Magnet

Make of replacement battery Ivan? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Alex, Although you might get some estimate on here, I think a far quicker and realistic estimate will be obtained by nipping this around to your local tyre/exhaust centre -independent would be better. This will result in finding out exactly what is wrong, rather than assuming, and of course will give you a precise cost to put it right. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dan, Thanks for coming back on this. Yes, the caps are plastic, unlike my when -I-had-hair period when they were metal. Plastic yes, but pressure cap yes. Issues there are usually associated with unexplained coolant loss, and in reality is unlikely to be the cause of your problem, but worth a cheap shot. Coolant pressure test:- Appreciating you like to do things yourself, and this really is to be applauded, but the economics in this case hangs on investing in the equipment which you may not use again, vs. paying to get the test done - with an input of the expertise and advice from those conducting the test for you. Obviously, a personal choice Dan. An additional bit of background:- Does the car overheat? Since you have invested in a diesel, it would probably be to your advantage to find a local trusted diesel specialist who would be handy as a point of reference. Apologies for boring those who might have read this many times before, but worth having a chat with your local taxi boys - they usually know who to go to, and to avoid, in the local diesel world since their living depends on such people. Auctions, eh! Well you win some, you lose some. More so of an issue now where owners sell their vehicles to the likes of I Buy Any Shed etc. and all are destined for auctions. The favoured route to buying is often buying privately, where vehicles can be road tested before purchase. Very often not a lot more expensive than buying at auction where you have to pay additional ‘commission’ charges. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Dan. Kind regards, Gareth.

OK June. So we are talking two vehicles in your ownership - clear now, but not before. Simply with an aim of trying to save you some funds:- if the steering geometry is out of alignment then you are going to notice some degree of uneven tyre wear. Are you? Of course, you can Google anything to death, and find out all the bad news - good news and comment travel slower! Just wondering if you test drove this vehicle before you bought it. Sorry to appear unhelpful, but I wonder why you bought it, having had a less than favourable view of the rented car. Can’t you take it back, since it’s considered dangerous? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dan, Simple things first:- try replacing the reservoir cap with a quality replacement. Cylinder compression testing and possible head gasket failure? This test really isn’t the most informative of tests unless the head gasket has failed between two adjacent cylinders. A more meaningful test would be to have a coolant pressure test done on the car. Trade seller or private sale? How was the car described? Even with a private sale, the car’s condition has to match the advertised condition. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for coming back on this June. Do you know if there was any uneven wear on the tyres you recently replaced? Kind regards, Gareth.

I would not ‘....try a new battery....’ - simply check the one already fitted to assess whether you can eliminate that as a possible cause.

Isn’t it in the boot on the side panel - on the same side as the filler?

Might be worth trying a couple of squirts of WD40 before renewing anything Adam. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello June, From the school of simple thoughts and actions:- Do you know what the tyre pressure should actually be - by looking in the car’s handbook? ‘....pressures check by local fellows..’ doesn’t really instil confidence, since opinions and reference charts vary, and the definitive answer must be taken from the handbook. If it were mine, I would be checking the handbook figures and personally checking the pressures you have in the tyres. From that point, you know they are right and this basic factor is eliminated as a possibility - before spending on 4 wheel geometry adjustments - which might not be necessary unless the tyre wear patterns are uneven. Kind regards, Gareth. G

Hello Craig, I would be trying a trusted local diesel specialist rather than an Audi independent. Kind regards, Gareth,

Personally, I certainly wouldn’t use propane - far too combustible!! What’s wrong with far less combustible and safer WD40?

