Have a 2006 A4 with 86,000 miles on it. About 8 weeks ago, I paid $4,000 for a new timing belt (ouch). Then just two weeks ago I had a complete oil change done. Less than a week later I'm driving on the highway when the oil pressure light comes on. I drive another few minutes to get off the highway. The car starts making a grinding noise as I exit so I pull over, shut if off and call AAA to have it towed to the Audi dealer ($100 because of the distance).
They proceed to tell me I need a new engine! How is this possible after they pulled the whole damn thing apart a few weeks before for the timing belt, and an oil change occurred just days before this happened! It is out of extended warranty (I bought it used and I still have 2 years of payments on this beauty)! It's either sink $7,300 for a new engine on top of the $4,000 I already spent for the timing belt or sell it back to the dealer for nothing, basically.
Is there any recourse anyone can help me with?!

 

First, I would never go back to any mechanic that charged 4k for a timing belt.. A timing belt for your engine is a 1500-2000 job..

Second , was it an oil pressure light or an oil level light..? Oil level is a amber oil can with the word "min" oil pressure will be a red oil can..

Regardless I would DEFINITELY get a second opinion. This dealer has already screwed you once.

The clicking noise you heard was likely just your lifters clicking against the cam (due to lack of oil).. liftera work on the hydraulic oil pressure of your engine and reside between your cams and valves. If they dont have oil pressure they shrink and become "squishy" and start clicking.. If that is indeed the case all you might need is an oil pump..

 

It was definitely the oil pressure light. While on the highway, it came on, then went off. As I was coming down the exit it came back on and stayed on. I drove about a mile, then when the grinding noise started, I pulled over, shut the car off and called AAA. When they showed up, the car would not re-start at all. When I asked the Audi dealer if it had anything to do with the oil change I just had (with a very reputable local mechanic. One of the few times I didn't take the car to the dealer), they said it would cost $500 to diagnose that!

 

Well. Try and describe the noise the best you can..

Was it a chattering noise, a clicking noise, a smacking noise, hissing, screaming/squealing..

Did the car shutter/shake?

When you came to a stop did it seem like the car was applying the breaks itself?

 

It actually sounded like a lot birds chirping, if that makes any sense. I don't recall any shudder or shaking, but I barely made it to the side of the road as the car started dying. At that point the battery light came on. I don't recall a feeling of the brakes applying themselves.