Magnet

Hello Paul, From the school of simple things first:- Replace the battery with a quality make one such as Duracell etc. Worth the small investment. Yes, I know Audi has replaced it, so...., but satisfy yourself from a known starting point. Surprising how many use Poundland’s best! Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Damien, ’......a lot of models are?’ Are what? S line:- Please check with others on here, and on-line, but I think S Line represents ‘Sports Line’. Don’t forget to respect wheel sizes (which influences tyre profiles) and of course whether run-flat tyres are fitted - which would not enhance your quest for a more comfortable ride. Don’t quote me, but I believe the wheels used for run-flat tyres will dictate that only run-flat can be fitted when tyres need changing, so worth confirming/refuting. Kind regards, Gareth.

Unfortunately Patrick, David joined and last visited the forum on the same day! Might be worth sending him a PM? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for coming back Jez. I you don’t mind buying new, it would be worth calling to your nearest dealer, and they should be able to help you to at least identity the part name, and advise whether it’s a stand alone item, or part of a larger section of trim. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mark, Air suspension I guess ? If so - culprits could be level sensor, air leak, or failing compressor piston seal - in no particular order. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Damien, I would avoid anything which was built to ‘sports specification’, and try to buy a car with small wheels and high profile tyres - e.g. no less than 50 profile. Also avoid run-flat tyres. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jez, I take it you don’t want to buy a new piece then. If you want to buy used, then you could register your want with online breaker’s systems such as Partsfinder (there are more). You simply register your want - I would suggest describing it as Windscreen Trim - and sit back and wait for beakers to contact you directly. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dean, Check the wiring for breaks within the flexible harness which links the body to the hatch. This is frequently a source of problems due to continual flexing over the years. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mark, Usual points where water may come in include from the plenum chamber ( the area below the vents forward of the screen) - due to blocked drains, a badly fitted screen, wing mirrors allowing water to get to the wrong side of the door panels etc. Also, does this car have a targa top ( or whatever you call it?) - pardon my ignorance. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Rab, I could well be wrong, but the availability (and understanding) of wiring diagrams is not what it used to be, but it’s quite possible that someone on here might be able to help you. Get it wrong and trouble lies ahead! Options if you can’t get help on here:- Obtain an original plug and it’s short length of wiring from a breakers ( register your want with Partsfinder or similar). Connect this plug colour for colour into your harness, and buy the adapter plug to link your new set to the original plug. Or seek out a trusted local audio specialist and get them to connect up your new set to the chopped off wiring. Probably nothing in it cost wise. Sorry I can’t help you directly. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Rab, What are you trying to do - return the car to original in terms of its audio equipment or not? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Katie, Can we take it the headlamp Perspex ‘glass’ is free from discolourisation? If not, there are products available for remove the film. If they are OK, then I would be checking that the earth connections to the lamps are clean and secure, and also measure the voltage to the lamps. Perhaps you could come back and let us know. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Salim, The poster has not returned to the forum since he posted on 25Nov. last year. It may be better to send him a PM which should get to him via. his e-mail. Perhaps you would be kind enough to post the information you receive on here. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Andrew, OP posted on the 23 Aug. and simply hasn’t return to the forum since! Kind regards, Gareth.

Does all of this mean you are attempting to fit secondhand rear screens then Carl?

Sorry Carl, it’s probably me, but I’m not at all sure what you are saying/meaning about ‘having widow replaced .......can’t supply window as it’s damaged...but can pay an additional cost....’

Hello Carl, So did you follow earlier advice and get the rear screen heating element tested for continuity of the element, and it was found to be at fault? If so, whoever has diagnosed this problem, should be able to give you a fair idea of where the break is. Certainly with the older types, the element was inside-surface mounted, and was susceptible to damage if say something was loaded into the car and the hatch closed against it. Current technology with these things ?? - but may still be the same. If so, you used to be able to paint on repair solution to bridge the break. Could you come back to us once you’ve got some more information? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mathew, In my book either suggestion would sound logical, but the car actually needs to be a examined to determine what is actually wrong here. It’s trying to tell you something, so my advice would be to get it inspected without delay at a trusted garage, before something nasty happens. Any diagnosis on here would simply be guess work - educated guesses - but guesswork nevertheless. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Steve, I think it would difficult to justify judging the service received at one Audi dealer, to be representative of the service which will be received at them all. As with all other ‘national’ concerns, and trades, the confidence, or lack of it, and experience at one branch quite likely to vary at another. I thought I had posted a reply re. main dealer vs. using automatic gearbox specialists, but it seems to have disappeared! Anyway, in effect, I would always recommend seeking advice on auto. box issue from trusted specialists - main dealers will simply recommend renewing the whole box. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello ? , Its unlikely your 13 year old vehicle is still running on its original battery, but you don’t tell us. ‘..Am I only dealing with a bad battery’? The only way of assessing whether the battery is serviceable - or not- is to get it tested. Anything else is simply assumption until that has been checked. Halfords should be able to test it for you. If it proves to be unserviceable then of course, they sell batteries, but I’ve seldom found them competitive on price. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for coming back on this Jamie. I notice you might intend to change the battery anyway - personally, I wouldn’t - I would go through the charging and testing procedure first, and only change it if it proves to be at fault. Come back to the forum when you’ve done that, and then we can address your hot starting issue. Meanwhile, does the car appear to be heavier on fuel than it has been? Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks indeed D for sharing your experiences for the benefit of other - much appreciated, and glad you got it fixed. Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Sean, The original poster joined, had advice within 24 hrs, and has not returned to the forum since 24 hrs after that, so we have no idea whether he followed the advice, leave alone whether it worked, so many thanks for sharing your experience for the benefit of others. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mo, I think you are being very wise in querying this. Does it have a belt or a chain? Don’t know, but ask your nearest Audi dealer (I would ask this question of the parts dept.) If is has a belt, would it be normal to have been replaced at 40k miles or 4 years? I would believe no - it would have been changed early. If it is a belt, and you’ve been told it’s been changed, then simply ask for sight of the invoice or a copy of the print out from the VAG system. That should sort the sales-men from the sales-boys! Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello D. Since plastic welding on its own has proved inadequate, then it suggests to me that the fracture would benefit from reinforcing internally with a bush following a thorough cleaning and degreasing - the bush and the original pipe then being glued together with a resin glue such as Araldite. I would have thought that if this was properly engineered then the repair should be adequate at least as a temporary solution while you hunt for a replacement. Kind regards, Gareth.