Magnet

Hello Chris, A good place to start is the handbook for the car. That usually - or did- gives you the recommended battery specification. Would this be the first battery change (I guess so) and if so what is quoted on the original Audi branded battery should be what you should go for. OK 85Ah vs 95Ah is no great deal difference, but what I would be more interested in is the cold cranking current (CCA) comparison - old to new batteries. Compatibility sites? - notoriously unreliable. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Adam, Sorry to hear the problem has been ongoing, but pleased it now seems to be working out for you. I guess you will now insist on a greater than 5 mile test run for every car you buy from now on! Please Adam confirm with us that this Octavia is being bought in around Cardiff, and is not one of these 'looks lovely on the Internet' purchases. One other thing I bore folks with is the importance of checking with the recorded keeper before purchase. The full story of the good and bads of the car is privy only to them. Full service history etc. might be important, but after all, that's only a stamp in a book, or now just an entry on a computer scene. Neither of these can talk, but the previous keeper can! Better luck with the next one. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Daniel, I'm very sorry to hear of your on-going issues, particularly since when you presented your car for recall a year ago, there were already some 4 pages of problematic posts on this forum (how many on other VAG forums?) which could have pointed you towards not agreeing to the recall. Water under the bridge as we say, and we cannot go backwards. Where do you go from here? Depends on how much money you are prepared to spend to contest your issues, and of course your chances of a successful outcome. If it were mine, I think I would give this a good couple of coats of thinking about, but I would fear a pessimistic outcome. On a more positive note - cracking pipes? Pardon my ignorance but are these rubber pipes? If so, why are they cracking? Substandard quality? Some external cause causing them to crack? Even if substandard, do you want to continue to experience similar issues with replacements , and/or argue with VAG? More substantial equivalents available? We now hear of silicone pipes - would ones of this material be available or modifiable? This would be where my thoughts and efforts would be concentrated in the short term - unless someone else comes up with a better alternative. Good luck with some sort of improvement. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Pete, I'm suffering from stress here, simply reading your tales of woe! BT and others - all much of a muchness?? Been with BT for many a moon, and had some instances of problems, and certainly failed promises. I guess every one has with most of the providers, but frustrating it is, particularly when - if they can't cope with the customer base they have - they still advertise 'new-customer-only' special deals to attract even more poor unsuspecting ! But again they all do that anyway. When they have you on board, and you are in trouble, you get through to Keith! , Alan etc. at call centres well east of the Thames estuary. They invariably get upset when you challenge any of their statements to any degree, yet seem hell bent on keeping feeding you good-for-the-garden stuff. I think I have had to resort to writing Personal attn. CEO letters on three occasions and the problem was quickly actioned via. phone calls from a very helpful and progressive UK person - apologies and actions. However, on the last occasion about 18 months ago, no phone call, but an e-mail which eventually led to a series of different people replying to the e-mail chain! Not so good at all. Anyway Pete, it's nothing personal, and is only sent to try you! Good luck in sorting it out. Kind regards, Gareth.

Doesn't MyAudi apply to more current/new vehicles Mark? Might be worth Googling VIN checking in general, and homing in to Audi from there. If all else fails, then no doubt a call to Audi Customer Services UK will point you towards the appropriate contact. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Guy, I too would be treating the continuity test on the screen element as the first test. If the element has a ding in it (often due to putting something high in the boot and closing the glass against it) then pulling anything else apart will be to no avail. Obviously disconnect the terminals first. If that is OK then simply work back from there, checking for 12v where 12 volts should be. If the element tests show it to be OK, then it might be worth checking the harness in the flexible section where it feeds from the body into the tailgate - often a source of potential problems since the wiring can become brittle due to temperature and continued flexing. Kind regards, Gareth,

