twenty years of Honda Accords is looking good.

[Bstewart]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

My twenty years of Honda Accords is looking good.

I am sure they definitely weren't as pretty as the Audi though, but you are right. And I love Audis by the way, just had bad luck with them.

[Mifune]

I've got a Alltrack Grocery getter... I am pretty sure it's the same power train, ZERO issues.

[train-time]

We owned 5 Audis back in the '90's and early 2000's. Started with a 100S Avant, then 3 more A6's and an A4. Never have any major service issues with them while they were under warranty and as soon as the warranty was up, I discovered that it was best to find a reliable German Car mechanic and spend my money with him rather than the Audi Dealer.

One instance we experienced with an out of warranty A6 that we took to the Audi Dealer was the climate control system acting weirdly. The Audi Dealer mechanic diagnosed that it needed a new digital control panel (they whole panel that controls the system) to the tune of $1200. I took it to a local guy that worked on Audis and other imports, and he ran diagnostics while I waited and found that one of the electronic sensors that diverted the air flow direction was failing. The part was $89 and he felt bad because he had to charge me another $75 dollars for using his PC to run the diagnostics.

Another time the Bose system needed a replacement amplifier that was mounted under the panel behind the back seat. The Audi Dealer ordered the part which cost about $900. The part came in and I picked up and didn't have time to do the install. I ended up making an appointment at the dealer to have it installed which they did, and it didn't solve the problem with the sound. They told me at the time that they needed to rewire all the speakers in the car. I suggested further testing and they did it which determined that the new amplifier was defective. I pushed back because the amplifier that was ordered directly from Audi came in an open box. They ordered a replacement that came in a sealed box and everything worked fine.

Bottom line is that the techs in both cases were lazy and just wanted to spend my money chasing problems that didn't exist or replacing things that didn't need to be done at my expense.

Bye the way, we really loved those cars but have been back to Japanese cars for the past twenty years!

[JAJ2349]

Audi? Anything is possible.
I leased a ‘23 Q5 for my daughter and it’s been problematic, nothing serious, all just minor annoyances. We had better luck with her X3.

[Chewbacca]

It happens. It’s fixed. Welcome to VAG ownership.

But I have to thank you for the threads.

In watch context, it’s going from owning a Seiko 9f quartz for 20 years then moving to a Rolex 32xx calibre for the fling and wondering wtf have I done.

[scarlet knight]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

It happens. It’s fixed. Welcome to VAG ownership.

But I have to thank you for the threads.

In watch context, it’s going from owning a Seiko 9f quartz for 20 years then moving to a Rolex 32xx calibre for the fling and wondering wtf have I done.

Ancient Seikos plod onward; Cartiers, Rollies need servicing.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

Ancient Seikos plod onward; Cartiers, Rollies need servicing.

In Plod We Trust.

[scarlet knight]

It was my expansion tank, whatever that is, that was leaking and took 13 days to repair at the Audi dealer. I have under 18k miles on this 2021 car.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

It happens. It’s fixed. Welcome to VAG ownership.

So very true! This might be your best post of the month Chewbacca

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

This a continuation of a recent thread. After 13 days at the dealer, my car is ready. It sounds like the entire coolant system failed. Repaired under warranty.

The same dealership performed a 20K service on my car about a month ago. Is it possible that they broke something then or forgot to connect something? I find it odd that a two year old, low mileage car would have this problem.

Sorry to hear of your plight and no idea if the issue was caused by the dealer. Best of luck getting it sorted.

My A4 & A5 have performed flawlessly since purchased new. Best cars I've owned.
dP

[cdmorenot]

How does the entire cooling system fail? Do you have the work order? I've owned a bunch of different cars from the VAG group and I've had a few issues here and there but never cooling system related.

Interesting... 2.0T ?

[scarlet knight]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

How does the entire cooling system fail? Do you have the work order? I've owned a bunch of different cars from the VAG group and I've had a few issues here and there but never cooling system related.

Interesting... 2.0T ?

I am stumped. I do wonder if they hit something or forgot to connect something when they did a major service a month ago.

