Magnet

Please don’t talk to yourself Peter! With all electrical issues, take the cheapest route to component elimination, and get the battery efficiency tested, before investigating anything else. Halfords stores will do that. Worth getting the alternator output checked at the same time. Please let us know how you get on Peter. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Paul, My similar era humble A3 has started to behave in a similar fashion, although mine will unlock via. the door switch - but very hit and miss with the fob. I’m considering renewing the lock assembly with a cheap aftermarket one from EBay - as a trial. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sticky caliper piston/s sounds more probable.

£££££s

No problem at all Edd, it’s just that detail is important when you are trying to diagnose without access to the patient! Are you going to follow advice given, but obviously no obligation to do so?

No coolant use -great. So you can ignore the emulsion as being due to coolant mixing with the oil - hence not HG. Thanks for the caps in ‘only’ ( I don’t shout). Worth re-reading your first post:- ‘…we use this car almost exclusively for ~1 mile school runs…’ I can only reiterate the actions I would take if it were mine. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Edd.

Thanks Edd, Does the car lose any coolant? If not, then the emulsion cannot be arising from any head gasket issue, and is probably serious condensation due to short runs and a failed thermostat. If it were mine:- Get the thermostat renewed ASAP ( don’t know why you would suspect the water pump because the car doesn’t get up to temperature). Treat the car to an engine oil flush, new filter and fresh engine oil - I use VAG’s Quantum Longlife 3 , but change it every year on an average usage of c7K miles). Get the car read for fault codes. Please let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome Edd, and thanks for joining. There is a lot of conjecture about ‘mayo’ and jumping to the conclusion that it is a definite indication of head gasket failure. I would say in your case that it is certainly due to/ aggravated by unacceptably short runs, and the fact that the engine doesn’t reach operating temperature - even if the thermostat was serviceable - which it isn’t! The fact is Edd, this engine is having a hammering, and is likely to suffer from the equivalent wear that would be encountered on a car operated on motorways and having done say x10 times the mileage of yours. Before going any further let’s start with an important question:- how often is the oil changed and when was it last changed? Kind regards, Gareth.

Don’t over think it Asem. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Just follow Steve’s advice Alan, and you shouldn’t go wrong. As said, I would certainly also renew the auxiliary belt at the same time - again, I use Gates. Worth ordering yourself some correct coolant - Comma brand should be fine. Please let us know how you get on, what you buy, where from, and at what prices. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello, Why on earth Autodoc and spurious brands?? Whatever you do, do not buy on price for this critical application - always buy quality parts at best prices. I’ve always stuck with Gates, who were one of the OE suppliers to VAG. I don’t have any connection with this company, but try entering your reg. no. into Parts in Motion ( Exeter ) website and see what their prices are. When you have done that, look on EBay for their listings for the chosen part - often a little cheaper via. this route. Unlike Autodoc, they do free delivery. Always renew the auxiliary belt at the same time. 135k miles an cambelt never? renewed? Glad you got away with that one! Please let us know what prices you come up with. As has been said, worth checking parts price at Audi for comparison. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Where is Rogers?

Do you have a multi meter to check bulbs, earths, continuity etc? If not, it’s worth buying one to move forward on this.

Thanks Brett, but as previous notified - the car has been sold, so everything else is now irrelevant.

Hello Mark, Looks like the leak is coming from the cover bolt to the top of your photo. There is usually a neoprene washer under this. My course of action would be to use brake cleaner to clean everything up on the cover to be better able confirm the leak site. If confirmed to be from there, I would be tempted to buy one from VAG for this application. Are you going to DIY this? Kind regards, Gareth.

Congratulations Branagh, you have just won the prize for shortest written post. We do not charge by the word!

Hello James, If it were mine, I would be carefully measuring the diameter of the hole and searching for a suitable (tight fitting) plastic plug, and temporarily blank off the hole to see what happens. Take care that (1) the plug is a tight - ideally tapered fit - to ensure there is no chance of it entering the engine. (2) It can be removed without too much fuss. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on James. Kind regards, Gareth.

So, have you got a quote from Parts in Motion yet?

Dennis - bless him- ‘will definitely let you know how I get on’! Regrettably, never did.

Hello John, I do feel for you. In your situation, I think it would be a ‘good investment’ to spend an hour’s labour with a trusted local garage, with a view to better sourcing the site/s of the leak. Kind regards, Gareth.

Worth taking note of a current thread on this issue. Please search.

You still don’t tell us whether it is possible to ‘trickle’ fuel in by barely opening the nozzle lever -or not. You don’t tell us whether you have inspected the fuel filler breather pipe as suggested - or not!

Possible level sensor issue??

Pleasure Peter, I could be wrong, but I don’t think it was until 2015 ish that the recording system became computerised, so it’s unlikely that you will get anything until the car would have been 13 years old - previous history was most likely retained in a stamped-up service book. Having said that, anything is worth a try. Perhaps you could keep us posted. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Peter, Access to VAG computerised service history is via. dealers or authorised persons only - not private individuals.

Register your want on on-line car breaker link systems such as Partsfinder ( there are others as well). Also EBay International. Please let us know how you get on.