I bought my Audi 03 A4T Quattro in June of 03 from a respectable dealer I knew. (The owner had his son enrolled in the school where I teach).

1st week after purchase I needed a NEW COMPUTER[]
When my car was about 2 1/2 yrs old the FUEL PUMP went and I died in the Left lane on a highway in the middle of nowhere, (the system was later recalled) I have since observed a sluggishness to my car and they blame it on the recall.[:'(]

Most recently is where it gets annoying![:@]
Shimmy and whinning noise when driving over 65mph and the first 10 miles each day (I warm up the car, and even when it is warm out the noise is there) [:@]
1st they said it was tire balance
2nd they said it was rack & pin steering and after replacing that the noise and shimmy are back within 500 miles of the repair!
3rd and on top of that Now my car sounds like a 1984 Ford pick-up when I start it and it rides rough- brought it in and they said it was bad, wouldn't let me drive and they THINK it is a COIL?

So 2 issues still not resolved. Waiting to here what the diagnosis will be and how much it will cost me.
I read online that Audi/VW won't recall the Coil problem for 2001-2003 models with the 1.8T engine b/c they don't consider it a safety problem (ask me - dying in the left of a highway out of nowhere and the dealer not allowing me to drive away speaks volumes) The report was in consumer reports in Feb of 2003.

Any suggestions on what the problem might be with my baby? I will have owned it for 4 years this coming June.....

Any help or comments would be great!

 

First, I'm not a mechanic but I'll throw my thoughts into the ring.

I don't know what to say about the computer. What was the issue, faulty module silicon type thing or just odd/bad programming?

The fuel pump makes me think the fuel filter could have been clogged or something. Hopefully, you are putting in nice 91+ octane (I always use 93). Anyway, about the sluggishness, you might be in "limp mode". There may or may not be a CEL to let you know that. This is where spending the couple hundred $ to get a Ross-Tech dongle helps. You can check for codes and monitor different channels to see if your timing is off, boost isn't being supplied like it should etc.

With respect to your shimmy, did anyone check your control arms? I am not sure those could be a source of shimmy but a lot of people have had to replace them.

Riding or idling rough could very well be the coil packs or ignition coil. I think those are a DIY once you get them off of the web.

How many miles do you have? Have you been using the large oil filter and full synthetic oil? When's the last time you changed your plugs? Have you tried the "seafoam" treatment or anything?

Again, I'm no mechanic but at least there are some ideas.

 

Your description is sort of vague when you describe the symptoms. I had a long reply typed out about possible causes and solutions, but what it really comes down to at this point is this- Stop taking your car to the dealer, or at least the dealer you are currently taking it to. With an exception of some, most dealers are in it for the money big time. In the big picture, dealers dont even really make a killing when they sell cars, so they rely on their service/parts department to be a huge source of proffits. The chances of you getting taken advantage of at an Audi dealership are likely. Fact is- with an exception of a lot of people that frequent this site- the majority of Audi owners dont know anything about maintaining their own vehicles. They canbe complicated cars to understand and well, there are just a lot of rich ignorant owners out there that have too much money to care about car maint. and rely on the dealer for everything. Your problems could be as simple as out of round tires to a cracked turbo.. So your issues are kind of all over the place.. Find a locally trusted independant mechanic to take your car to for the out of warranty/non recall stuff. If you could find german car tuner that would be best because they deal with these cars all the time like the dealer, but tend to be more genuine and honest (plus lower labor rates)
Use this link and select your state. http://giacusa.com/dealers.php Its a website for shops that do aftermarket work on Audi's/Vw's etc, but they are the type of people you want troubleshooting your car, if anybody other than yourself...
Also check here: http://www.revotechnik.com/locateDealer/americas.aspx
and here: http://goapr.com/Audi/dealer/locator.php

 

What is currently wrong? The fuel pump is fixed right? Are you still under warranty?

This Saturday there's anfree auto clinic dayat KMD tuning (a very reputable tuning shop) in Mountainside, NJ. They're doing Free auto inspections with printouts and explanations, etc. All you have to do is call and reserve a time.

https://www.audiforums.com/m_476152/tm.htm

 

Check this site for independent mechanics, if you're not under warranty.

http://1.8t.org/tuners/

KMD tuning is very good as BaconBait said.
Tires may be flat spotted when cold.

 

Awesome, therey're like 5 miles away.

 

thanks for your reply.......i got my car back on friday and it is better (for now). I really do think that i got a dud ......
too many things have been happening to a car that is barely 4 yrs old.
granted I have 76K on it....all of this should not happen.

next will be the timing belt......they are telling me at 90K

=)
Susan

 

thanks for the websites

I am torn because I got the ext warranty and am not sure if these other specialty places will honor it when I have a problem.....
Plus I am a teacher so not going to work one day here and there b/c of my car won't be tolerated.

any advice on the timing belt? they tell me by 90K?
=)
Susan

 

didn't make it to KMD......with my car on Saturday.
I am wondering though what to do next.
I have about 5-6 payments left
the car turns 4 yrs in June (when I got it)
it has 76K on it now....they say timing belt by 90K
I have the ext. warranty until 100K BUT whenevere I go in there is something new or something that wasn't diagnosed right last time......
every visit is at least $100
I don't think it is reliable so I won't take it on longer trips (which suck b/c I love to drive)

any advise?

 

Try another place for warranty work