[RustE]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

It was my expansion tank, whatever that is, that was leaking and took 13 days to repair at the Audi dealer. I have under 18k miles on this 2021 car.

A plastic tank connected to the radiator with a rubber hose. It compensates for how the volume of coolant changes with temperature.

Not a wear-and-tear item. So, my guess is somehow it got cracked while someone was working in the engine compartment.

Add Edit: Apparently these expansion tanks are prone to cracking from thermal cycling. I’ll withhold my opinion about such a design.

[scarlet knight]

Originally Posted by RustE

A plastic tank connected to the radiator with a rubber hose. It compensates for how the volume of coolant changes with temperature.

Not a wear-and-tear item. So, my guess is somehow it got cracked while someone was working in the engine compartment.

I had a major service at this dealer one month ago. My suspicion is that the dealer broke it.

[Polyesterpig]

It’s a European car. Their cooling systems are all plastic. Part of maintenance is replacing all the plastic hoses/tubes every 5 years. It’s a lot cheaper than paying for an overheated engine.

[Moondoggy]

I hope you get it sorted however my personal experience with Audi, let me just say I call them the "four rings of misery".

[beshannon]

Reminds me of my nightmare BMW, a 2009 550

[JasoninDenver]

My 2014 Q5 has been my first German car and the best vehicle I have ever owned in terms of trouble free driving. And it is a TDI!!!

My wife’s Acura MDX….. let’s just say I cannot wait for the day I never have to look at that damn thing again.

[V25V]

Audi. Owned one. Never again.

[enjoythemusic]

All VW Group products.... banned from our family. Think a Mazda is next up for the wife as she drives her car so needs some zoom-zoom and great handling.

[INC]

Honestly I forgot Audi after they left the MMI and most of all the touchpad. Nowadays their entertainment system is simply a clone of a common VW, but in the worst way. However I currently still enjoy my last Audi :)

[scarlet knight]

I brought Audi’s loaner car back with one-third of a tank of gas after they had my car for 13 days to repair the expansion tank. The next day they sent me a bill for $77 for gas ( if my A4 were empty, it would hold $60). I sent them my Uber bills for $146 for the three days before they gave me a loaner car.

Why would you stick a customer in the eye after an excruciatingly long repair period?

I will call them tomorrow. Will cost them a lot more than $77 if they don’t withdraw it.

[77T]

I’m guessing one hand didn’t know what the other did. Some clerk in the back simply filled in a computer file and it popped out the bill.

I think you ought to send them the Uber bill!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[RustE]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

…
Why would you stick a customer in the eye after an excruciatingly long repair period?
…

Poor leadership? After what I went through with a guy who claimed to be the “service manager” at a local Toyota dealership, all of them are in a race to the bottom.

[Carguy87]

Could have been a mechanic that damaged it, or it could have failed due to temperature changes no way to know for sure. Saw a radiator get replaced for a customer once, all the coolant was on their garage floor the next morning. They came back to the dealership ranting and raving we did the install wrong. Pulled the radiator and it had a dent and a hole in it from a rock they caught on the way home…stuff happens but I wouldn’t jump to blaming the dealer especially since it’s getting fixed by warranty. Sorry to hear it happened though!

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

I brought Audi’s loaner car back with one-third of a tank of gas after they had my car for 13 days to repair the expansion tank. The next day they sent me a bill for $77 for gas ( if my A4 were empty, it would hold $60). I sent them my Uber bills for $146 for the three days before they gave me a loaner car.

Why would you stick a customer in the eye after an excruciatingly long repair period?

I will call them tomorrow. Will cost them a lot more than $77 if they don’t withdraw it.

Started writing my last post before I got caught up in a work meeting so I just saw this. Sounds like a nickel d!ck dealer and I’m sorry to hear about your experience. At our store we just take loaner cars back in with whatever gas they have in them and write the rest off as a cost of doing business…sorry to hear you were treated this way that sucks. They should have advised you of their expectation that the vehicle be returned with a full tank or you would incur these charges…had they informed you I’m sure you would have filled it up prior to return.

[Andad]

SK might get more feedback on an Audi Forum?

My wife thought the ‘four rings of misery’ was amusing.