Magnet

Hello Trevor, Thanks for joining, and pleased you are pleased with the car, and had a pleasant trip home. Just wondered if you have made - or intend to make- a formal complaint about your impression of Cheshire Oaks Audi? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Steve, Good on you for actually checking and adjusting your tyre pressures, rather than depending on the TPMS. Old fashioned probably, but I don’t like TPMS, since it’s not unusual to experience corrosion around the valve seats, and certainly the valve caps if someone has fitted ‘fancy’ caps at some time. I’m surprised that ordinary plastic caps have caused corrosion - they shouldn’t do, whereas metallic ones always do. Do yours have some sort of metal threaded insert covered in plastic? Worth a careful look. If so throw them all away. Renewing valves? Tyre has to come off, and obviously rebalancing will be necessary. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for posting the response Duncan. It seems you are now at the mercy of Audi’s pricing structure. Have you tried Audi Parts Direct ( part of Mon Motors) at Cardiff, and Aberdeen Audi, both of which have been known to offer discounts? TPS would be another source, although I think you will need someone with an account with them to be able to buy from them. Would you be kind enough to let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Which of the clutch parts has actually gone on yours?

Hello Niko, Thanks for joining the forum. I would suggests sending a PM to the original poster, since he hasn’t been on here for over 18 months. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Gorman, New discs will be required. Kind regards, Gareth.

It’s great to see that these cars are in good and caring hands. Only - hopefully constructive comment- I can add is to make sure they are insured to an agreed value where possible, to avoid being paid out a pittance in event of a minor scrape dictating total loss. Classic car insurance should ensure this, if the car is around 20 years old and isn’t your sole means of transport. Kind regards, Gareth.

Tried Worldwide EBay Philip? Tried on-line car breaker link sites? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello, Possible injector issues?? Actual culprit traceable without test equipment/diagnostics?? I would think your best bet would be to invest in an hour’s labour at a trusted diesel specialist (rather than an ‘ordinary’ garage) to gain an experienced opinion, rather than the more expensive route of try this, try that. Perhaps you would let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello David, This question was asked recently - and my response was to try EBay for Chinese ones, or search Aliexpress. I bought a set for a non-Audi at about a third of the main dealer cost, and was delighted with the quality and price - wouldn’t have expected better if I had bought at the main dealer. Perhaps you would let us know how you get on David. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Paul, Incase it helps, a family member has used Pirelli Scorpions on a non-Audi to good effect covering c60k miles over two sets. Kind regards, Gareth.

Didn’t you actually get connected to somebody on the telephone Duncan - rather than leaving a message? If not, I would just keep trying on the phone, and/or look for alternative phone numbers where somebody should be able to connect you internally. Keep us posted Duncan. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Tommy, Probably better to send Paul a PM. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mark, I’d be tempted to send Dean a PM - he hasn’t been on here for a year, but should be able to be contacted provided he hasn’t changed his e-Mail contact. Kind regards, Gareth.

Pleasure Jon. Glad that Battery Megastore worked for you. I did have an issue with a non Varta/Bosch battery for a ride-on mower from them, but they were progressive in sorting it out. I must say I use EBay for most parts for family member’s cars. I attempt to buy quality parts at competitive prices from reliable sellers - not just the cheapest for the same product. Incase it helps, I have favoured a variety of Febi ( Bilstein) aftermarket parts to seemingly good avail. Car Parts in Motion (Exeter) have provided a good mail order service for Febi parts at generally competitive prices. Again, it’s always worth checking GSF for their prices. Hengst filters? Believe they are part of the Mann empire ( German origins) but possibly still unaffected by this economics is king policy. I’ve just bought one for the A3 from GSF and first impressions give scope for being impressed - sturdy and quite heavyweight. The one for the A3 was just £4.30 if you believe, and I did buy a Mann for another car sometime last year from them, and that was less than £5. They are not competitive for some parts, but it’s always a case of shopping around. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. No connection with any of the above mentioned suppliers, apart from having bought from them.

Thanks Jon, Would you mind refreshing an aged memory on the Bosch filter issue? Interestingly, I’ve just moved away from Mann ( and Bosch) oil filters for the annual service on the humble A3, due to helpful comments from Steve Y some time ago. I bought the Hengst equivalent from GSF at a fraction of Hengst, Mann and Bosch prices from other sellers. Just ordered on line and picked it up at their local- to - me branch. Great service. Just double check that I’m right in my belief that if you buy Varta or it’s equivalent Bosch, you are actually buying the same battery - simply branded Varta or Bosch as appropriate. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks John, Sounds good, but slightly cheaper from Battery Magastore on EBay. Tayna list on there as well. Incase it helps, I always buy via. EBay (postage is included in the price there) since you have the backing of EBay if anything goes wrong. You are on your own if buying direct. Perhaps a word of caution:- one seller is listing the same/similar battery at around £113, but their reviews appear poor. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. You might look at the Bosch equivalent - reputed to be the same battery, but simply rebranded.

Always worth buying once and wisely with batteries Jon. I only buy brands and grades that have a minimum of 4 year warranties. I tend to buy mine on line from specialist suppliers at competitive prices. Don’t forget to get it coded to the car. Kind regards, Gareth.

Battery efficiency been check Rob? Always the first thing to be tested and eliminated - or not - in these cases. Take it it’s electric assisted steering rather than hydraulic - ? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Chris, Is it difficult to put an internal calliper in this plug and get a good measurement? Allen key? I’d be surprised if someone ( apart from Audi) doesn’t supply the correct socket for this - probably common to many marques. I’d be giving this a good coat of Googling. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Chris, Excuse me appearing to be patronising, but well done you by making sure you can undo the filler plug before undoing the drain plug. Many before you haven’t with differentials and gearboxes, only to find they can’t refill them! Anyway, back to your question about the availability of a large Alen head socket. Laser Tools used to do a variety of largish ones ( big enough for you?) as a set, so worth looking to them. Have you done an EBay search for the size you want? Have you tried Halfords? If all else fails - and I doubt if it will - you could take an accurate measurement, and search out a steel stockholder and buy a short length of the correct size hexagonal bar. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for joining Philip. Could I ask some questions:- Can I take it the original alternator was giving a low/zero voltage, and would you know what that voltage was? Has anyone tested the voltage now given out by the replacement alternator - and if so what is that figure? Was the battery efficiency measured before the alternator was replaced, and has it been tested again now? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Steve, Common issue? - I would be sure not. Abnormal? -yes. This car should not use anything like that amount of coolant in a year, let alone 250 miles. Simply get this investigated under your extended warranty, without any DIY investigation or fiddling. Warranty company? Could be as simple as a faulty reservoir cap, or anything more serious from there. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Shannon, So it seems you haven’t found time to view responses on here, leave alone answer a question, so I’m taking it that you aren’t actually going to say what your asking price is. If it was solely in my hands, I would delete such adverts, where sellers are not prepared to disclose a selling price. I have the facility to do that, but would you like us to give you a couple more days to ‘come clean’ on that asking price? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Rikhard, Thanks for joining. Unfortunately the original poster hasn’t posted any responses in the last 3 years, so it’s probably safe to say he isn’t going to now! If this were mine, I would be getting the battery efficiency checked, as my first port of call. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ian, It looks like the correct part number is 894422066 and not …..065 as Audi said it was. Have you now enquired about availability of ….066? You say the fitting positions of the hoses are different. If this is the only difference, can’t your garage get some modified hoses made up which will fit? Commercial vehicle motor factors are usually a good source of advice on who makes these pressure hoses. Kind regards, Gareth.