Audi A3 8v help

coventryslk

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Morning people,

Ive been doing super light damaged repairable cars to generate an income.

I picked up a Audi A3 8V recently with tiny rear damage. Small dent on tailgate and ordered new part and thats it.

Problem i have is airbag light was on which is no big deal as would have that sorted too, but after driving around in it, safety system fault came up and looks like fuel supply cut off.

Anyone know someone or a forum specialising with Audi as seems to be very little information out there. I've seen the safety system fault issue on the internet and occurred from any light impact on Audi's.

I had a laguna several years ago that got hit by a foreign HGV and was driving around for 3 months with damage waiting for Polish Transport company insurance to sort and had no issues with any safety system fault.

I was speaking to someone the other day who said similar on Mercedes and BMW from around 2015 and needs a reset.

I need someone with ODIS to hook it up and clear

Could anyone point me in the right direction
 

LostKiwi

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I think the safety system uses a signal from the airbags to shut down the fuel pump. Once you sort the airbag issue the pump should run again.
 
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coventryslk

coventryslk

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Phoned a place up in Coventry this morning. Will get it dropped off there on Wednesday to see what they can do, apparently have ODIS.

I found 3 sites where this safety thing has happened which audi breakdown have come out and used ODIS to reset so hoping no big deal.

The place i spoke to said she thinks 'although an airbag hasnt gone off, it could be about to if airbag light is on' i told her my merc airbag light came on last week too.

Will see whats what next week just need to arrange a tow truck. Supposed to be a fella for £30
 

bob 6600

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Which place in Cov was it? Dack?
 
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coventryslk

coventryslk

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Its crazy

Says no fuel, TPMS fault, hill assist fault, stability control,

safety system malfunction please see workshop

Ill see wednesday with the codes hopefully. If i take it to a dealer and it turns out to be a dodgy airbag they wont let me take it....
 

Craiglxviii

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Steve Winn Autocare. Steve is the go-to guy for VAG issues in Cov & Warks. He has looked after the family VW and Audi’s for 20 years now. Great guy and what he doesn’t know...
 
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coventryslk

coventryslk

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Car went to Dack today. They cleared the airbag fault light..... but the only fault coming up they could see on ODIS was the steering rack, no fault code just descriptive they said and could not clear it and said would need to go to Audi as not sure if its either mechanical or software/electrical (when it cut out when driving it i went round the small island at the edge of Meriden).

A new rack is about 1k plus labour i see from Audi USA wevsite and it apparently needs coding to the car too.... i was going to make a nice profit for christmas on that one for kids presents (and drive it to my grans funeral in a few weeks). You win some you lose some i guess.

Booked in at Cov Audi next Wednesday now and will see if can do the repair via other way tomorrow as parts the Bosch electro mechanical rack is around £500-£600 on discount part suppliers
 

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Car went to Dack today. They cleared the airbag fault light..... but the only fault coming up they could see on ODIS was the steering rack, no fault code just descriptive they said and could not clear it and said would need to go to Audi as not sure if its either mechanical or software/electrical (when it cut out when driving it i went round the small island at the edge of Meriden).

A new rack is about 1k plus labour i see from Audi USA wevsite and it apparently needs coding to the car too.... i was going to make a nice profit for christmas on that one for kids presents (and drive it to my grans funeral in a few weeks). You win some you lose some i guess.

Booked in at Cov Audi next Wednesday now and will see if can do the repair via other way tomorrow as parts the Bosch electro mechanical rack is around £500-£600 on discount part suppliers
I can recommend RSD in Daventry. VAG specialists and Danny knows his stuff and is good to talk to. He does my MB work when I can't be bothered (unless it's something that requires specific MB knowledge).
 
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coventryslk

coventryslk

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I can recommend RSD in Daventry. VAG specialists and Danny knows his stuff and is good to talk to. He does my MB work when I can't be bothered (unless it's something that requires specific MB knowledge).
Thankyou LK I'll give him a call in the morning. May work from home and pop out lunchtime as had meeting all day today didnt get much work work done.
 
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coventryslk

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I discovered last week the issue with the car was a simple software update for the electro mechanical power steering so got it in to Audi. They apparently sorted this but ive been chasing most of the week to confirm all sorted and to pay etc and get the car.

They sent me the Audi Cam link, a short video of the car and 'issues'to resolve of which they kindly supplied costs, bit like the Merc health check. The car was MOT'd 500 miles ago.... yet....

They said needed new wipers for £83, a timing belt change for £575 (the ea211 engine, audi dont specify a change interval only say its to last the life of the engine whereas Seat recommend 72k on same engine and car is only on 40k.

They supplied costs for brake fluid, fuel filter and spark plugs.... in addition to £299 do replace the 'worn out rear pads and discs'

Now, if it was someone else they would get it done out of fear or lack of knowledge

But 500 miles since its MOT and safety items they say need doing....come on. I know the wipers are fine and the rear brakes too are good.

The also stated the tyres were 50% worn (with 6mm tread all round)
 

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This is exactly the experience we had with our Audi A5. We had it from new, and it was fine for 110,000 miles. However when it started going wrong, it was dealer only fix, and big I mean big bucks. Approx £10k in 6 months, due to engine and gearbox issues. Dealer contributed several grand out of "goodwill". Needless to say it went to webuyanycar.com . I would avoid Audis for exactly this reason. Unrepairable and undiagnosable, except by Audi, who just replace everything. £11 grand for a gearbox anyone ?
 

