Clutch Return - my updates!

[DazN]

Hi,

I wanted to start a new thread with my own personal experiences of the dreaded clutch return issue and what might possibly be happening with my car and Audi.

I had the car into Audi in August for it's MOT, I also asked them to check out the return pipe while they were there as I have the issue when driving in a spirited manor that the pedal sometimes doesn't return properly, then pops back after about 1-2 seconds, usually when dropping down the gears and especially 3rd to 2nd.

They suggested more investigation was required and this would take their master tech 1-2 hours @ £110 per hour, this of course isn't a guarantee that he'd even find the problem.

So I sent Audi some comments via the .co.uk site explaining what had happened, what my issues were and that several people with the same problems have had this rectified by Audi replacing pipes / parts, usually as "good will".

Audi UK phoned Audi Huddersfield and they agreed to a free diagnosis in the form of their master tech taking the car for a drive with me as passenger, which I have just returned from.

He said the clutch return pipe sometimes blisters and if this is the case the clutch usually stays down / pops up ALL the time so he's not convinced that's my problem although the symptoms I described are 99% return pipe issue. He did say that as Audi would possibly replace the pipe as a good will gesture that he would recommend they did so and then if the problem goes we're laughing. If not it could be something else but it's a good start especially if it's going to be done for free.

I was also pleased that he said my car drives superb and he felt the suspension, gearbox etc all felt good

So fingers crossed, I should hear today / tomorrow what Audi have said and then hopefully in the next few days have the car booked in.

Watch this space.

[Timster]

Good result there Daz.

Identical experience to mine (once I'd jumped all the hurdles and discovered the bulletin information that Audi themselves "had")
Fingers crossed.

[ShaneyB]

It doesn't cure it.

[DazN]

It doesn't cure it.

Have you already had this done without good results?

[Timster]

It doesn't cure it.

I need to do some further thrashing... but mine's definitely feeling a tad better (so far).

[ShaneyB]

Yep.
And replaced the pipe from the cylinder also. Still feels the same.

It was actually stuck half down when I collected my car from MRC at the weekend.

[Dave.B]

Mine has the same problem and is going to Newcastle Audi to see if they will sort as under warranty - will keep you all updated

[DazN]

Not good news for me.

Huddersfield Audi rang to say that as my car is a 57 plate the 'expect' it will already have the replacement parts fitted, therefore Audi UK will not offer anything as goodwill towards replacing it.

They did advise if I wanted to go ahead with the work they could get the price down to £420 including VAT, but they've just told me it already has the latest version of the return pipe so why would I do that?

I haven't actually had the problem occur now for a few days though and the Master Tech who took me for a drive said it could have been an air bubble in the cylinder? I don't really understand!!

Perhaps it's just a "feature" of the RS4?

[RS4SA]

Check this link out on AZ especially the reference made to the replacement part at post #15

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthrea ... rs-do-this

Hope it helps,

Cheers

[Timster]

Chaps.
The issue is with the clutch-return pipe or clutch pressure pipe, as Audi call it.
It doesn't matter what year your car is.... Audi have a Bulletin on their in-house system (if you check my other thread on this, I state the bulletin number).
Mine's a 57 plate and this work was still required only a couple of weeks ago.
The US thread is referring to the pipe have a dodgy union or something.... The UK problem is because the pipe "blisters" due to it's proximity to heat sources, and thus restricts the fluid-flow.

Suggest you get back onto Huddersfield and tell them to stop talking sh!t.

[DazN]

The video clip is not what's happening to mine, that one sounds to slip quite badly.

Audi won't do mine under their goodwill gesture but will do it for £420, personally it's not really worth it for me as it only happens every so often, I'd rather spend the cash on a Milltek

I'm not sure I could even say something like "take it apart and if that's NOT the issue then I'll pay for it, otherwise Audi pay" as they're not doing it under warranty, it's good will.

I might Email Audi UK again though with your notes, thanks!!

[Timster]

DazN.... this is the Bulletin number you need to quote them:
TPI 2012712-4
It tells the dealer everything they need to know.

[DazN]

Thanks, I have sent another reply to Audi quoting that and they contacted the dealer last time, so hopefully armed with that reference number and the Audi Master Tech saying he was 99% sure it would benefit from the return pipe replacement I'll have some progress on it.

I haven't given up just yet!!

Cheers

[jonwitts]

Hi Guys

This happened to my RS4 at about 33,000 miles. If i did some spirited driving, when changing down the pedal would stay down for 1 to 2 seconds. It only did it if driven hard and only on changing down.

First off the garage changed the pipe, but it still did it. The garage could not replicate the issue so i had to take out the master technician and scare him a bit to replicate the fault.

In the end it was a new clutch, pressure plate and fly wheel, all which showed signs of extreme over heating, probably from dropping the clutch and poor changes.

Luckily for me it was still under warranty and i had only had the car for 2000 odd miles so Audi paid for all of it.

You need to ensure you do not pay for the pipe repair and then find that is not the problem and you also have to pay for the clutch.

Looking at the receipt they replaced the pipe by removing the n,s,f drive shaft to get to pipe and it cost £439.32, yet to remove the gear box cost £618.05.

May be worth dropping the box out and doing both that way ?

Good luck

Jon

[ShaneyB]

Should be a recall.

I nearly hit someone up the jaxy cos of a <beep> clutch/pipework.