Hello David, Sorry to hear of your issues with this vehicle. Now I’m not claiming this is the issue with your car, but warning light illumination can sometimes be caused by poor battery efficiency. Yes, I appreciate the car may start OK, suggesting the battery is serviceable, but.... The vehicle is 11 year old and almost certain to have had a replacement battery - possibly 3 years ago, and that battery may itself now be nearing its aftermarket life, What I would do, for zero/ minimal outlay, would be to eliminate the battery as a possible source of warning light illumination. I would suggest it would be useful to fully charge it then get its efficiency checked. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ashley, I’ve used Bosch air filters without issue and the fitting arrangement sounds similar to our much earlier A3, so I would say it’s fair to discount any issue there. Associated pipework? ...but as you say that seems to be OK, so a bit of a mystery. One possible trick would be to carefully spray some WD40 on the associated air intake pipes while someone holds the revs. steady at around 2000 rpm and see if you get any tell tale smoke from the exhaust - pointing to an unseen entry point for air. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ashley, On the basis of simple things first and the limited dismantling you must have done :- What make air filter did you use? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Nick, Sorry to hear of your partner’s 6th skirmish with these tyres. I guess she will now be fitting alternative brand of tyres, since there must be a limit to one person’s luck - bad if you consider having repeated issues, but good that no one has yet come to harm. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Richard, Sorry on one has responded. Guess you’ve tried your Audi dealer? Be surprised if they cannot help though. Local engineering supplier. A cut down metric bolt should do. Looks a fairly course version of metric (M8?) but difficult to say from the photo. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Alan, Sorry to hear you have been added to the list of folks affected by this serious issue. It is reassuring for the wallet that you have wheel and tyre insurance, but possibly being alarmist, insurance will be of little use should one of these tyres decide to do what they appear to do in service, and when life might depend on it. Changing to Continentals next time, sounds a wise decision, but being prepared to live with the potential problem meanwhile??? Different. Maybe less painful on the wallet, but...... Keep touching wood! Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Leigh, Thanks for clarifying that. I could be wrong, but I doubt if anyone on here would have greater experience of Audi part numbers than the Audi dealer themselves. I’m still left wondering why you want details of the actual part number rather than just the part itself, which must be available (or not) via. the dealer on description rather than quoting them the part number. Perhaps you could enlighten us. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ian, Sorry to appear unhelpful, but I would think it’s virtually impossible for anyone to identify the actual cause without inspecting the vehicle, and to attempt to do so is likely to simply lead to wasting valuable diagnosis time. If the car is drivable with caution and respect, then I would have thought any reputable local garage should be able to identify a cause of what appears to a fairly catastrophic failure. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Leigh, Sorry if I’ve missed something here, but are you talking the whole wiring loom within the car, or a section of your it? If (somewhat unbelievably) you are talking the complete wiring loom for the car, then surely your local Audi dealer will provide you with the loom/part number. Same if part of the wiring loom. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ed, Just to confirm that the clutch is completely smooth it’s it’s operation, the bite point is.....? as Cliff asks, and the selection of all other gears - particularly first and reserve - is absolutely trouble free. If this is indeed the case, then I would be first looking at any wear/ adjustment issues in relation to the external selection of 3rd gear. Cliff raises a fair point by drawing attention to not eliminating the clutch simply since it is new. Unfortunately it’s is becoming an increasing issue where new aftermarket components can be substandard, leading to issues in a very short space of time. As a matter of interest- what make of clutch components were used as replacement? What mileage has the car covered Ed, to warrant a new clutch? Gearbox oil level checked, and of specified grade? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Philip, I would be wary of what brands you are going to buy if going down the aftermarket route. OK, it understandable that we all want to look after the pennies, but sometimes (often) it can be false economy - even in the short term, when discs can exhibit warping characteristics and will need to be replaced. More so with some aftermarket brake pads when braking efficiency can be reduced, and rapid wear can be encountered. I can give personal opinion and advice experience if you have particular brands in mind - if it helps rather than interferes. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Robert, Modern fuel is more volatile than it used to be, but the likelihood of fuel vapourisation should be able to be discounted on the age of car you have. On the basis of simple things first, I would be tempted to replace the fuel filter with a good make replacement, and see if that improves the situation. If it doesn’t, it could be worth renewing the fuel pump relay. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Philip, Sorry, but I’m not familiar with the source of your reference sheet. What make discs are you intending to buy - genuine VAG or aftermarket? If aftermarket, what brand? Do you want to replace all of them or just fronts or backs? Whatever, your supplier should be able to provide you with the correct discs by simply quoting your registration number. In some cases, the current disc dia. may be useful additional information, so if you intend to replace these yourself then it might be worth doing a preliminary wheel removal and measurement first. Personally, I would just quote your reg. no. in the first stage or fact finding. Kind regards, Gareth.