Hello Mark, Looks a very nice project. Not sure how much of this is going to help help but:- Were there indeed two power outputs from the 2.6 engine, or are you confusing it with the slightly later 2.8? If it were mine, I would attempt to get the build record for the car via. the VIN. I believe there is an on-line Audi VIN decoding system. This should clarify any engine output query, and equality importantly give you a colour code. You should be able to find a code plate somewhere (boot area was popular and front slam panel). Stabs at possibles:- LN1M - Lemongelb which ran to 1999. LK1D - Jasmine. 93/97 . LY1B - Brillantgelg - but might be later. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello David, In the absence of any other replies, I wonder if some of the following may help:- '........ very little knowledge of engines' ......... Just do not allow yourself to go near any (in caps!) secondhand car, with a wallet in your pocket without being chaperoned! No ifs, no buts.... Always work on the principle that viewing any car with a consideration to buy it, kicks in a very very high risk (in fact a certainty) that you will simply fall in love with the idea, and we all know what they say about the effect of love on your eyesight! 'Is it worth buying if I can buy it cheap?' . Even if you were thinking of buying a reputable Brand X car 'because it's cheap' yet you don't have the ability or equipment to repair the car, is unlikely to render it an economic proposition. R8?? This car seems to be a complete unknown to you even - leave alone us on here who are being called upon to advise. Two things I would suggest:- It's worth continuing to dream of owning such a car until a 'fully known about' example - within your price bracket - comes your way, and when it does, you engage the services of a fully experienced assessor of the actual condition of the car you are being offered, before signing up to taking ownership. If this car is within your price bracket, and you like the look of it, buy it, and put it on the drive, clean and polish it, and just enjoy sitting in it from time to time. Apologies David, if all of this appears rather contra productive in terms of your question, but my personal opinion (and other might well disagree) is that this love affair could end costing you in the long run. Having said that, we are only privy to very sketchy detail on this car, and you would need to share far more facts if you are to get any meaningful advice from your enquiry on here. Kind regards, Gareth.

Blinking heck! Whatever happened to the more polite use of the English language - like 'can anyone help me with this?'

What does two posts of 'up' mean Thomas?

Healthy difference of opinion Lavelle. If you think about it, by extinguishing your service light then they are involving themselves in the 'effectiveness' of your DIY servicing, by removing the warning that the car is due for servicing. Let's assume, for example, that you have missed a critical safety issue with this car. By removing the 'service due' warning, they are implicated in the consequence of any issue that arises as a result of you missing something. Not fair to them! I think you will find that all manufacturers operate a 'Service due' warning system - not just VAG. On a brighter note, you used to be able to DIY remove these messages by a variety of methods - some including pressing the trip button etc. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Lavelle, I can, to some degree, understand your discontents with the Audi main dealer, but from their point of view you are really asking them to 'confirm' it has been serviced (obviously not by them) in accordance with the recommended schedule - and they don't know if it has been or not. To me, that is sensibly good customer service on their part, since they are not prepared to confirm anything which they do not have any knowledge of. Kind regards, Gareth.

Apologies Luke. It's an aging thing, where PCPs were once unheard of! As I understand it, the majority of new cars are now registered under a PCP. This early delivery may now be a bonus for you, since I guess the figures quoted would have been based on a 2019 registration and the all important residual value calculate on that. The fact that it will now be registered in 2018 must affect the residual, but if they are not going to adjust the figures then, as you say, it will not affect your payments, so no consequence. Enjoy it. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Luke, Pleased for you, and probably putting a dampener on this great event, but you will appreciate that within a space of approx. 4 weeks from being registered new, this car will technically be a year older. Yes, I know the dealer will be convincing in their arguement that a Dec. registered car will have the same value as one registered in Jan. of the following year, but........... reality? After all, December is an understandingly slow month for vehicle registrations, and they will be clapping their hands at the thought of every car they can get a number plate on in this month. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello John, Just register your requirements with Partsfinder (I think, and there are others). These searches are circulated to a network of breakers, and you will then be contacted with what is available and at what prices. Just Google secondhand car parts finder - or similar. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dom, Apologies, but I cannot help you with independents in your area. What might be worth a coat of thinking about is what you are going to achieve in the longer term by not getting this done at the main dealer. This critical application should certainly not be treated as a cost-is-king job. Yes, you may get it done cheaper, but most importantly, what make parts are going to be used. Aftermarket (with the possible exception of Gates) are very much second class options, and I certainly would not use any other pump apart from a VAG dealer one - simply asking for expensive, written off engine possibilities. Having said that, the 'bonus' of 'free' MOTs for life!??? Oh dear! Might be worth looking up posts by Welsh Sue (I think) when she got involved with this 'deal' . Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

