Stevey Y

Hi if you are going to get the adblue mapped out make sure you use a top notch company as there are plenty out there that do it but with varying degrees of success and they will get you to sign a disclaimer telling them that the car was going to be used off road only, do not map out the EGR or DPF as that will come back to bite you. Steve.

Hi the natural regeneration process is not affected by the low pressure cooler being blocked and will carry on regardless of this I assumed that the EGR cleaner when mine was going would keep it clear in the end I was using a bottle every week but unfortunately the outcome was the same, replacement as the cooler had rotted out and was feeding water into the tubes which resulted in water loss and the tailpipes going white. Steve.

Hi yes do not delete the code and go to them and lie through your teeth say the light has been on a couple of times, normally the light comes on and stays on because its so blocked with adblue crystals, its crap design the last one I saw fitted was down at my local garage, I took the old unit to the sink and ran it under hot tap nothing flowing through the holes at first then a sudden gush of water and it was pretty much clear except for some carboned up tubes it was probably 75% clear so that would lead you to believe that the main problem is the crystals of adblue and replacement is the only real option. Steve.

Hi somewhere on OBD Eleven should be an adaption facility this trains the new unit to learn its values again via the ECU which then thinks ok the units new and cancels the old learned values and starts to re learn its new operating strategy, it can be left and will work it out itself but I have always found the re adaption method cancels any funny running while it learns, your type of valve is not dissimilar to mine and they normally fail because the valve in the cut out leaks excess gas into the engine, nowadays thats known as excessive EGR flow. Steve.

Hi from your pictures it looks like the male solid pipe screws into the metal bit attached to the rubber it may well be worth trying a motor factor to see if they have a similar rubber hose even if its a bit longer you can easily loose a couple of inches when routing the pipe. Steve.

Hi the genuine item is probably made by another company anyway, probably Valeo or similar why pay so much more for the box, just don't forget to adapt the new unit. Steve.

Hi its the EGR thats causing the Turbo problem as its clogging the variable vane bit up with crud, just replace it as if its the original its not worth the time taking it off cleaning it and putting it back on to find it still plays up, what did you have a remap or one of those disaster in waiting tuning boxes. Steve.

Hi I am pretty sure they are attached to the metal pipes I don't think they are generic but if you order a new one that on inspection should give you a clue as to what you have to undo to renew it. Steve.

Hi I have used both of those sites they are ok but slow delivering, B4s are good shocks I run them try parts in motion on eBay might be dearer but if you work out the postage from the other sites its not a lot dearer and you can confirm fitment via your vin and reg. Steve.

Hi like most manufacturers Audi think that most of their customers are brain dead, fortunately most are not and the ones that ignore it anyway are the ones you see stuffed in the concrete centre reservations or up someone else's rear, after twenty years as a cabbie and a lot of motorway driving I have worked out there is no depths to which human stupidity will not plummet, hopefully VCDS will have a way of deactivating this pest soon. Steve.

Hi personally I would hold out for another manual the auto box can be a real expensive item when they go wrong and second hand units command much higher prices where as manual units are cheaper due to the lack of demand, the clue is with that one they rarely go wrong if you change the oil every 50k it should outlast the car. Steve.

Hi Adrian, as Steve said you have to get the engine code which will definitely be in the handbook, armed with that just google Audi A4 2011 [engine code] oil consumption problems, that will throw it up, can you please confirm petrol/diesel as both engines are very different problem wise, if its a 2.0 petrol it is probably suffering the ring problems, as for getting it rebuilt I would asses that would be the thick end of £4000 and you may be better served buying a reconditioned unit from eBay and just bolting on your ancillaries from the old engine, other than that you can try to live with it. Steve.

Hi from 09-13 they sold a lot of cars like this, get your engine code and then go on the net with it, somewhere on there is a list of all the affected engines, assuming this is the petrol version, if not and its diesel it could be a number of problems ranging from injector seals to a failed PCV valve not to mention gearbox rear crank seal. Steve.

Hi it may well be an idea to mention where you have moved to, therefore engendering replies from people in that area, Surrey is a big county. Steve.

Hi no when idling the pressure plate assembly takes any slack from the flywheel, as soon as it starts to decrease the pressure thats when the flywheel can start making noises. Steve.

Hi if you go on the Bilstein website they have uprated and lowered suspension but to my mind I would just use B6s as this gives you much better handling without having all the suspension geometry altered to accommodate lowering springs on a standard ride height car, ignore the sticker. Steve.

Hi Al great result having got the bit between your teeth you have succeeded a lesson for us all, just shows you the disciplines of your electrical knowledge can be applied to mechanical issues and save you money doing it yourself, well done. Steve.

Hi it should be a lot less please report back your findings, I have found it to be excellent and am doing about 900 miles a week as a taxi so therefore I felt in a small way qualified to give my opinion on what I thought best, I never recommend a product unless I have really tried it and we are talking months and many miles, I wish you luck. Steve.

Hi all chip boxes normally work on the same principle they fool the fuel rail temp sensor in to thinking the car is running cold so the ECU tells the injection system to run richer to warm the engine quicker, the result of this is constant over fuel which will wash the cylinders and then head into the sump and contaminate the oil. Steve.

Hi yes but try unplugging the MAF on top of the airbox first. Steve.

Hi I have been around cars many years and never been a fan of extended service intervals that are north of 10k, I am privileged to know a few car engineers who work for manufacturers one of whom took me as a guest to an engine oil producers main testing lab for their products, the one thing I learned was that modern engine oil is far better than say twenty years ago but the common denominator is the oil turning black, a lot of this is carbon which the oil suspends to render it harmless, this carbon which is abrasive in oils having done over 10k will start to become critical so imagine that lot in another 9k on top, better to have lots of services and a non worn engine, far better selling point, in essence if you can't do the service at 9k and it runs 1500 miles past no big deal. Steve.

Hi try unplugging the MAF sensor and if it runs better thats whats wrong, recently had that with my car and had to change the MAP MAF DPF sensor as they are all connected it only takes one to be wonky to throw the whole lot out. Steve.

Hi yes that bit is only changeable between 9k/18k so you can't delete that, personally I prefer 9k intervals as by then the filters are knackered and from experience I have found it best policy to change oil/filters at that milage please see the filter on the left after 9k you will get the general idea about the filth that accumulates within that milage. Steve.

Hi the inspection will always be at different intervals, the inspection is where they walk all round the car trying to invent things to do with graphic pictures of brake pads that are 50% worn and any clips missing from the shielding underneath, which they didn't put back when they serviced it, then you will have the suspension bushes look worn, this is all in the name of drumming up work with labour charges at £100+, the easiest thing to do is using either VCDS or OBD ELEVEN go in to the menu and reset the inspection milage to 00 in each box as I did anti never appears again, I did mine at 60k and it now has over 160k and still no sign of the inspection warning, as Gareth said why are you using a main dealer. Steve.

Hi I use my A6 as a cab and when you get large cooler bags and a mix of flight bags and big suitcases that strap has saved my bacon a couple of times especially when the shopping contains bottles of wine it stops it flying around the boot when cornering, and believe me when I say they take a lot of action. Steve.