Having owned Audis for about 15 years (delighted by the quality etc etc) I am today re-thinking my strategy after four frustrating calls to their Customer service and main dealer - all about "how to get access to change a blown stop lamp"!

Incredibly the 372 page owners manual has 32 pages covering the performance of the many models, but just a short sentence paragraph on changing lamps. It says: "Bulbs should be changed by a qualified mechanic" and gives no information as all!

On calling them they insist I go to the main dealer - who who has quoted me 25 pounds (UK) to do this job - or I could pay 18.4 Euro to download each section of the service manual from their web site (but they cant tell me if this is covered under "maintenance" or "electrical repairs" sections - maybe they want me to download both?)

When I spoke to the supervisor, she explained that since the car has a CAN-bus system, users can cause great damage.
The main dealer explained that if an owner, following intructions from a dealer as to how to change the lamp, were to injure himself - Audi would be legally responsible!

Am I unique in thinking this is an incredible example of Audi trying to force customers to use the dealers and pay crazy prices?
I am disgusted!

MLunch (Chartered Engineer, 40 years motoring maintenance experience, currently restoring 1929 Vintage Sunbeam and 1930 Austin Seven but clearly unable to change a bulb in my wife's Audi A4 Avant 2002!)

 

mlunch, you sound a little frustrated right now....this is really not much of an issue if you ask me. i can understand your frustration with Customer Service, but you should know that dealership mechanics are rarely willing to help a customer with advise or instruction. changing the taillight bulbs on my B5 involves removing 3 felt-covered screws from inside the trunk, pulling back the trunk liner (a small door is cut out for the taillight), and releasing the clip inside there. it should be about the same for a B6

 

for the B6 you need to take the taillights right out it is pretty easy there is 1 screw inside the trunk and the rest is just pressed in and just unclip the harness when it is out

 

Sadly it is not as simple on my later model. No "felt covered screws" visible.
I have subscribed to erwin to obtain the manuals on-line (paid 18 euros). However, they are using some damn clever "sealed document" technology so you cant view the documenst on normal acrobat reader, and the "unsealer" doesn't want to work for me! They seem determined to make this very difficult. meantime I stil haven't worked out how to get into the rear left light cluster to change the lamp!
It is my view that denial of simple lamp changing instructions in the user manual makes the owner vulnerable to fines in France where it is illegal to drive a car without spare lamps and the knowledge to change them! Sorry to continue my rant, but I am NOT happy to be dependeant on the local dealer for a simple lamp change at £25 labour each time!

 

Not to be rude, but if you can't figure out how to change a light tail light bulb, maybe you should just drop it off for service at a mechanic to be changed. I know here in the states places like Autozone and Advance Auto sell Haynes manuals with illustrated how-to's. Also buying a Bently manual from bently publishers is also an option.

 

Thanks to clconversion I am now sorted. And I have the windows e-manual downloaded too.
In response to Jestnomen, who is clearly the highly respected Guru of this forum, let me tactfully point out that:
1. Haynes list the following manuals for Audi in USA and UK - which do NOT cover the Audi A4 2001 onwards:
P/N - Manual Title
15020 - 4000 all models '80 thru '87
15025 - 5000 all models '77 thru '83
15026 - 5000 all models '84 thru '88
96023 - A4 - see VW Passat (96023) 96023 - Passat '98 thru '01, & Audi A4 '96 thru '01, covers 1.8L 4-cylinder turbo and 2.8L V6 engines
2. I realise you think I am an idiot, however I did spot the blanking cover in the boot pillar, had already removed it and spotted the cross head screw recessed 2 inches deep behind the hole. I had tried loosening it to see it the lights popped out - however, it was very stiff, the lights didn't move and I realised there was a real risk of the screw coming out and dissapearing southwards into heaven knows where. Hence my caution. This was the point at which I came to this forum for advice. Just ONE of you guys seems to have understood the model correctly - for which thanks.
3. Do you really feel that Audi are doing a good job in NOT telling me this apparently simple information?
4. Are you aware that having purchased the "license" to view their manuals (at equivalent of $20 per chapter) that license runs out after 12 months, you cannot cut and paste images or text and so far I have been unable to print any pages (that maybe restricted too). I guess this means that if I plan to maintain my own car for the next 10 years, with say 20 sections of the manual to purchase each year, this will cost me $4000 for the information alone!
No, I am not a modifier or home tuning expert - but I have owned and maintained cars for 40 years without this kind of trouble.
Mike Lunch (Chartered Engineer, Bachelor or Technology)

 

mlunch,

I feel your pain and I fully agree with you.

I found this link for you, it appears to be the right manual for your car, it is on CD-ROM, and is made by Bentley Publishing:

http://www.bentleypublishers.com/product.htm?code=ab65

Good luck.

P.S. I would try not to mistake Jestnomen to be a guru of anything.

 

Might attempt a print screen and copy that to a word doc. It's a pretty lame way to have to do it, but better than nothing if it works.

 

Bentley CD looks just the job - that is Excellent - Thanks!

Re the Erwin web based manuals - it is NOT possible to screen grab or cut and paste into Word (clever stuff!), however I have discovered it is possible to print pages - but each manual section is BIG (e.g. over 300 pages for the electrical manual). This is where the Bently stuff looks perfect, many thanks.

Mike

 

mlunch, glad you got it all worked out.