Please bare with me as I don’t know much about cars, single female here who is rather concerned and really need advice.

Firstly, I totally trust the garage that it has gone to. My friend has used it for over 20 years with no issues and is friends with them. My car displayed ‘Engine System Failure’ and cut out on a dual carriageway. Someone stopped, managed to get it started and followed me home. It was then towed to said garage. They have said that the seal around the gearbox (automatic)  has gone and flooded engine with oil (I think they said that second part!). It needed a new alternator, starter motor and I’m not sure what else. Anyway they have also said that the crankshaft is moving from side to side and possibly causing the seal to go. When I got to the garage they told me this but said it should be ok to drive home. Also, when I started the engine it is now making an extremely loud noise and they have said that is the dual mass flywheel. When I was about five miles down the road having driven very slowly, the same happened… broke down and could see oil on the road. This time it’s been towed to a recovery place and not been restarted. When it broke down it said oil pressure was low too.
 

I have a few questions…

Why was it not making the loud sound at all until after it was received by the garage?

Why did the same thing happen again almost straight away?

I called an Audi garage who said it’s very unusual for a crankshaft to just go as they should last the lifetime of the vehicle. It has been regularly serviced and was last done in August.

What other causes could there be for the crankshaft going? I went through a ginormous pot hole a while ago, was surprised that the wheels hadn’t popped. Could that have caused damage to cause the crankshaft to go, apparently it’s moving side to side?

Or could something else have been damaged in said pothole which has then led to this?

Or am I just unlucky?

Abigail.

Crankshafts don't just "go", whatever that means, instantaneously. They wear slowly and give plenty of warning knocking sounds as they do. The same applies to the bearings the shaft runs in.

The oil leak could be from the engine or the gearbox. Either way they will have to be removed for a very expensive repair. The oil leak is probably why the pressure has dropped, though it could also be an indication of bearing wear.

Dual mass flywheels do indeed disintegrate and make a hell of a racket. That would also need engine removal to fix.

A new starter and alternator is odd, unless the car is a mild hybrid which have a poor reputation, but I don't see this being related to the oil leak or damage to the crankshaft or the pothole crash.

Taken together, the symptoms are of an old poorly maintained engine, yet it is only seven years old. How many miles has it done? Are you a conservative or an enthusiastic driver? Were there any knocking sounds before the breakdown? Were there any oils leaks before the breakdown?

I think you need to have the engine removed and stripped for a proper inspection. Be prepared for some bad news.

Thank you. I already know that it needs a new engine after speaking to Audi. They were the ones that said it is very odd how this has all happened. I am just trying to now work out how to clear the finance of a car that is worthless 🙈.

I am a very conservative driver, careful etc. It came to me with 75k miles on the clock and it now has 120k… 

I had just wondered if it could have been damaged by the pothole I went through which has then in turn caused this!

1 hour ago, Pip12345 said:

I had just wondered if it could have been damaged by the pothole I went through which has then in turn caused this!

I don't see that could be possible without ripping off the wheels and the cross member that is below the engine.

What about knocks and leaks before the pothole incident?

Nope, I’m a very careful driver. Have never ever even so much as caused any of my cars to have a scratch on them! Just rather baffled. I do really appreciate your help ☺️

I meant knocking sounds not collisions. I also asked about oil leaks or excessive consumption.

Given your careful driving style I guess the engine was thrashed by the previous owner, because with good maintenance and gentle driving the engine should easily last 150000 miles.

I think you’re right. I forgot to mention that it’s an ex fleet car… no noises but yes, I was topping up oil more than I thought I should have been. 

Ah, a fleet car. There's the answer. You were sold a lemon unfortunately, and I imagine any guarantee has long since expired. Would the finance company take any responsibility do you think?

Really sorry to hear of your plight Abigail. 
To better colour in the picture, it seems you have covered 45K miles in the car since you bought it (at 75K).

How long have you owned it, and what has been your servicing regime? How comprehensive was the car’s service history with the previous owner? 
We have healthy varying opinions on here and in my opinion, yes, fleet cars can cover high mileages, but that mileage is likely (but certainly not always) to be covered with the car at optimum operating conditions over that higher mileage. 
My dislike is  VAG’s regime of servicing every c18K miles or 18 months - too long intervals - but bear in mind that most privately owned vehicles are on the same servicing schedule! 

You mention it’s been using oil - how much in what mileage, and how long has it been doing this? 
Sorry about all the questions, but…

Regards,

Gareth. 
Oh, petrol or diesel?

54 minutes ago, cliffcoggin said:

Ah, a fleet car. There's the answer. You were sold a lemon unfortunately, and I imagine any guarantee has long since expired. Would the finance company take any responsibility do you think?

I have no idea. A bridge to cross tomorrow 😫

30 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Really sorry to hear of your plight Abigail. 
To better colour in the picture, it seems you have covered 45K miles in the car since you bought it (at 75K).

How long have you owned it, and what has been your servicing regime? How comprehensive was the car’s service history with the previous owner? 
We have healthy varying opinions on here and in my opinion, yes, fleet cars can cover high mileages, but that mileage is likely (but certainly not always) to be covered with the car at optimum operating conditions over that higher mileage. 
My dislike is  VAG’s regime of servicing every c18K miles or 18 months - too long intervals - but bear in mind that most privately owned vehicles are on the same servicing schedule! 

