Magnet

Hello Cormac. Thanks for being in touch. I think, suffice to say your concerns are highly likely to be meaningful, judging by the advice given by Steve, and what appears to be splattered about any enquiry you are likely to find on a search. If it were me, I would be taking this as read, and making your decision based on this. If it happens to schedule, then you will have made the right decision. If it doesn’t materialise according to any important-to-you timescales, then at least you won’t have made an irrecoverable decision. No such thing as a stupid question:- I can recall a quote some decades ago by a then Technical manager at VW - ‘I wish I understood everything I know!’ So true - we may often have the right answer, but perhaps seldom the in-depth understanding and logic of the explanation. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jon, I think it’s unfortunately a case of wishing your wallet well. It’s sounds highly likely that Cliff and I are from the same school of logical mechanical thought:- always change one component and test. Never change two at one time, since you will never know ( without subsequent dismantling), which of the original components was the culprit. Kind regards, Gareth.

Careful now Steve. I thought a lack of judgement was the prerogative of the elderly! Stay young. I’m desperately trying to grow up tomorrow. Kind regards, Gareth.

Is that 11.4v (effectively at the battery) with the engine running then? If the alternator is putting out 14.8 to 15v then little to worry about there. Poor connections twixt the two?? Break in the cable = no continuity = no charge/ no current through cable. Test:- Measure the static voltage at the battery and make a note of it. Charge the battery overnight and measure the voltage again and make a note of that. Leave the battery connected ( with the car unused) for the rest of the day, and measure the voltage again. Should be as near as damn it to the early morning just-off -charge voltage. If not - problem! Test this system for a parasitic drain, once you are sure all cable and earth connections are sound and serviceable. Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Mark. Do you know if your model is on an ‘intelligent’ charging system which needs an AGM battery? Sorry, I’m not sure. The fact that the battery is in the boot, should not practically affect the enthusiastic nature of how the car ‘turns over’. Audi would obviously not have designed the car with that issue. If this were mine, I would be double checking that the battery is of the correct type, and not simply the biggest that fits, and as you say, carefully inspect all wiring ( and earths) associated with the starting and charging systems. Although 14.0 volts is slightly below the mid 14s I would expect, it should be adequate - all else being as it should be. Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Steve, and indeed a happy Easter to you and yours, and to those who look after this forum for the benefit of us all. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sorry A - whoever you are - personally I’m not too happy about the lack of detail with you profile, but obviously, I will leave it to Admin to decide whether they consider it to be adequate or not. I guess you know you can PM the seller for further details and a contact number, rather than ask him to show his phone number on an open forum.

Hello Mark, Apologies if these are daft questions, but does your model year require an AGM battery, and if so is that what you have fitted? I raise this since sometimes owners simply replace like for like with what was currently there. Not good practice since a nice previous owner may have retained his near-new battery when selling, and put an old anything-that- fits battery in its place. Also make of your new battery? Having said all that, your theory sounds worth investigating. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Lee, Could you please let us know where you have searched so far? Kind regards, Gareth

Hello Gordon, Sounds like it’s worth getting a second opinion on this - with their permission. Many dealer purchase? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Annette, Thanks for being in touch with the forum. I think we are really back in your hands on this, and we need to know what the first recall was for - tyres or something else?? If knowingly for tyres, then I would assume that you would have had a look at them, prior to taking the car in, so you would have been aware of the amount of remaining tread and any uneven wear. Perhaps you could come back to us and clarify. Many thanks and kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Was the recall perhaps specifically in relation to the OP’s North American details?

Hello Gordon, When did you buy car - and from a main dealer? You might still be in a position to reject the car as being unfit for service - which it must be if it won’t start! Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ciaran, Personally, I think you have made the right decision. Also if it were mine, I would certainly change the water pump as well - if driven by the Cambelt ( sorry I’m not sure with your engine, but someone will advise). I’ve always stuck with Gates kits if I’m not using VAG, and I’m sure they are an OE supplier to VAG anyway. Worth checking with your independent what they will be using. I have found that VAG seem to be much cheaper with water pumps than they used to be - particularly with a bit of discount. As an insurance, I would also renew the auxiliary belt ( driving alternator, air con. compressor) at the same time, since this has to be taken off to do the cambelt anyway, so should be virtually zero additional labour cost. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ciaran, Audi’s recommendation is correct in terms of 5 years or 140k, but the important thing is - whichever comes first. Your car is now approaching 6 years old, so changing the Cambelt assembly is now overdue. You can take a chance and delay it, but a chance it will be, and looking at it logically, you are going to have to pay to get it done at some point, so why not now before it goes too long out of schedule. Kind regards, Gareth.

You are very welcome Ryan. Hope you have some luck in sorting. some expertise around these parts. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sorry Mark, but your friend’s and your reasoning, just doesn’t lead to reasonable justification to me. Being polite, it might just be me, but…. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sorry, don’t understand in relation to manual.

Hello Ryan, I may be barking up wrong trees here, but I recall some non-VAG cars having accessible wearing 5th gear cogs easily accessible without major gearbox strip downs. That was sometime ago, but maybe worth keeping in mind. Are you at Bridgend, S. Wales, ( rather than Scotland etc)? If so, many years ago there was a gearbox specialist known as John-the-box on the outskirts of Swansea. Maybe worth asking around the trade if he, or his successors might still be operating. Kind regards, Gareth.

I’m very surprised that this is a ‘manual’ speedometer. By manual, you mean not electronically controlled?? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mark, I this post meant as some sort of advert or promotion for this device? Otherwise, very much as Steve says!

Many thanks Dave, Unfortunately the original poster chose to join the forum, post his plea for help, and has not visited the form since posting, so advice has either not got through, or has not been appreciated - or both. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Edward, Have you tried EBay, registering you want on the on line breaker search links etc? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dudley, Many thanks for the bit of additional information you have provided as an aid to selling your car. It’s not just me then Dudley, but if detail is a key to generate interest, then as the old school report would have said ‘ Could do (a lot) better’! Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Incase it helps - In addition to Joe’s suggestion:- Extent of service history and when last serviced? MOT expiry? No. of owners, and how long you have owned it? Price? Whatever else you feel you would like to add to generate an interest.

Hello Eddie, Thanks for joining the forum and for posting your want. I trust you have tried Ebay for a serviceable secondhand one, advertised your want on one or more of the on line car breaker search websites, and enquired at your local commercial vehicle hydraulics suppliers, who should be able to make you one from your pattern. Perhaps you would be kind enough to come back to us and let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dudley again, Would you now be kind enough to provide a description of the car. It’s apparent that you’ve been back to the forum and read the response, so it would be great if you could follow up on the request made. Kind regards, Gareth.