Magnet

Hello David, I this were mine, I would be visiting (not phoning) my nearest Audi dealer and enquiring there whether this part is indeed available as a separate part to the motor - my (pessimistic?) guess is that it isn’t, but you have to start by confirming or refuting that. Let’s hope I’m wrong. If I’m not, then obviously it’s a new or secondhand motor, but at least you will know. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Richard, Perhaps you could help us out a little here, and let us know where you have tried so far, and failed. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Tony, Do you know what make of springs are being used for the replacements? Are they being replaced as a pair? Kind regards, Gareth.

Great, so it was Ice Silver as I suggested Neil. Hope you don’t mind me mentioning, and it’s probably the photo exaggerating, but it looks as if a little more preparation maybe needed to get this into ready-to-spray finish. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

Thereby could be your best route then Steve. Find yourself a recommended gearbox specialist, and seek road test and inspection there. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hi Neil, I would nip the bumper, or any removable part - such as fuel flap - along to (1) S. Wales Autopaints at Newport, or (2) Autopaints who were on Penarth Road I think, but not sure if they are still trading. A reliable alternative would be Carpaints at the Cardiff end of the Bridgend Industrial Estate, and see Dale there - he will have colour chips. Probably easiest from logistics point would be to find a friendly localish bodyshop. They should be able to match it via. spectro and hopefully make up an aerosol or two for you. Make sure that whatever piece you take for matching has been rubbed back with polishing compound. Let us know how you get on Neil. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Neil, Agree that this isn’t the ‘normal’ label. Could be Ice Silver, but could be it is. Where in S. Wales are you? Kind regards, Gareth.

You could well be right Steve. I take it it was a gearbox specialist who did the gearbox service for you -? If so, my way forward would be to ask them to inspect and test it for you. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. We take it this was a multi £100s gearbox service -?

Hello Nickie, I certainly feel for you with your string of bad luck. To cut to the chase, I guess you know you have to return the vehicle to the seller and reject it in writing, prior to 16th - it can be considered dangerous as well as not fit for purpose. To box it up, you should not concern yourself about what maybe wrong with it. A paid for professional pre-purchase inspection sounds a must before committing to any future purchases. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Charles, Welcome, and thanks for joining. My first port of call would be to visit - not ring - your local dealer and ask the stores chap if he could help with a print out of the build record against your VIN - just take in your V5, if you have confirmed V5 Vin and actual are the same. This should give you an insight into whether the vehicle was built with this facility or not. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Steve, Not a progressive answer, but has this issue occurred since the gearbox was serviced, and did this service involve diagnostic resetting? Kind regards, Gareth.

Could be well short of the mark Rob, but both garages may use ECP as their supplying motorfactors - ? Kind regards, Gareth.

Well done Joe - all in Welsh humour jest. I’ve had a great Friday out in my dotage - sure you have too. Kind regards, Gareth

You’re spoiling him Joe!

Hello Carl, as Mark says. Taking it back ( bought reasonably local?) is really your only option, since you must (1) give them the opportunity to repair it. (2) you cannot get anyone else to attempt to fix it, without the seller’s permission. It could indeed be an ABS sensor - but which one of the 4? Diagnostics will be necessary to determine that. May not simply be the sensor ( which obviously senses a signal) but could be ( in addition) the actual ‘signal sender’ which is often built into the wheel hub. Perhaps you could let us know how things pan out Carl. Kind regards, Gareth.

Try Google Joseph.

It takes me 23 years to renovate it, and you take 2 minutes to read it! Only joking Anton. Kind regards, Gareth.

The connection should be meaningful Tony, once you’ve read the article. Sounds like a visit to the Kent Archives for me then, to view the Electoral Registers for the period of interest. Kind regards, Gareth.

Taking me for lunch after cleaning your car sounds a much more acceptable arrangement Tony! p.s. Beckenham - interesting. Google ‘ Winterbourne’s Austin Sixteen ‘ when you have 10 mins to spare. Overbury Avenene (street number evades me at the moment - 18 from memory) but not reliable! It would be useful to know whether said property was in multiple occupancy between 1947 and 1965. Kind regards, Gareth.

Anything is doable Chris - it’s what adverse affect it has on your wallet that is important. Much cheaper to find one with disc brakes! Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Tony, I qualify for your club, although I do still wash and polish our cars by hand - always have. Insurance! I just sorted cover for my mid 80s elder brother, and as with yourself Tony, he has had max. NCB for yonks, but it hasn’t stopped his premium increasing by 80% this year - and his last year’s insurers worked out the best bet, despite that. We are now in this reversed-young - drivers group, where our premiums will increase significantly year on year, as the young drivers decreases with age. Keep on motoring Tony, but tell those car cleaners not to squirt anything on your newly refurbished wheels. I wouldn’t mention anything to Audi. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

Thereby probably lies your answer Tony. Application of a high acidity wheel cleaner, followed by blasting that acid solution into the (thin) wheel lacquer coating is highly likely to result in perforation of the lacquer, and subsequent degrading. To be honest, it wouldn’t have surprised me if Audi (unfairly due to the age) would have refused to rectify the issue. Pessimistic probably, but I wouldn’t like to put any guarantee on this not happening again. Appreciating, the cleaning regime may not have changed from earlier models, but as Steve says, coating thicknesses probably have. Everyone to their own, but I stay well away from anyone aiming a pressure washer at my cars - seen too many with subsequent lacquer degradation following that route. Anyone who has used these blue plastic 40 gallon drums as water butts will know the concentrated dregs left in the bottom will literally take your skin off, and it’s easy to be concerned about how accurate their dilution rates are. Kind regards, Gareth.

‘Suddenly broke….’ wasn’t what I was inferring actually David. I think that experience of these in-flexible-harness issues is that the wires fracture, and sometimes the ends of these fractures actually touch and make contact - sometimes they don’t - and that process is dictated by opening and closing the boot/tailgate. Inspection here is simply an elimination or confirmation of the issue being associated with that point. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. the fuse that feeds the reverse light switch is obviously the fuse that controls the illumination of the reverse light itself.

Not sure Chris, but I would have thought that the hub carrier would first have to be changed, before adding all the expensive calipers, discs, back plates, pipework etc. etc. £££££££……! Why? Are you not happy about the braking efficiency of the drum brakes, or is it a simple aesthetic ‘improvement’ you are looking for? Worth the effort? Sorry Chris, absolutely not in my book on a 21 year old car. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Tony, Apologies for being pedantic, but does ‘hand’ wash include a pressure washer, and an application of wheel cleaner? Kind regards, Gareth.