Magnet

Welcome Graham and thanks for joining, Was this car registered in late 2020 rather than earlier in the year? If so, could, just could, be the adverse affects of cars sitting around for months awaiting components/ Covid associated. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mario, We are going to need more information - such as:- Has it always been like this during your ownership ( how long is that)? Do you know if these springs have been replaced? How low is low? Measure from wheel centres to the underside of the wheel arches for each wheel, with the car parked on level ground. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Russell, Apologies, if I had known that I wouldn’t have made the suggestions I did. So there is obviously some sort of discontinuity in your cable, and it will need to be replaced. Leaving it exposed to the elements? Doesn’t sound to be best practice. Any good reason for doing that, other than a bit of inconvenience? Kind regards, Gareth.

Not wanting to highjack the thread, but have you checked the fuse in the plug - plugs and fuses used for these obviously take an abnormally high current? If fuse tests OK, then test for continuity from the 3 pin plug end of the lead to the plug that plugs into the car. If you don’t have a test meter, or are uncertain about how to use it, it’s much safer to nip the cable around to an electrician to test it for you. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Chris, Wondering how you are progressing with this issue? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Mario, Regrettably, only you or your mechanic can investigate to find the actual problem. Why did you need to replace the part? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for coming back Alex, Without being dismissive, I personally feel there is little more I can say or recommended, and it’s possible that what has already been said, is about all other forum members might also suggest. Please excuse my - possibly incorrect- impression, but I find there are so many negatives in your reasons not to buy, that I fear you are going to be in difficulties in making a final decision even if everything stacks up in favour of the vehicle of specific and genuine interest. If it were me I would now make my final decision re. buying secondhand or PCP, sticking with that decision, and moving forward positively. Based on this, I feel there isn’t much more I can do, but please let the forum know if you think we can indeed be of further help. Genuinely - good luck in finding what you want. Kind regards, Gareth.

Are you going to come back to us Gareth?

Thanks Mario, Regulator replaced with a main dealer part? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Alex, but I still don’t understand the quest for last ownership details, and the need for multiple HPI checks as a first port of call. As I see it:- you will - at some point - be seriously interested in a specific vehicle. When you are, you will ask for sight of the current V5 ( on which last owner details will be shown). You will ask the supplying dealer to confirm it has a clear HPI check, and if you still feel it necessary, you can then repeat that check. You will of course, have previously requested, and had sight of its service record. You will also have checked its on-line MOT history, and done a DVLA Vehicle check to see when the last (current to you) V5 was issued. This might ( in caps) give you an idea of how long the previous owner has owned it. Not sure what more can be done, but It could just be me….. Kind regards, Gareth.

Oh blinking heck Alex. Have you ever bought a vehicle from a registered car dealer and been ‘caught’ with that purchase. If not, I think you are seriously over-thinking the authenticity of prospective purchases via. this route. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Lance, You obviously haven’t searched and read the numerous posts on this subject in recent months. Perhaps you could do so, and let us have a decision on what you then intend to do. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello John, I’ve tended to stick with Gates, but ideally buying a genuine VAG. water pump. Some might suggest Dayco to good effect. You’ve now got other options, such as SKF ( once a very well respected manufacturer of bearings), and INA - also bearing manufacturers. Whichever you use, I would recommend you renew the auxiliary belt at the same time. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello again Alex, So are you going to share with us whether you intend buying from a dealer - where you have the security associated with the purchase - or are you concentrating only on purchases from private individuals. The latter wouldn’t make sense since you would see the V5 at the address the vehicle is registered to and you would know who owns it, and you could then spend your money on a HPI check if/when (in caps) you decide to buy it. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Alex, Please help us out with more detail of who you are going to buy from, and why you are checking for outstanding finance on vehicles which you haven’t specifically decided to buy? Kind regards, Gareth.

Are you going to come back to us Rickie?

Hello again David, What part of the U.K. are you living? Once you read the numerous posts, you will see that the recommendation has change from what ‘Audi U.K.’ told you. When and who exactly, told you this David? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello David, Have you read the dialogue on this subject on recent threads? Have a read and come back to us on how you feel about it. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Rob, Sorry to hear of your problem. ‘No valves etc. damaged….’. The best way to confirm that is to get a compression test carried out on that bank to hopefully confirm your belief. That has to be your starting point for considering the car’s future. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Paul, Homework and evidence presenting is key to how these things pan out. Kind regards, Gareth.

Without wishing to be patronising, well done you. It seems you have done everything you can ‘to the book’, thus reducing Audi’s wiggle room. You obviously see the importance of a structured approach - quite a few don’t! Perhaps you could keep us posted Paul, since I think everyone on here would be very sympathetic to your valid claim. You certainly seem to be tuned into doing this correctly, and doubt if you need the forum’s advice, but please let us know if we can help further at any stage. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

Why doesn’t your mechanic find it and replace it then?

Many thanks for the additional information Paul. If you expect (and plan for) Audi using any means of getting under a snakes belly with a top hat on, in an attempt to avoid paying any contribution, you won’t be disappointed. Based on the above, I’ve attempted to summarise as follows - warts and all - some of this results in more questions, but:- You bought the car new from Audi Yeovil, but they haven’t subsequently seen the car for regular servicing. You have used an independent to service the car, even during its 3 year warranty period. That independent has only used genuine Audi service parts, and only oils that can be proved to meet Audi specification -? Has the independent registered these services on Audi’s computer service record? If not, do you have itemised copies of all services carried out? When was it last serviced and at what mileage, and when did the cambelt fail in relation to both service mileage and date? Can you confirm the independent is VAT registered? Have your dealings with Audi Customer Services been recorded in writing? A detached viewpoint:- Due to the car having covered only short trip mileages over the last couple of years, coupled with the fact that the S/S has always been deployed, this belt has had a hammering over its short journeys and regular s/s restarts, compared with if it had been used for regular long distance use. Having said that, it should have been capable of withstanding this use. I hope all of this doesn’t present too gloomy a picture, but as I see it, you have lost valuable browny points by not having a ‘genuine’ Audi servicing history. I think your mechanic is absolutely right in not touching it at the moment, but you have to consider how long it’s likely to take you to reach a situation of receiving any contribution from Audi, while the vehicle remains dormant. I genuinely wish you good luck with this since it should not have happened. Perhaps you could come back to us Paul with the answers to the above. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Paul, I’m very sorry to hear you have encountered this totally unacceptable failure, but I feel you are into the battlefield in respect of getting contributions from Audi. It will require a great deal of support from your best pal Percy Verance, and as Steve say, the battle is likely to be protracted, but you have to keep at it. Perhaps you could let us know:- How many (main dealer?) services the car has had from new and at what mileages? Are most of your journeys short. Do you isolate the stop/start, or do you just leave it to operate? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Denzil, Possibly a substandard earth connection, leading to a high contact resistance. Check earth onto the offending light.