Hello from Baltimore!
 

Hey forum goers, my name's Glen and I've owned a silver 2001 A4 2.8 for a few years now. It was my first car and I seriously loved it.

Of course, nothing good lasts forever, and one day a couple years ago I rear-ended someone going about 5 mph. The damage wasn't too severe: the alignment got off resulting in some shimmying at 50+ mph, and the hood latch got stuck, meaning I couldn't open the hood. There's some minor cosmetic damage too: a could small holes in the bumper and some paint chipping on the hood.

The car was due for an oil change soon, but no one -- not even professional mechanics -- could get the hood open (no doubt they didn't want to break and be liable for anything). I kept driving the car though, hoping a solution would work its way into my busy schedule.

Much to my chagrin (and due to my doing #1 car ownership no-no), a solution didn't come and the car just stopped. My worst fear was that the engine had seized and been ruined, and the car sat at my father's house, gathering tree sap until just today with little to no hope of being revived.

However, when having the car towed, my father informed me (to my surprise and delight) that the engine actually still turns! He had a couple of ideas of what needs to be fixed, but me and my admittedly novice car expertise (I can change oil, brakes, lights, spark plugs and the like, but that's about it) led me to forget as soon as we got off the phone.

Both of my brothers are very mechanically literate (though they like to toy around with BMWs) and are interested in helping me get my car back on the road, but I was hoping that joining up on some Audi forums would help get ideas and instructions for doing so.

So: Yes, I am an idiot for not changing my oil, but alas, it was my first car and I was young (I actually just did an oil change on my current car, so I am learning to take care of things myself). From what I gather, the car (and, more to the point, the engine) is still fixable.

I turn to you guys, the experts, for help and suggestions. Any would be much appreciated. And hey, if the car ends up being ruined, this is the first place I'll go to sell parts :)

Oh, and as soon as I can get that hood open, I'll post any more pertinent details that y'all may need to help me out.

Thanks mates!

hello! welcome!