Magnet

Hello Mark, I’d be tempted to send Dean a PM - he hasn’t been on here for a year, but should be able to be contacted provided he hasn’t changed his e-Mail contact. Kind regards, Gareth.

Pleasure Jon. Glad that Battery Megastore worked for you. I did have an issue with a non Varta/Bosch battery for a ride-on mower from them, but they were progressive in sorting it out. I must say I use EBay for most parts for family member’s cars. I attempt to buy quality parts at competitive prices from reliable sellers - not just the cheapest for the same product. Incase it helps, I have favoured a variety of Febi ( Bilstein) aftermarket parts to seemingly good avail. Car Parts in Motion (Exeter) have provided a good mail order service for Febi parts at generally competitive prices. Again, it’s always worth checking GSF for their prices. Hengst filters? Believe they are part of the Mann empire ( German origins) but possibly still unaffected by this economics is king policy. I’ve just bought one for the A3 from GSF and first impressions give scope for being impressed - sturdy and quite heavyweight. The one for the A3 was just £4.30 if you believe, and I did buy a Mann for another car sometime last year from them, and that was less than £5. They are not competitive for some parts, but it’s always a case of shopping around. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. No connection with any of the above mentioned suppliers, apart from having bought from them.

Thanks Jon, Would you mind refreshing an aged memory on the Bosch filter issue? Interestingly, I’ve just moved away from Mann ( and Bosch) oil filters for the annual service on the humble A3, due to helpful comments from Steve Y some time ago. I bought the Hengst equivalent from GSF at a fraction of Hengst, Mann and Bosch prices from other sellers. Just ordered on line and picked it up at their local- to - me branch. Great service. Just double check that I’m right in my belief that if you buy Varta or it’s equivalent Bosch, you are actually buying the same battery - simply branded Varta or Bosch as appropriate. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks John, Sounds good, but slightly cheaper from Battery Magastore on EBay. Tayna list on there as well. Incase it helps, I always buy via. EBay (postage is included in the price there) since you have the backing of EBay if anything goes wrong. You are on your own if buying direct. Perhaps a word of caution:- one seller is listing the same/similar battery at around £113, but their reviews appear poor. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. You might look at the Bosch equivalent - reputed to be the same battery, but simply rebranded.

Always worth buying once and wisely with batteries Jon. I only buy brands and grades that have a minimum of 4 year warranties. I tend to buy mine on line from specialist suppliers at competitive prices. Don’t forget to get it coded to the car. Kind regards, Gareth.

Battery efficiency been check Rob? Always the first thing to be tested and eliminated - or not - in these cases. Take it it’s electric assisted steering rather than hydraulic - ? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Chris, Is it difficult to put an internal calliper in this plug and get a good measurement? Allen key? I’d be surprised if someone ( apart from Audi) doesn’t supply the correct socket for this - probably common to many marques. I’d be giving this a good coat of Googling. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Chris, Excuse me appearing to be patronising, but well done you by making sure you can undo the filler plug before undoing the drain plug. Many before you haven’t with differentials and gearboxes, only to find they can’t refill them! Anyway, back to your question about the availability of a large Alen head socket. Laser Tools used to do a variety of largish ones ( big enough for you?) as a set, so worth looking to them. Have you done an EBay search for the size you want? Have you tried Halfords? If all else fails - and I doubt if it will - you could take an accurate measurement, and search out a steel stockholder and buy a short length of the correct size hexagonal bar. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for joining Philip. Could I ask some questions:- Can I take it the original alternator was giving a low/zero voltage, and would you know what that voltage was? Has anyone tested the voltage now given out by the replacement alternator - and if so what is that figure? Was the battery efficiency measured before the alternator was replaced, and has it been tested again now? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Steve, Common issue? - I would be sure not. Abnormal? -yes. This car should not use anything like that amount of coolant in a year, let alone 250 miles. Simply get this investigated under your extended warranty, without any DIY investigation or fiddling. Warranty company? Could be as simple as a faulty reservoir cap, or anything more serious from there. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Shannon, So it seems you haven’t found time to view responses on here, leave alone answer a question, so I’m taking it that you aren’t actually going to say what your asking price is. If it was solely in my hands, I would delete such adverts, where sellers are not prepared to disclose a selling price. I have the facility to do that, but would you like us to give you a couple more days to ‘come clean’ on that asking price? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Rikhard, Thanks for joining. Unfortunately the original poster hasn’t posted any responses in the last 3 years, so it’s probably safe to say he isn’t going to now! If this were mine, I would be getting the battery efficiency checked, as my first port of call. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ian, It looks like the correct part number is 894422066 and not …..065 as Audi said it was. Have you now enquired about availability of ….066? You say the fitting positions of the hoses are different. If this is the only difference, can’t your garage get some modified hoses made up which will fit? Commercial vehicle motor factors are usually a good source of advice on who makes these pressure hoses. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Martin - it’s now clear. You would now be wise to write this as a ‘Wanted’ advert, specifying whatever budget you have, and what is important to you within that budget. No need to put personal contact details on here, since you can be contacted via. the forum’s PM system. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for coming back Ricky. What was faulty about the (brand?) oil filter? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Jonathan - it didn’t hurt, and is likely to avoid more ‘time wasting’ potential buyers. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Martin. Do you have one for sale, or are you looking to buy one? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jonathan, Prices you want for the individual items -? Personally, I would put direct contact details on an open forum, but your choice. Anyone who shows an interest can contact you via. a PM. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ravi, Probably a break in the supply wire to the rear seat section. You would need to remove the seat, dismantle it and discover the issue. Do not ( in caps) disconnect any plugs into the seat without having disconnected the battery for 30 mins before doing so - or you’ll end up setting the air bags off. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jayson, The synchromesh cones are just some of the intricate parts of the gearbox internals - they are not something you can just take off and bolt a new one in. Bad news is that it means the gearbox would need to be removed, dismantled and rebuilt. Kind regards, Gareth.

This smacks of classic gearbox synchromesh issues to me. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Charlie, Many thanks for joining, and sorry to hear of your discontent. Incase it helps, a family member has Scorpion Verdes on a non-Audi - the same size as yours, as it happens. The vehicle is now on its second set, and I’m not aware of any discontent with road noise, so it might be worth investigating other possibilities. Pardon my ignorance, but I take it this has permanent 4 wheel drive-? If so, does this technology work via. a Haldex system - as the non-Audi does? If so, has the oil and filter in this system been changed to schedule - usually every 25k? Worth looking into? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mark, Thanks for joining, and sorry to hear of your plight. Please don’t assume that since it is a private purchase, that there isn’t any redress from the seller. Any redress will depend on the wording of the advert. Back to your issue:- although I’m not a fan of laying all faith In diagnostics, it does seem that this might have to be your first port of call. Having diagnosed the possible cause, it may be useful to know that if this is indeed an ‘air’ issue rather than sensor/electronic issues, then a good contact for anything air suspension would be Bagpipingandy on EBay. Perhaps you could let us know how things develop from here. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

So what is your asking price Shannon?

Thanks Joe, I would have thought you would have had redress through EBay, even if the trader was being awkward about it. However, descriptions are sometimes being written to effect ‘Starts, drives, stops’, and in that case you kiss goodbye to any warranty - unless it doesn’t actually do all of these. Of course, we are not sure how your car was described, but whatever, it’s too late now, and all we can do is to sympathise with your plight. Let’s hope the loss isn’t too great. Kind regards, Gareth.