Car serviced by Audi last week now I have a suspected Head gasket failure! PLEASE HELP

[S.O.L]

I purchased an Audi A4 Cabriolet with 16k on the clock in March 2008 and have spent quite a lot of money on the car since then replacing wear and tear items such as pads discs bearings etc. I decided to have a gold service done by Audi last week to give me piece of mind and maintain my car properly before purchasing some warranty (which I did from tesco three days ago after shopping around).

The car has driven fine since the service, however this morning when I tried to start the car, there were a few problems......car wouldn't start first time which was strange. I thought it might have been down to a flat battery as I had hardly driven the car since it was serviced (less than 100 miles since I drove it home from dealer who serviced it), pop the bonnet in order to check the battery and noticed that my coolant level was very low which I thought was very odd given it had just been serviced and was full of coolant prior to service. I topped up the coolant and started the car up again and immediately noticed a white cloud of smoke coming out of the exhausts....basically the smell of burning coolant which I found alarming given that I'd just serviced the car. Got really paranoid and decided to call the RAC. It took the RAC guy that turned up less than 5 minutes to diagnose head gasket failure. The first thing he said to me was "have you got 3 grand"

The problem I have now is I am not sure what I can do because. I am worried that Audi will deny that it was their fault and Warranty company will refuse to pay out given that I only purchased the warranty 3 days ago.

Any advice would be highly appreciated as I am seriously depressed about this situation.

[Lula]

Now bear with me here as I know jack about cars and I love playing devils advocate.

How could have the garage caused or prevented the Head Gasket from going?

Would they have been able to see in anyway that the HG was about to break?

Is something like that covered in their service?

[S.O.L]

Originally Posted by Lula

Now bear with me here as I know jack about cars and I love playing devils advocate.

How could have the garage caused or prevented the Head Gasket from going?

Would they have been able to see in anyway that the HG was about to break?

Is something like that covered in their service?

it was a gold service which is their highest level of service and includes a full diagnostic check.

This is what they charged me for:
Gold Service:-
01: Note any damage to body
02: Fit car protection kit
03: Check operation and condition of lights
04: Check condition of wiper blades
05: Test screen wash and top up reservior with all seasons additive
06: Inspect cooling system for leaks and test antifreeze strength
07: Inspect condition of drive belts
08: Top-up brake fluid levels
09: Top-up battery electrolyte level
10: Top-up power steering level
11: Replace oil filter
12: Drain and refil engine oil
13: Visual inspection of front brake pads
14: Check wheel bearings and ball joints
15: Inspect tyres and set tyre pressures, report tread depths
16: Assess brake, steering and suspension performance
17: Check for abnormal noises on road test
18: Check operation of heating/cooling system
19: Check condition/operation of seat belts
20: Adjust handbrake
21: Inspect brake hoses and pipes
22: Inspect suspension mountings
23: Inspect shock absorbers
24: Inspect drive shafts, joints and gaiters
25: Inspect track and rod ends
26: Examine condition of exhaust and mountings
27: Diagnostic tune and report, electronic diagnostic check and report
28: Check spark plugs
29: Assess engine performance and noise levels
30: Check clutch for free play
31: Check gearshift quality/auto gearbox operation
32: Check steering for feel, stability, pull or wander
33: Check operation of instruments
34: Replace spark plugs
35: Check horn operation and tone
36: Check heated rear screen
37: Check central locking, electric windows, electric sunroof/mirrors if fitted
38: Lubricate linkages and cables
39: Check power steering hoses
40: Top-up gearbox level
41: Top-up differential oil level
42: Check prop shafts and universal joints
43: Inspect fuel tank and fuel lines
44: Inspect underbody for corrosion
45: Examine steering rack for play and oil leaks
46: Check power steering hoses and pump for leaks
47: Remove road wheels
48: Inspect brake linings front and rear
49: Lubricate back plate slide points and handbrake levers etc
50: Ensure caliper operation is normal
51: Refit road wheels
52: Torque wheel bolts to correct setting
53: Lubricate all door locks and hinges
54: Check air filter, clean or report
55: Provide defect report

[Lula]

and where would the head gasket fall in amongst that lot?