Hello David, Do the headlight flicker a bit as well? Starting with the simple, minimum cost investigations first - it might be worth checking all the earthing points associated with these components. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Matt, I would suspect the battery, and if so, it might requirer renewing (assuming it hasn't already been renewed, and that the charging system is operating as it should). Paying for what is wrong? Servicing is just that - servicing the items which require servicing. Repairs or replacement of comsumable items is a different thing. Unfortunately, batteries ( if this is indeed the issue) is obviously a comsumable item, but is likely to be cheaper to replace than many other components which could possibly be at fault. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Adam, Great, that would seem to be a good result. You may think this to be a over reaction, but some points would remain important if it were mine:- I would get that agreement in writing from the seller, or probably (better) do it 'in reverse' by sending them an e-mail addressed to the dealer principal outlining .......' Further to our contact on (date) re car reg. no.......I wish to confirm my understanding of your agreed actions in relations to issues is that you wish me to arrange the necessary repairs to be carried out at .Audi dealer.............. and you agree to be directly responsible for the full cost of repairs agreed between yourselves and this dealer, who will be conducting the repairs on your behalf - irrespective of your involvement with any third party warranty arrangements' I would be ending the correspondence with .......if I don't hear to the contrary prior to the car being taken for repairs then I am accepting that you are fully in agreement with this action' . As the say, forewarned ....... and it might be worth discussing with Audi dealer who they will be invoicing, and when they will be expecting payment. My belief would be that it is reasonable to expect they will consider you (as the owner of the car) to be responsible for meeting their bill (reasonable from their point of view) and you will be responsible for reclaiming the money back from the seller. I guess you will have to decide if you are comfortable with that. Internet, distant -sight unseen - purchase Adam? Good luck with sorting it out. Kind regards, Gareth.