You mention it’s been using oil - how much in what mileage, and how long has it been doing this? 
Sorry about all the questions, but…

Regards,

Gareth. 
Oh, petrol or diesel?

Thank you for your reply! I have had it for 2 1/2 years. It’s a 69 plate 35 TDI. It was very regularly serviced before me. I have had it serviced once, in August. So I did miss one before that, I think/ maybe not, not sure! If it’s missed any, it’s just one. Was MOT’d September. I will be honest, I don’t know how many miles it’s been going before needing oil, not excessively but probably twice in 6 months… I may be wrong and maybe that is an ok thing for it to need?! Clearly when I thought I knew about cars, I didn’t and just like the look of them instead 🙈. Oh and it’s Diesel and semi auto.

Also, if anyone has any ideas of how on earth I deal with the fact that it’s on finance, then I would be very grateful! 

Sounds like a catalogue of faults unfortunately.

Potholes (depending how large) will damage suspension components, wheels, bearings, possible even a sump).

The sound does point to DMF, which means you’ll need a new clutch too. The garage can advise, but trying to fix the engine seems pointless. If camshaft is worn, that indicates everything else will be suspect too, such as big end bearings. You could do a compression test to confirm that. Get garage to price second hand engine and gearbox and go from there. It does sound like this car had a hard life before you purchased it, and even with regular servicing post 75k, the damage was done.

Incidentally, when was the DSG box last serviced?

Hello Abigail,

I apologise in advance for the contents of this post, but I think it’s worthwhile stating the facts as we now know them, rather than laying all the blame at the door of the original owners. 

We now know that you have had this diesel car for 2.5 years, covering 45k miles in that time, but having it serviced only once during that mileage. Saying as it is, and by way of an explanation why this engine has gone !Removed! up - this will have been a significant contributor in its demise. Having said earlier that I’m not a fan of VAG’s 18k mile interval servicing, you will understand I certainly wouldn’t have recommended the servicing regime during your ownership. Sorry, this is just my opinion, and seeing it as I see it. I don’t want to make any judgement or criticism, but just to find a pathway of explanation. Others may disagree, and that is fine too. 
 

Way forward:- Richard’s suggestion of sourcing an alternative engine and gearbox would seem to be the most cost effective way around the problem. Do the economics stack up of spending a large sum of money on a 7 year old car?? Probably not, but…

Finance:- I could be wrong, but I wouldn’t like to put a case forward to support not paying the outstanding payments. If it were mine, I would be seeking advice from your local CAB before contacting the finance company. 
I genuinely feel sorry for the plight you find yourself in Abigail, and I wish I had some low cost options for you.

Please come back to us, and I’m sure everyone on here will attempt to offer you their best advice. Please don’t be alone with the effects of this.

Regards,

Gareth.

p.s. I didn’t write txxts up, I wrote bxxxxts up! Why a banned word? 

Any update for us Abigail? 

2 hours ago, Magnet said:

Any update for us Abigail? 

Sorry. Not yet! 

Is it my confusion when addressing you as Abigail, when you now seem to be Vic? 

I have now had a PM from Abigail stating that she didn’t realise that her real first name would be shown on the forum, and with current knowledge, has changed her name to a supposedly fictitious ‘Vic’. 

I have explained that we depend on those joining and requesting help from our members, to at least introduce themselves by their real name, as one would expect if approached by a stranger asking for help. 

I have asked her to consider reverting to Abigail on a principle of good form. 

This together with a current reluctance to update the forum, leads me to seriously considering whether to spend my time responding further to this thread.

Regards,

Gareth. 

Abigail.

Since we already know your first name there is little point in trying to change it. By the way, only the moderators of this forum can see your email address. Anybody else wanting to contact you must do so via the forum messaging system so disguising your identity is pointless.

32 minutes ago, cliffcoggin said:

Abigail.

Since we already know your first name there is little point in trying to change it. By the way, only the moderators of this forum can see your email address. Anybody else wanting to contact you must do so via the forum messaging system so disguising your identity is pointless.

Thank you for explaining that to me. I was not aware of that. 

1 hour ago, Magnet said:

I have now had a PM from Abigail stating that she didn’t realise that her real first name would be shown on the forum, and with current knowledge, has changed her name to a supposedly fictitious ‘Vic’. 

I have explained that we depend on those joining and requesting help from our members, to at least introduce themselves by their real name, as one would expect if approached by a stranger asking for help. 

I have asked her to consider reverting to Abigail on a principle of good form. 

This together with a current reluctance to update the forum, leads me to seriously considering whether to spend my time responding further to this thread.

Regards,

Gareth. 

I did not know that my name would be publicly available. I am more than happy to now leave this forum. I do not appreciate snide comments when I came on here with a genuine question, concern and no one else knowledgeable to ask.

Thank you to everyone whom answered my question, it was very much appreciated. 

Obviously you are free to stay or not stay. I’m sorry you found my factual comments to be snidie - that was not my intention. My intention was to simply amplify the protocol on here.

It would seem that now you are fully knowledgeable of those facts, it’s difficult to work out why you would want to leave the forum, but if indeed that is what you want to do, then I would like to wish you a successful outcome to your situation.

Regards,

Gareth.