Magnet

Hello Andrew from the Homeland. My first port of call would have been the coolant cap, but… Have you had the coolant operating pressure monitored? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello David, Oil associated?? I seriously doubt it. Not sure with your engine, but there is usually a coolant temperature sensor that monitors the coolant temperature, and signals the ECU to provide the correct mixture - obviously, a richer mixture for cold start. If this sensor fails, it usually does so to an ‘average mixture’ and obviously not rich enough for instant cold starts. Ok , no fault code, but I don’t have complete faith in the integrity of these codes. As an aside, and I may be blown out of the water with this, but RAC oil via. B&M and such outlets?? A nice engine deserves nice oil. Treat it to Quantum - VAG approved at not much more, and delivered to your door from a variety of EBay sellers. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Anthony, Ah, different then, so yes, a full system sounds a reasonable way forward, but beware, replacements are generally not that long lived, so might be well worth consulting an exhaust specialist and getting a comparative quote for a stainless system, just Incase it turns out there isn’t a significant difference in price. Kind regards, Gareth.

Apologies Anthony - Klarius telephone no. is 01538 752561. Stoke on Trent). Garage not very informative….:- I think I would try another local MOT station for a second opinion, since ‘opinions vary!’, and you might find you don’t have as much of a problem as you were told you have. Alternative:- could try a local tyre and exhaust retailer - again possibly non-National-chain may be better. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Kevin, Steve has a good point, particularly since you say you recently acquired it because it had ‘so much sentimental value to see it go to someone else…..’ A couple of points here:- If it has so much sentimental value - why sell it? You know what you paid for it, and what you have spent on it, so are probably ideally placed to know ‘it’s value’. Of course, if it was bought with the idea of buy-it-work-on-it-sell-it-at-a-profit, ( and nothing wrong with that) then you might not go far wrong by listing it on EBay with a start price of ‘ what it owes you’, and let ‘the market’ decide its worth on the day. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Anthony, I’ve now had a look at my period Walker (exhaust) catalogue, but they don’t seem to list the cabriolet variant, so I only have the saloon to go with - which quite possibly could be the same. The centre exhaust-with-silencer appears to be either, their Part no. 21190 or 21196, but it would be difficult to be sure which one, without knowing the engine output. ‘Front pipe’ -? even more difficult since we don’t know whether we are talking front-pipe-with- catalytic converter, or the post-cat. front pipe. If (hopefully!) the latter then it could be 02760. A quick scan on EBay for ‘ Walker exhaust 21190’ , and same for 21196 do come up with some, and prices vary up to mid £200, so some caution needed. If this were mine:- I would be returning to your ‘pre-MOT’ station and taking photos of the actual issue with your current exhaust, and it’s layout, so you have more knowledge of what your actually need, or if indeed yours is repairable, rather than hunting for the correct one. Armed with what you actually need, ring Klarius ( another large aftermarket exhaust manufacturer) and speak with their technical section, and they should be able to advise you of their Part nos. Your will need to be armed with your reg. no. , VIN ( chassis no. - as on V5) and engine output details off V5. Your homework should now be relatively complete, and what you will then need to do is to call into a local motor factors ( not Halfords) and ask for exactly what exhaust parts you need, and hopefully they should come up with the same Klarious numbers that you have been given, and quote you a price (if available). Alternative:- Google a local exhaust specialist (ideally not a national chain one) and take the car to them and get an estimate for fabricating whatever is needed - usually in stainless steel. Won’t be cheap, but at least you would then have a comparison. Let us know how you get on Anthony, and of course, if you need further help. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for joining the forum Ian. OK, what you have to do - now over 3 years on - is to send the poster a PM, and hope he is still using the same e-Mail address linked to the forum, as he did then. Perhaps you could come back to us and let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello - whoever you are. Sorry to start off on a negative note , but you give us very little to go on - no name, no location, no year of the car, no info on service history, no MOT history, number of owners, and last change of owner, who (company?) has put this vehicle to the mileage covered? Whether you have requested a service history print out via. an Audi dealer-? High mileage vehicles can be better than ultra low mileage in some respects, but frequency of servicing become paramount. l Again with apologies, but do the homework and at least give us something to advise on! We do like to help on here, but you really do need to help yourself, to help us. Just in passing:- I’ll quote the outspoken Dewar ( of Dewar whisky) ‘ If we are put on this earth to help one another, what are the others doing to help themselves?’ Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Anthony, I’ll have a look at my of-your-period exhaust catalogues for you before the weekend and can then list the aftermarket numbers for you ( if listed) so you will have a greater search scope. If all else fails as new, you can do an in-line search of car breakers with Partsfinder etc - there are more - just search car breaker links, or similar. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Anthony, Have you tried Car Parts in Motion, and of course ECP and their sister Car Parts for Less? You don’t say what specific exhaust parts you want, but if you can post your requirements, then I may be able to give you aftermarket part numbers that you could search for. Is it possible you could record your ‘want’ with a local Audi dealer, on the off chance some old stock may be available nationally - if such system still survives? Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Would you consider second hand? If so, again let us know.

Hello Stephen, Thanks for joining and posting your plea. To avoid duplication of suggestions for where you may have already searched, could you please let us know where you have tried so far. Kind regards, Gareth.

Where have you searched so far Anthony? Kind regards, Gareth.

‘Re-fuelled it and the light came on…..’ Simply fuel quality associated? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Cliff, It’s rather like taking the dog to the vet on here! The dog doesn’t give the vet any clues to go with. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Stephen, Could be backing up wrong trees and older technology-? - servos can be operated by vacuum, so noise originates from loss of vacuum, and if so reason has to be found. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Greg, If the car is under someone’s warranty, then I wouldn’t be taking on any responsibility for (messing around) trying to diagnose or fix anything if it were mine. You make it easy for them to counter claim you may have influenced the issue. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jason, ’………..body to boot……..’ as said. Glove box out!? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks John, but you only answering part of the question!

Hello Stephen, Many thanks for joining and posting your friend’s plea. Worth checking the brake servo operation - and easy self-test which you can Google. Of course, it is likely to test OK when it’s OK! - but the test would need to be carried out again when the issues arises. Kind regards, Gareth.

OK, ‘…..entire electrical systems …’. ! Sounds one heck of a responsibility to me.

Thanks Graham, What does this relay service? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks John, OK, so we now know the front tyres are new. Back tyres matched across axle, and good tread? Age of back tyres? (embossed into side wall) We take it you acquired the car with this issue present -? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jason, Thanks for joining and posting your plea. ’…open common ground issue..’? Think I know what you mean, but not absolutely certain, but….. Carefully peel back the flexible harness covering from the harness that runs from the body section to the boot, and examine the cables. You might find broken wires in there due to years of flexing by opening/closing the boot. Let us know what you find. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello David, Thanks for joining. I think you will find that there ‘isn’t anything wrong with the car’, and that is normal, and indeed now common to other non-VAG marques, fitted with the now-normal stop/start facility. Annoying? - yes I know - I have a non-Audi that does the same, and even for a shorter time! Lengthening time-on when stationary? I’m really not sure, but I believe it can be isolated on mine via. a sort of disconnect of the auxiliary battery. Worth the downsides? No, I just switch the radio on again! Someone may be along with an answer, but you may find 10 mins. is generous - ? Kind regards, Gareth.

OK, It sounds as if you have tried where many members would have suggested, so just as well we asked. Website suitabilities can be rather generic, so you need to persist in finding the right one from a reliable supplier. Have you tried Car Parts in Motion? Whatever their listing says, make sure you confirm with an e Mail enquiry quoting reg. and VIN. Kind regards, Gareth,