Thread: Audi-overheating-rip-off?

Hi all
I had a serious overheating problem with my 97, A4, 2.6. The heater had also stopped working, I thought this might be due to a faulty water pump?
I took it to an Audi dealer who offered to do a new MOT, 'service' and change the water pump (and new cambelt, as water pump is driven by it) for £820.
This was on the 19 June.
I was first told it was the thermostat, which was replaced.
Then perished coolant hoses and coolant tank, which were replaced.
Then it was the water pump, which was replaced.
Then the service was done, which did not even include spark plugs!
Then the MOT was done, which revealed faults in excess of £750.
My bill was £932, without the mot work done.
The car is worth less than £1000, if the MOT had been done first, I would have scrapped it.
I picked up the car finally on the 1st July, drove 12 miles and the car overheated and blew the hose off the coolant tank. I phoned the garage who told me it was not safe to drive and a recovery truck would pick it up in the morning. They sent somebody out to pick us up and returned us to the garage and gave us a courtsey car, (again).
They picked up the car the following morning and drove it back.
Now they say it needs a new radiator £300, I said no, bring it back.
They have just returned the car, and I was to be aware that they had by-passed the heater matrix to identify the problem and had not returned it to it's original state.
What I can I do about this?

By passing the heater matrix won't prove anything. In fact it can act as an additional radiator in an emergency. Perished coolant tank is negligible, coolant hoses possible but I doubt it. Water pump replacement is a major operation on this engine and the cam belt would need to be replaced as a matter of course. On balance the charges for a main dealer seem fair but the issue is it still overheats.

The problem you have is identifying why.

Personally I think it was a mistake to ask for the car back. I take it you no longer have their courtesy car.

I think your best bet is to go and see the service manager and dealer principal and state the following.

"Whether or not the work you have done has not fixed the underlying problem I first complained about and brought to you as the manufactuers representative and experts in these cars. It seems that you have sold me work and parts that were uneccessary. I accept that I might have some beneficial use of the parts used but I am not prepared to pay for mis diagnosis and subsequent repairs. I want you to recover the car and repair it properly for the original fault I brought it in for at your cost."

Don't tell them about the heater by pass fault but make sure you photograph it for future reference before they see it. It could be the ace in the pack so to speak.

Do that and let's see what the outfall is!

Well mate,

I have similar problem with the car, brought to VX.
I would suggest to take car to independent or another Audi centre and ask them to replace this valve. If this thing helps to resolve problem, then make photocopy of reciep , attach it to &-days registered letter and ask Audi to give you Full refund in terms of inconvinadinience and non proffessional job.
Otherwise, go to local Council Trading Standards, Take free solicitor and sue Audi for serious ammount of money. U cn mention them, that u will print articles in local press and it will harm their business.

Hi
Thanks for your responses, I have fixed the car myself, it was the radiator.
I have written to Audi, (thank you heliosuk) and am awaiting their reply.
Many Thanks
Ashley