(really, I am not trying to wind you up, but if you take this further, these are all arguments that any garage would use)

[MrShed]

Number 5 above is key.

[S.O.L]

Originally Posted by Lula

Now bear with me here as I know jack about cars and I love playing devils advocate.

How could have the garage caused or prevented the Head Gasket from going?

Would they have been able to see in anyway that the HG was about to break?

Is something like that covered in their service?

BTW I am not saying Audi are at fault at this stage. What I am saying is I don't know what to do and am upset that this has happened after recently shelling out for their highest level of service!

I don't know for sure if they could have diagnosed this during the service. What I know is the car was running like a dream before the service. I thought I was protecting myself by getting it serviced because if there was anything that needed doing then they could have flagged it up.

[MrShed]

Lula, FYI

Head gasket damage is basically caused by overheating. Specifically, is almost always caused by cooling system failure, or (sometimes) lack of oil.

The cooling system on this age of car should not have failed.

Have you had an independant inspection report done yet?

[leicesterlad]

Originally Posted by MrShed

Number 5 above is key.

i think you meen number 6

[MrShed]

In addition, have you had the head gasket confirmed? Although it does sound like head gasket failure, the only way to confirm is by a hydrocarbon test through the coolant system.

[MrShed]

Actually I meant 5 - topping up reservoir, but yes 6 as well!!!

I think you have a good case for a failure on the part of Audi(on the little information we have) to perform a service as purchased.

What is the year of manufacture of the car?

[Lula]

thanks Sheddy, I agree that a car (and a quality car at that) should not have failed so shortly after such an exhaustive service, but not being a mechanic or a petrol head, I needed to check that it would have been checked in the test, so would there have been some outward appearance that something was wrong or would it be soley down to not enough coolant which shuld have been checked?

[S.O.L]

Originally Posted by MrShed

Number 5 above is key.

agreed. I know enough about engines to know what happens if it runs out of coolant!

What I don't know is what they did. I don't think they would have forgotten to do that given it's importance!

[MrShed]

It would be down to not enough coolant really. Of course, the question is, what is the cause of no coolant...?

[S.O.L]

Originally Posted by MrShed

It would be down to not enough coolant really. Of course, the question is, what is the cause of no coolant...?

that's another worry. The problem may have been there before but I was not loosing any coolant before the service and now all of a sudden I have lost coolant dramatically in a short space of time after the service. Still not trying to say it's Audi's fault.....just trying to find out where I stand and what I can do because I have no money to do anything else to the car!

[riget]

need to know how old the car is, did you buy it from audi dealer, has it got a full service history and who with.
The service has nothing to do with the head gasket, they only had a visual check for leaks and checked anti-freeze.
Only possibility is if they did an anti-freeze change and left it with an air lock.

[S.O.L]

They CLEARLY state that they inspect the coolant system for leaks so why am I loosing so much coolant immediately AFTER THE SERVICE???? I am really worried that Audi will deny any wrongdoing and Warranty from tesco won't pay out because I only purchased 3 days ago!

[riget]

Originally Posted by riget

need to know how old the car is, did you buy it from audi dealer, has it got a full service history and who with.

need to know.

[MrShed]

Riget - I dont think the point is that Audi "caused" this, but more that if the service was performed correctly, and as per THEIR list of checks, then the issue should have been prevented.

SOL - have you checked your warranty for "early life" exclusions? IE you cant make a claim for x days/months?

[S.O.L]

Originally Posted by riget

need to know how old the car is, did you buy it from audi dealer, has it got a full service history and who with.
The service has nothing to do with the head gasket, they only had a visual check for leaks and checked anti-freeze.
Only possibility is if they did an anti-freeze change and left it with an air lock.

The car was first registered in 2004. I bought it privately. Full main dealer service history and had only done just over 16,000 miles when I bought it in March.

My concern is that the anti-freeze change was done incorrectly!....can't think of how else this could have happened as I hardly drive the car and am a fairly careful driver who doesn't like nasty surprises!

[riget]

mrshed-I'd disagree, the gasket is not checked in the service, for me the reason could only be if audi caused it.