No Brian, I'm not saying ( and neither is VAG) that it is illegal for a manufacturer to say the warranty is invalid if ...............hasn't been serviced by a franchised dealer. What I am saying that - as with all manufacturers - there are understandably guideline to be followed for the warranty to apply. Courts and challenges? - that's why the guidelines apply, and I guess with all things, challenges can be made - at cost! All cars are bought new, and in the excitement of it all, the necessary servicing costs are either not discussed, or if they are, it could be 'oh yes, we'll come to that when the time comes'. When the time comes, unfortunately the costs are not to be sniffed at. I feel shopping around for best dealer costs may be the route to go down unless you fancy taking a chance and saving a little funds on this occasion. Good luck with whatever you decide. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Richard, ....'which is repairable but not by me' ...... I don't know what your budget is or what your capabilities are, but I might be worth considering how much a secondhand one would be (or a new after market one -if available), and even if you had the right part number, what are your chances are of finding a totally unmarked one in the current colour which you could simply bolt on? These bumpers are often practically repaired by 'plastic welding' and the cost differences may not be that far apart. Main dealers and not giving part numbers where they know the enquirer is not going to buy from them? Not really surprising. Bottom line - they give you a part number, you buy elsewhere and it turns out wrong - you are not going to be very pleased with them, and there never was anything in it for them. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Brian, You are into a grey area with this still-under-warranty car, and I think it's a good thing that you questioning whether using your local garage is acceptable. As I see it 'in theory' you can use them- with the stipulation that they are a VAT registered garage, use main dealer parts, the absolutely correct specification oil, and service it according to the manufacturer's service schedule, and in the old days- stamp the service book. Potential problems as you are finding:- VAG (as with most other manufacturers) either do not produce a service schedule, or are reluctant to impart thus information. Generally no service book to stamp now, but the service details have to be entered onto the VAG system- does your garage have access to this? I doubt it. Now servicing under-warranty vehicles away from the main dealer may not be an issue until a warranty claim comes along, and you have to argue your corner that it's nothing to do with the servicing, or lack of it! Good place to be?? Final point:- a high % of car purchases are now under PCP leases, and the cars are obviously inspected at the end if the lease, and there can be instances of 'penalties' being applied where anything differs from the norm. Service costs at your dealer? Checked the cost at other main dealers? Others more directly involved with VAG franchises may obviously offer you different advice. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Adam, Sorry to hear of your problems. Oil pressure warning:- you are right to be concerned about this, in fact you need to be very worried about it! This isn't the potential problem that you !Removed! foot about with. Sorry Adam that this may not be what is good to hear, but at the moment , time is on your side, since this problem is manifesting itself (fortunately) so quickly after acquiring the car. This may (just may) be a sensor problem, but it could be a mechanical issue problem. Think the worse and hope for the best. If this were mine, I would be talking with the selling dealer (hoping you didn't buy it privately) and inform them immediately about the issue, and return the car to them - or preferably get them to pick it up from you. Follow this up immediately with an e-mail clearly outlining the faults. I certainly would not ( in caps) use it. I take it you didn't buy this from a main dealer - due to its age. In effect, formally reject the car and request your money back. £600 service by a reputable company? --and contacting them? To my mind, this should only be of secondary background- information importance to you. Your dealings are not with this company. Having said that, if you were told that by the seller (and I take it they showed you an invoice and receipt for this) and you were induced to buy the car on the strength of this, then it certainly has meaning in your claim against the seller. Oil pressure assessment prior to buying:- To a point of boredom, I have always stressed the importance of ensuring the engine oil is hot before deciding to buy. This can only be assured following a test drive of least 5miles. It is surprising how many people assume the engine is fully up to operating temperature once the coolant reaches Normal on the gauge. It isn't, until the oil is up to its operating temperature. Test runs usually run to a couple of miles around the block with just enough time for potential buyers to fall in love with the look of the car, its toys, and it's spec. And we know what is said about falling in love! Anyway Adam, I think you would be wise to start sorting this out without delay. Good luck with a successful outcome. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Local purchase? - rather than via. the Internet? Hard working Admin folks:- alternative word for cat gets !Removed! yet clearly interpreted abbreviations for four letter word phrases are treated as being Ok. Any chance of putting this right and amending Paul's rules.

Hello Mike, There is nothing wrong with loyalty, but it can, and very often does, come with a cost penalty, and I recall your original post which indicated a budget conscious approach. I think you will find that most, if not all, tyre retailer now have almost immediate access to any brand and type of your choice. The days of 40 years ago - which I well recall with my had-hair-then era! - when tyre companies carried a range of tyres they thought were popular, are now well behind us, and access to wholesale supplies on demand, of what you want is the way it now works. So the story unfolds :- you walk into any tyre retailer and ask what is the price of ...size... in Brand X and they will give you a price off the screen, and if you want them they will get them in the following, or even the same day, so price and service will dicate where you buy, rather than an 'apparent range in stock'. Having said all of that, I now find I shop around for best price at places where the service is good and polite - I am now fussy about who I give my money to! Kind regards, Gareth.

Blinking heck Mike, you are closer to me than I thought. OK, Celtic, very old established, but very seldom the most competative, if you want to respect your wallet. When you get their price, try King David on the Waterton Estate - ask for Lee, or ETB on the Brynmenin Estate - James. Bridgend Tyres ( Bridgend Ford) often have good prices. There are more - and no connection with any, apart from having bought with each of them with good deals on the decided make at the time. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. with all of them, look at their on-line prices before ringing.