Garage are really annoying me....

[audi_driver79]

Guys,

Decided to get major service done with spark plugs etc and brake fluid change done at a local (darlington) so called specialist. Went to pick it up and guy who was parking it up says "have you noticed a problem with it idling?". Of course not it runs fine any probs and I take it to my normal guy. Wish I'd done it in first place but thought this would be straightforward.

Anyway I noticed when I went to drive away no power then loads as usual. It also decided to cut out. They have now had it overnight and hes talking about replacing the air mass meter. I'm sure there was no issues before they got it and if hes going to charge me where do I stand????

Does anyone have suggestions mechanical or otherwise?????

Really peed off!!!

[Shoppinit]

They haven't put the airbox on properly. Classic.

[audi_driver79]

Do you reckon I should suggest this?

[Shoppinit]

Asbolutely. Get them to take the airbox off again, make sure that they haven't damaged the MAF connections or the MAF seals, then put it on properly. See the DIY spark plug thread in the FAQ for instructions on how to put the airbox on properly. It's a biatch to get on properly.

[audi_driver79]

Garage have just told me the connectors to the air mass meter were brittle so they have broke and will have to wait til tomorrow for replacements.

He reckons the airbox is definitely on as he checked it again after I took it back.

[Daveperc]

Tell them to keep all the displaced parts and that you will be getting a second opinion on whether they were "brittle" - first I've heard of them doing that! They are however easy to break if you don't know what you are doing...

If it's an Audi dealer then call Audi technical dept and ask about "brittleness" of MAF's.

Dave

[JCviggen]

Garage have just told me the connectors to the air mass meter were brittle so they have broke and will have to wait til tomorrow for replacements.

He reckons the airbox is definitely on as he checked it again after I took it back.

They were probably just ham-fisted and ripped the connectors off when they removed the airbox (you can only lift up the airbox a little when undoing the MAF connectors)

Mechanics who are not used to dealing with the RS6 airbox are unlikely to get it right, or to realize when they've done it wrong. The idling/performance issue is simply unmetered air because the MAFs are not seated properly. There is also a fair chance that they already have, or will, damage the rubber sealing rings and you'll have some slightly rough idling left even when they finally get the bloody thing on right.

I have found that trying to explain this to your average (Audi) mechanic is like training a monkey to play chess. They'll <beep> around with the pieces but get nowhere.

[swannny]

Sorry to hear you've been messed about, it's not nice when it happens, some garages seem to think they can charge you for their mistakes!

I was going to be lazy and take mine to my local garage when I get it back, but it's def going to a reputable specialist!

[audi_driver79]

I have seen the connectors and 'brittle' wouldn't be the word I'd use to describe them. 'Knackered' would be one as one of the pins is pushed in and the red plastic round them is broken in places. It looks like it was them but I just want it back working now, I may end up paying for parts but as they have had the car 2 days extra I don't want labour too!

[Shoppinit]

The connectors are cheap so shouldn't cost too much. If they were serious about customer service they wouldn't make you pay a penny.

[audi_driver79]

Ok so connectors should be reasonable, just hope they replace them properly but that'll be apparent when its driven. Because of 'duty of care' those connectors cannot have been broken other than when they removed the airbox so it was only the garage who had access to those. Therefore if they broke them I shouldn't pay. What I am concerned about is if as I suspect they say they have fitted a new air mass meter which shouldn't have been done til these connectors are sorted I should demand they put the old one back in and refuse to pay for that too.


I am going tomorrow so I'll see what they say.......

[RS6Steve]

Lumpy idle, a Shop says...... AIR BOX NOT SEATED IN MAF'S

[audi_driver79]

Its been a learning process but I picked the car up and gave it a good drive and it runs fine, so I'm happy again.

Also the garage were honest with me and said there was no quibble and it must have been something they had done and never charges me for replacing some of the worn air hoses.

All in all apart from losing a couple of days with the RS6 its turned out ok....

[rossi46]

Good that you got it all sorted, AND found a garage that were honest with you !

[gingertoss]

Nice to hear there are some honest garages about.