Help Please! DRC has just failed!!

[AFN380]

Hey Guys, I need some help. I was out today in the car with the family and got caught up in some crazy traffic on the M25 going towards dartford. Whilst in the very slow traffic I started to notice a very dull knock from the driver side rear of the car. I was only doing between 3-7mph and every small bump change in surface this dull knock was there. As traffic cleared and I headed home. The knock became more noticeable.

It did not matter what speed i was doing. Didn't matter what driving mode I was in. Closer to home i pulled over and couldn't see anything noticeable. Had a look under the car in case it was the exhaust checked the contents of the boot. check the battery wasn't moving etc etc.

Drove the last 2 miles home and the car felt awful. at 20-30 mph clunk clunk clunk. Appraoch a speed hump and clunk on the way up and down. Now one thing i noticed was that if i drove over a drain or manhole or a small dip in the road on the left hand side of the car they clunk is not there. However i drove round the block again and drove over the same road and this time driver side and knock every time. i even recorded the sound and you can hear it. If the windows are closed you can here it in the car and if the windows open you can hear it outside.

it sends shocks through my spine! I have also emptied the car completed and drove it 5 mins and it's awful. I am sure the rear suspension has failed. I am so gutted right now have only had the car 18 days!!!!

My question now is can I still drive it. The reason i ask is that I don't have another car. I have commitments for my family tomorrow and hospital appointments on Monday! Cannot cancel this appointment either (Critical treatment)! Should i call Audi assistance out and get them to take a look? or should i wait and contact my local dealer and get them to look at it asap. I am stuffed! Do you think it need delivering to the dealership? I don't want it to have more damage.

Advice please guys.

Should I be looking at calling out audi assistance? or will i be getting a taxi

[Ian_C]

Call Audi assistance. I'd imagine this would be your best bet to getting a loan car ASAP if you are stuck for another car. Don't wait until Monday to call the dealer - they'll just book you in for the first slot free that has a courtesy car (that could be weeks!)

[AFN380]

Call Audi assistance. I'd imagine this would be your best bet to getting a loan car ASAP if you are stuck for another car. Don't wait until Monday to call the dealer - they'll just book you in for the first slot free that has a courtesy car (that could be weeks!)

That's what I was thinking. I have just called them they should be here in 40 minutes. Fingers and toes crossed.

[AFN380]

Audi Assitance have been and gone. I drove the car about 100 yeards down the road with the guy from the AA and he said take it back home. Heard the thud/clunk/knock/bang about 4 times!

Had the rear of the car jacked up. Found no leaks or broken springs. checked most bits he could. He thinks the shock maybe be broken internally. Advised don't drive it. Has to go to a dealer on a tow truck. I have to call back in the morning and they will get it towed to the dealer and give me another car in the meantime.

man am so upset.

[Ian_C]

63 plate or newer, or under extended Audi warranty?

[AFN380]

63 plate or newer, or under extended Audi warranty?

It's a March 2015. So under warranty but just gutted. Only had it 18 days and now this.

[RS6chris!]

Aye

Welcome to the lottery of DRC!

[AFN380]

It is a real lottery! It got picked up this morning. On a tow truck to local dealer. Who knows what they find. Audi assistance delivering a car to me tomorrow morning.

[Surrey Sam]

It's a March 2015. So under warranty but just gutted. Only had it 18 days and now this.

Know how you feel, I had mine about 25 days before the first gearbox went. The good thing is that you have involved roadside assistance, so the job I believe becomes a priority one where the dealer will have to meet KPI's, such as providing you with a car in a certain time scale etc.

Hope it gets fixed for you nice and quickly though, they're good cars when sorted

[AFN380]

Hey Guys, A quick update. Just had a call from the workshop and they have advised that the DRC nearside pipe has split causing the suspension issue. Waiting for the master tech to call me.

They have also put down possible damper replacement but need to fit the pipe first. Let see what happens.

cheers

[Ian_C]

Hope the operation went okay! What car they given you in the meantime?

[AFN380]

Well they called and said we can try and get you an RS or an S car but it will take a few days. I needed a car that day so they delivered a 2014 Q5 TFSI.

Not bad spec either.

Now have to wait till tomorrow to see what has happened. Spoke yo master tech he said they will replace the pipe which will take about 3 hours. The repressurise the DRC system. After that it will go out on a test drive. Based on results they will look at what is next. He thinks possible dampers. Won't know until system has been tested again.

[AFN380]

As for the operation the car will be in bits tomorrow pray for it! As for critical health treatment at hospital that went well (for my mum). So all good on the human side!

[AFN380]

Hey Guys, SO a final update I hope. DRC nearside pipe was replace today. Car was tested by the master tech and it is ready. I have just picked it up. The drive is so much better lol. No crashing or banging. It feels better than when the DRC was working. As i could always hear a small knock. No very smooth and feels like a different car. Happy days. All covered under warranty. No dampers etc required. New pipe system pressurised and all sorted. Fingers crossed i can now enjoy the car!

HAPPY DAYS!

[Surrey Sam]

Good news. I do wonder if the DRC system pressure settles after the factory build and therefor runs a bit low most of the time, causing some of these problems?