Hey all. I stumbled across this forum on a google search and was hoping someone might be able to help me. Last week I was driving on the highway when I heard a squealing sound and then my A/C cut out. As I slowed down, the coolant system failure light started flashing, then the engine oil pressure light, and finally the battery light and a few other lights along with white smoke as I was stuck in the highway without any power and no shoulders.

I had the car towed to the dealer, and after almost a week they have told me that I basically need a new engine. The water pump burst, which eventually knocked off my timing belt, completely damaged the head of some pistons and something about the cam being way off. I dont know much about engine parts.

The car is a 2002 3.0 A6, with just over 58k miles. The dealer is quoting me approx 10 g's to replace the engine.

1. Does anyone know of any mechanics in the Boston area that can do a great job for less than this?
2. Do I have any recourse with Audi for this happening to such a young car?
3. What would you guys do?

Thanks in advance for any help. This sucks

 

it should be covered under warranty. call or write to AoA, just remember AoA are kinda pansies when it comes to blown engines. tell them youll get a lawyer involved and they should start to do something about it. but yeah espacially on a 3.0 v6 with 58k on it the T-belt should be changed at 90k. so this shoudl definelty be a factory defect and replaced at no cost to you.

 

I called Audi Care and they were "symptathetic" but restated that the warranty expired. I gave them my spiel about how unsafe this experience and this car is and that I have no assurances that a repaired car will be safe. Their response was that when the car leaves the garage it will be up to manufacturer standards to which I responded that that means the engine go on me at an even more dangerous time? So basically they told me to deal with the service manager at the dealership and that they have the power to "help" with the cost.

I've never had to deal with Audi Care, does this sound like the right steps to getting some restitution for this? Any suggestions on how to back my argument more? I don't see the dealer's incentive in helping me out at all.

 

talk to the dealer, theyll probably tell you the same thing, it may come down to you needing to get a lawyer involved. i know the 1.8t have alot of T-bel and associated issues, dont know if theyll do anythign with the 3.0 since its not really a problematic engine. the only thing you have going for youis that its low mileage.

 

The service manager at the dealership got back to me today telling me what I expected, that Audi was not going to offer any "goodwill" help in fixing this problem as it is almost now 2 years out of warranty despite having done all possible maintenances on the car. The service manager said that he still had to dismantle the engine to see if there was any damage to the bottom of the engine, which would mean even more cost! He said that he would try and cut down the cost as much as possible but I have a feeling that at best its still going to be near 10 grand. Do I speak with Audi care again at this point? Do I actually get a lawyer involved or threaten to get a lawyer involved? The service manager told me that it would be pointless to contact audi care since it was b/w him and the district manager to determine if audi would pay anything. Their argument is that the water pump was the cause of all the problems so I am s.o.l. I'd appreciate any advice in this as I didn't plan on keeping 10 grand as maintenance costs for this car...

 

i would try to have a sit down with the service mgr & district mgr to discuss the failure of their " audi's" parts far before the replacement time.Warantee or not the part should not have failed when it did.Stress the point that all maintenance was done at the approiate times and you should not have to foot a $10k bill because their part failed prematurely. AoA will not do anything unless constatntly pressured. You may need to go up the chain of comand at both the dealer and AoA. But if you want results you really gotta go after them. Document all calls, peoples names etc.

it will be a battle. a lawyer may be a last resort , but a good threat if things seem to be going nowhere as well as a complaint to the BBB and any other approiate govt agency as well.

 

Thanks for getting back to me. The service manager said he stressed the fact that the car was so young and that all services were done, but the bottom line was "it's 2 years out of warranty."

The service manager is also requesting a "firm committment" to repair the car if it is only the top part of the engine? What do I say to this?

 

You have to stress equallly that their part failed through no fault of yours. What their asking is for you to agree to pay the bill. I would not comit to anything. Audi should be footing the whole thing. Go up higher in the chain of comand at the dealer and AoA.

Waranty or not the part should not have failed!