Mines developed the Clutch Issue

[DuncanMac]

Went in today and they have ordered the part Looking forward to it but a two week wait! The clutch was murder in last nights 3 hour trafic jam! Hard soft hard soft continually and the oil temp at 111 ! It wasnt a happy bunny ;-(

[Mosi]

First post here Chaps - Hi All ....not a happy one though!

My brand new 56 reg RS4 Cab's clutch failed in the same way as has been described in this thread on its way to being delivered to me yesterday (Sept 1st)!

I havent even driven the car yet, I am gutted to say the least.

Audi Assist delivered the knackered car to my house last night at 9.30pm because the local Audi Dealer had closed for the night! - I had to get the car recovered again this morning from my house to Aylesbury Audi!

My 12k mile Lambo Gallardo has had 2 clutch failures to date to (£4500 fitted each time...but luckily they did them under warranty)...looks like VAG Group are scrimping on their clutch R&D!

Aylesbury Audi will start putting my brand new car right on Monday but they say they will have to wait for parts that are on back order...how long will I be waiting Chaps ?

Gutted!

[Mike_K]

..they will have to wait for parts that are on back order...how long will I be waiting Chaps ? Gutted!

Welcome Mosi!!

I think DuncMac got in there just before your post (ans = 2 weeks) !

even with your prob I wish I had one of your shiny new RS4s than my (slightly less shiny) S4 ! What colour did you go for ?

[Mosi]

..they will have to wait for parts that are on back order...how long will I be waiting Chaps ? Gutted!

Welcome Mosi!!

I think DuncMac got in there just before your post (ans = 2 weeks) !

even with your prob I wish I had one of your shiny new RS4s than my (slightly less shiny) S4 ! What colour did you go for ?

Cheers Mike, looks like a bit of a wait until I get my sodding car then!!

I have a phanton black car, black nappa with silver piping

[DaveP]

Mosi !

Welcome on board...wondered how long it'd take you to register over here

[Mosi]

Mosi !

Welcome on board...wondered how long it'd take you to register over here

Hi Dave, good to hear from you again - hows tricks ?

I'm friggin GUTTED about my RS4 Cab...I havent even driven it yet and its stuck in the Dealers awaiting a new clutch!

[DaveP]

Good mate...

Have to say I'll be interested to hear the report on that and what they replace....sounds fishy if they have to replace the clutch - I suppose it could have been fittted wrong, but would sound more like someone has been having a play before it was delivered !!

[simple1]

As Dave says, depends on what has failed. All the cars are tested before they leave the factory, hence having around 30 miles on them, you would think it would have failed during this rather than on its way to you... unless it was pilot error at 8000 launch but data log will show exactly what and when, it is even time stamped so ask the dealer for a print out of this..................

[mjh123]

I was told by a senior tech that the cars being delivered now don't go through the same testing as the earlier cars. One car he said, was delivered in the UK with less than 10 miles on the clock as opposed to the 30 or 40 of earlier ones.

I was also told the earlier cars all came with a set of spark plugs to be fitted on PDI. The latest batch don't as they run them lean at the factory and that's how they arrive at the dealership.

Therefore, if the above is true, if anyone did attempt some "testing" of the car enroute to the dealership, they'd have been disppointed with its performance and may have tried to compensate...

[simple1]

Mine came with a spare set of plugs in the boot......... it is something to do with cars being shunted about and not warming the plugs, allowing them to foul up......... My car was moved around the dealership, test driven to Mc D's and back and the new plugs were fitted in the showroom just before the car was delivered to me........

[Mosi]

Latest update from Aylesbury Audi : the clutch plates are worn to buggery and Audi UK have the parts in stock. Fingers crossed the car will be back together and working tomorrow

However I am still dubious as to what caused the problem in the first place

Exeter Audi (where the car was sourced from) are saying it is driver error (a delivery driver had driven it 180 miles before it failed), but I just cannot see a clutch getting shagged in 180 miles.

I've asked about the known faulty hydraulic pipe issue and I have been informed that my car has the uprated pipe....bearing in mind the car has been sat in a showroom since July waiting for the Sept 1st reg plate for me, could this be the case (ie how long have Audi known about this issue and when would factory cars have had the uprated item fitted?)

I have a feeling this clutch issue is going to haunt me beyond getting it back!

[DaveP]

Mate, As Simon has said, get them to give you a printout from the ECU diagnostics....it should tell them if it's been 'launched' - and what time apparently !!

Certainly sounding more suspicious and I'd seriously be considering not accepting the car if it was me...

[Mosi]

Mate, As Simon has said, get them to give you a printout from the ECU diagnostics....it should tell them if it's been 'launched' - and what time apparently !!

Certainly sounding more suspicious and I'd seriously be considering not accepting the car if it was me...

Dave, I will ask for the datalog files etc to rule out any launching issues.

Re: rejecting the car...I want that car, I cant be arsed trying to find another brand new one again, and I dont want to get a 2nd hand one for list price either. If this debacle drags on more than a few days then I will reject it - however if it looks like being sorted quickly I will hang onto it.

[Mosi]

I have just spoken to Aylesbury Audi and their Master Technician said that they cannot pull off records that might point to over reving/abuse etc etc

I thought most modern ECU's had datalogging which shows what the car has been up to in the last few days/weeks etc.

Can anyone verify whether I am being misinformed ?

[simple1]

You are being mislead and told bollox.......... the logs are stored, my car was diagnosed with a fan unit failure, tech ran through log with me of that days driving, was able to tell me speed, time, revs, oil temp, water temp, gear and throttle position as %age.......... and fault code at failure.......... was also able to show me max revs that day, max oil and water temps, lenth of journey in both time and distance and a few other things...
Sounds like they are covering somebody's arse here..........
And yes it is possible to fry a clutch in 180 miles, delivery blurb included a warning about making sure you rest your foot on the rest not the pedal....