I have an A4 quattro 3.2 that is one year old and has 18K miles. In the past 3 weeks it has been in the shop 3 times. First time the car was shaking and stalling on a cold start. They kept the car for 8 days and finally discoverd it was a clogged fuel injector. When the service tech called to tell me, he used the analogy of a clogged hair spray bottle. Can you feel my pain? They think I am a dumb broad. When I picked up the car, I discovered that the engine wouldn't turn over immediately. I decided to take the car home and see how things progressed. The problem continued and evolved into the car almost stalling when started. Back to the dealer who told me it was all related to too much ethanol in the gas that is being sold these days. I explained that I always gas up with 93 octane but they said that had nothing to do with it. They said this was becoming a chronic problem with the 3.2 high performance engines and that there was nothing to be done about it. I pick up the car and drive it for 3 days and the check engine light appears last night. Back to the dealer. Today's call from them said that they have "several" A4s with this problem and are bringing in a specialist to help. I called Audi of America customer service and asked them to verify that this is a known problem with A4s and they said they have no information confirming this. The service rep I talked with double checked and said they have no knowledge of a chronic problem related to gas quality.

So, tell me - are you having problems with your A4 because of poor gas quality? Any thoughts about what is happening? Thanks in advance.

Vixen

 

as far as i know there's no truth to that. Sounds like he wants to impress you with big words and mechanic talk so you won't second guess him. Good researching though.

I've been running 91 octane on my car for almost 2 years that i've had it and no problems whatsoever like that. Good luck and I hope it works out.

 

I also agree they are talking total rubbish ask them for the fault codes they are stored because the CEL is on and even if it wasn't soft codes will be stored, 8 days to find a blocked injector heheeh that would take me about 30 seconds

 

so here's the latest. they called while your responses were coming in. I tried to write down verbatim what they said ....
"The car is running lean under throttle. At idle it runs perfectly. The fuel isn't combusting properly. They have 5 other A4's doing the same thing. They took the fuel filter out of one and replaced it and the car runs perfectly. New filters are coming in tomorrow and they will replace mine and see what happens. I should feel fully confident driving the car with the check engine light on because they know it's fuel related."

I told them I called Audi of America and that there was no known problem related to fuel. The dealer said "oh they won't tell you the truth - they're just the marketing people." He claims he has "confidential" memos from Audi and Porsche about this problem and they are telling their customers to sit tight for either the fuel problem in Massachusetts to be fixed or for Audi to make an adjustment in the car.

I am so p'od
[:@]

 

if it was a known fault then it would be on the recall list and Audi would have to tell you by law so I doubt they are just keeping quite over it the consequences would be very high and a law suit would follow, I think that garage is using your car for cash from the warranty and dragging the job out which is not uncommon

 

or perhaps they just don't know what they are doing and guessing which = more $$$ to them

 

Sorry to hear about this. I have a 3.2 with 15000mi on it and it runs like a champ. Tell those clowns to show you the memo. This is reaching but if what they are saying is true it may be a bad production batch. But they owe you big time, if you keep getting the run around maybe talk to the BBB, your ride is still under warranty and you shouldn't have to be running around with the check engine light on in what to me is a new car, for them to even say that is absurd and only makes blatent the fact they are making stuff up since you are a female. Anyways, that's my two cents, but definetly tell us what the outcome is.

 

I have a hunch not knowing what they are doing is more like it.

 

Last thing, maybe take it to another qualified shop for a second opinion if you haven't done that already.

 

Are they an Audi Dealer?

I would find another authorized audi dealer and take it to them Or, call them first and see if they have heard of the problem.

Also, Like one post said, tell them to show you the fault codes and the memo about bad gas. If he isn't lying he should be able to show you.

Good Luck!