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Timing belt change for £575 (the ea211 engine, audi dont specify a change interval only say its to last the life of the engine whereas Seat recommend 72k on same engine and car is only on 40k.

It can be a mileage or age related change with Audi (VW Group) Belts, my TT was 5 years or 60k which ever came sooner.
 
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coventryslk

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The good news is they charged me £60 to update the steering software. Had to phone twice today to sort

Ill pick the key up from sales on sunday as not around until.

I am getting the idea, although I've personally thought this way for several years after stories from those ive known that have had Audi is that they are a bit ****. Nice looking and nice interiors aside they appear to be expensive and unreliable (and FWD the majority)

Merc always the best, Renault, Nissan, Honda not bad either. I'll sell it on as its in a great condition and like new and revert back to my ultra reliable Merc
 

bob 6600

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Perhaps I'm a bit biased but I can't say I agree with the unreliable and unrepairable comment. I've had mine for 18+ months and the other one in the family for about 5 years now. All newer cars are difficult to repair as they are more and more complex and (all) dealers tend to go down the 'replace rather than repair' route. There are specialists out there that can repair these cars, same as Mercedes and other makes e.g. companies like MSL could/would strip down and engine and gearbox where as a dealer necessarily wouldn't.

With this A3, it had more faults than was expected but financially wasn't too bad in the end. I've had the Audi cam too, like most dealers they will pick up everything that does and doesn't need doing immediately, not defending it but it's common.

The wipers are extortionate, even more expensive than mine! They (Audi) do have some good fixed price offers though and my wipers worked out cheaper under this (incl fitting) than if I bought them from TPS or Audi. My last service was also only about £60 more (after discount) than the nearest Indy who wasn't using genuine parts although they were OEM/quality branded.

I guess everyone has bad experiences with cars and it puts them off the whole brand, I would do the same tbh.
 
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coventryslk

coventryslk

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Perhaps I'm a bit biased but I can't say I agree with the unreliable and unrepairable comment. I've had mine for 18+ months and the other one in the family for about 5 years now. All newer cars are difficult to repair as they are more and more complex and (all) dealers tend to go down the 'replace rather than repair' route. There are specialists out there that can repair these cars, same as Mercedes and other makes e.g. companies like MSL could/would strip down and engine and gearbox where as a dealer necessarily wouldn't.

With this A3, it had more faults than was expected but financially wasn't too bad in the end. I've had the Audi cam too, like most dealers they will pick up everything that does and doesn't need doing immediately, not defending it but it's common.

The wipers are extortionate, even more expensive than mine! They (Audi) do have some good fixed price offers though and my wipers worked out cheaper under this (incl fitting) than if I bought them from TPS or Audi. My last service was also only about £60 more (after discount) than the nearest Indy who wasn't using genuine parts although they were OEM/quality branded.

I guess everyone has bad experiences with cars and it puts them off the whole brand, I would do the same tbh.


The dealer presented issues that aren't there.... the wipers for example are fine, the brakes are fine etc etc. It cost me £60 only for a software update....but.... to increase the potential income they offer a free 'healthcheck' which others like Merc, kwikfit etc do. Trading Standards are often involved.

The brand experience you mention is nothin to do really with the dealer..... the car is disappointing to drive, especially when you consider the original cost. The interior is nice and would have been made by a PSA owned firm now chinese owned.

For the money they are poor value. Versus a new shape Megane GT Line - the megane is the better car
 

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For the money they are poor value. Versus a new shape Megane GT Line - the megane is the better car

Isn't that true with all the "premium" stuff that isn't a big saloon? The A/B classes, Audi A3, BMW 1 series all seem to look a lot worse and cause more bills/troubles than the mainstream Fiat/Renault/Ford/Peugeot/Citroen/Vauxhall/Kia stuff. Some of that list get praise for handling a lot better too, they are usually cheaper and bigger/more practical and have nicer laid out/airier interiors (even if the plastic maybe cheap). It's essentially just paying for a badge and a slightly nicer grade of black plastic.

If you go to any Spanish city, where cars are expected to last 20 years/300k miles and a family car is expected to actually transport families and outdoor gear/camping/luggage over unpaved roads in the mountains etc but brand is unimportant because the cars are scraped and dented within 6 months, 95% of the cars are non German. Despite being non German there seem to be many perfectly reliable 20 yr old Fords/Peugeots/Renaults driving around daily despite a life of neglect with mismatching wheels/tyres and bumpers hanging off, etc.

It's actually nice to see once ubiquitous cars that you don't see in the UK any more still running around. At the lights it's quite normal to be stuck between a couple of Peugeot 406s, Mk 1 renault Lagunas, Mk1 Ford Mondeos, Rover era Honda Accords etc. It also makes you realise how nice and uncluttered the styling is of these vehicles before manufacturers engaged in a battle of creases and angles to see who could make the fussiest design.
 

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what always amazes me is that no premium badge offers more than 3 year warranties , to me it speaks volumes
 
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