DRC System

Post by **davectr** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:51 am

Can anyone reccomend a north east dealer other than teesside audi (less than pleasant experience with them at last service!) as i'm approaching 5years in summer and starting to get a little concerned, although it seems ok at the moment. Will audi just check it over foc or do they charge just to inspect it?

Post by **DaytonaSarge** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:54 pm

PetrolDave - that may well be but I wasn't advised as such. Think they were happy to see the back of me...

aka_dk - Whetstone Audi - just outside of Finchley in North London.

For anyone who thinks they may have a problem, from my experience, I knew I had a problem immediatly. Wasn't anything to do with being at full lock, it was simply that the whole ride of the car changed, suddenly started having knocking noises coming from all around the car (I believe this is because if one DRC valve leaks, the entire system depressurises because of this - sounded to me in a non-technical sense that the boot lid wasn't shut properley or something was bouncing around in the boot) and clearly going over any bumps on the NSF you could tell that the shocks there were non-existant.

Hope that helps.

Post by **fletchie55** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:26 pm

[/quote]I thought they are supposed to leave the car overnight and re-check the DRC pressure hasn't dropped?[/quote]

I was speaking to Rob at Camberley Audi yesterday about the DRC thing as I want to get mine checked due to a knocking sound.

I asked if I need to leave the car with them overnight to settle, and he said "no, thats a common misconception, if you vacuum/drain the system properly then re-pressurise then you dont need to leave it."

Post by **Steve_C** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:29 pm

Yes, that's true but it is relying on the dealer doing it properly, first time. IMO, alot safer to let things settle overnight and top up if required.

Post by **PetrolDave** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:41 pm

Steve_C wrote:Yes, that's true but it is relying on the dealer doing it properly, first time. IMO, alot safer to let things settle overnight and top up if required.

+1

1) Given how useless many dealers are, I think it's a sensible precaution to leave it with them long enough for them to be able to check the pressure.

2) It's a very high pressure (15 bar or so, which is about 220 PSI), so there's a good chance of leaks.

Post by **wellzieRS4** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:33 am

anyone got a picture of a shock that has failed? im going to camberly audi next week to have mine looked at as mine knocks when it is cold,swindon audi said mine are ok i have looked myself and 2 are slightly leaking but have been told this is normal

Post by **aidanjaye** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:46 am

How can Audi say this is normal?
If the system is pressurised - and it leaks, the pressure will drop. Even a child can understand that.

Anyway, I have a few pics of my front shock but I'll show them later. Currently car is with Audi and know that some Audi reps do read this forum too....so, will await the outcome.

Post by **aidanjaye** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:39 pm

Well heres the update....a a few photos. Between the first and second pic is 100miles), the first picture being the latter.

...seems that leakage (or weepage - didn't know there was a difference), is normal, so car back home with nothing done. As car has very few miles (5k in last year), intend to hand it over to the wife to use for the next few weeks and check again (although she is pi**ed off and just wants to trade the bugger against a STI 330).

Will I be renewing Audi warranty??? Emmm .No.

Post by **alex020869** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:27 am

Think if it was me, i would be telling Audi that i am going to take it to an MOT station at their cost if proved faulty. If the shock is wet to touch then i think everyone would agree that it is leaking. Therefore, it should be replaced. Bet the MOT station would fail it.

Alex

Post by **P_G** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:27 am

TBH aiden having seen the Audi disgnosis pics that is classified as weeping and not leaking. It looks damp but leaking is seeing physical fluid on the shock.

And as PetrolDave suggests, it is at 15-16Bar pressure on a small amount of fluid; if the pressure were to drop below 12 (designatied minimum tolerance value) then they will test and if necessary replace. Did they do a pressure test for you?

Post by **aidanjaye** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:48 am

The repressured system last year (5k ago) at my cost and car had been fine. Didn't do anything this time other than look.
Did mention following:

Wheels are out of round (i later had them checked and balanced and were all fine).
Car needs aligned (equal wear on tyres so dont think so).

Basically felt like I was getting fobbed off.

Anyway, monitoring shock. They obviously cleaned the shock so we will see. As you'll notice from other posts, fed up and maybe just change the car although not sure for what. Been searching autotrader last night but woke up this morning and saw the RS4 in the drive....damn still like it.

Post by **wellzieRS4** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 3:37 pm

ouote
Basically felt like I was getting fobbed off.

Anyway, monitoring shock. They obviously cleaned the shock so we will see. As you'll notice from other posts, fed up and maybe just change the car although not sure for what. Been searching autotrader last night but woke up this morning and saw the RS4 in the drive....damn still like it.

thats how i feels

Post by **andymc** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:32 pm

Hi Guys - thought you might like to know ...

Picked up my RS4 at the w/e. Loving every second of it. However, heard a bit of knocking in the suspension area - particularly when the car was 'cold'. Called up Camberley Audi and checked the recall status of the car. It had both front shocks/valves swapped in Sept/09. Asked them to have a look but they couldn't fit me in straight away but passed me over to their sister branch in Basingstoke for an appointment the following day. Their 'tech' came for a drive with me then put it on the ramps and found a leaking front/ns shock. Being replaced under the 'good will' warranty.

Super service from both Camberley and Basingstoke - so far. Happy I've moved to Audi.

Post by **lugars4** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:07 pm

andymc wrote:Hi Guys - thought you might like to know ...

Picked up my RS4 at the w/e. Loving every second of it. However, heard a bit of knocking in the suspension area - particularly when the car was 'cold'. Called up Camberley Audi and checked the recall status of the car. It had both front shocks/valves swapped in Sept/09. Asked them to have a look but they couldn't fit me in straight away but passed me over to their sister branch in Basingstoke for an appointment the following day. Their 'tech' came for a drive with me then put it on the ramps and found a leaking front/ns shock. Being replaced under the 'good will' warranty.

Super service from both Camberley and Basingstoke - so far. Happy I've moved to Audi.

Interesting, mine knocks when cold, seems to be both fronts that do it.Not all road surfaces, but mainly when the shock has to extend (on rebound), any type or pot hole of sharp dip in the road.

Audi checked it out and found no leaks and checked the pressure which was "OK".

I have read many other threads of other people describing this.
Without a visible leak and the pressure aparantly ok its a dead end so far.....

Any advice?

Post by **andymc** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:12 pm

lugars4 wrote: Audi checked it out and found no leaks and checked the pressure which was "OK".

I have read many other threads of other people describing this.
Without a visible leak and the pressure aparantly ok its a dead end so far.....

Any advice?

am thinking that leaving the car with them overnight so they can take it for a test-drive when its cold/rested after 4+ hours .. they should hear the noise instantly and at least acknowledge there is something which requires further investigation...

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