Picked up the car! Not all well tho!

[S3 Wannabe]

picked up my S3 today, however o2 sensor failed 10 miles down the road!!!!

Can you ****** believe it!!! Drove up from Cornwal to pick it up and couldn't be ***** to come back in a week or two, (after they've fixed it) so took it with guarantee that dealer will pay for replacement part (and fitting) from local audi centre down here. gutted.

car looks amazing, handles superbly (all new discs pads -stopping power is immense) apart from flooring it which csauses the stutter between 2500-4500revs.
it still pulls really well unless i put throttle down over 50%, and cannot wait until monday/tuesday when my local dealer replces the oxygen sensor (which was only just replaced!) and I can see what it can really do!

happy but at same time gutted!

 

[simch]

o2 sensor just replaced and already gone.....? That is not a good sign. Has the car been modded at all? Mapped etc?
Sounds like the fueling could be at fault or maybe the 02 sensor is ok and its something else.

Who told you it was the 02 sensor? did the diagnose it? was it an audi dealer you bought it from or a use car dealer?

 

[jojo]

o2 sensor just replaced and already gone.....? That is not a good sign. Has the car been modded at all? Mapped etc?
Sounds like the fueling could be at fault or maybe the 02 sensor is ok and its something else.

Who told you it was the 02 sensor? did the diagnose it? was it an audi dealer you bought it from or a use car dealer?

I think he meant he can't be ***** to wait the week or two for it to be fixed before picking it back up, so the dealer he brought it from has offered to pay the bill for the repair at his local Audi stealer. Sounds more like an air flow sensor problem to me though, wih the power stuttering between those rev range mentioned.

 

[S3 Wannabe]

I think he meant he can't be ***** to wait the week or two for it to be fixed before picking it back up, so the dealer he brought it from has offered to pay the bill for the repair at his local Audi stealer. Sounds more like an air flow sensor problem to me though, wih the power stuttering between those rev range mentioned.

spot on. going down to audi in a mo to have it looked at (if they can) or book it in at least. there are no mods at all on the car.

at the end of the day they'll pay the bill and if it something more serious then I'll be returning it and/or they'll be paying for something more then an o2 sensor!

Don't know masses on the ins and outs of car mechanics, however my father in law was with me when I bought it, and I've discussed it with the a couple of people over the phone who are in the know (inc local audi service centre) and it all points to air flow sensor.

we shall see!!!!

 

[simch]

..................when my local dealer replces the oxygen sensor (which was only just replaced!) and I can see what it can really do!

........I meant this comment he made, suggesting the O2 sensor has been replaced recently already? Or am I missing something.

BTW, you did not say who diagnosed the problem, the indy dealer or someone else.
Try unplugging your MAF sensor the bit in the airflow tube from the airbox to turbo and see if it improves it. If so, it is the MAF at fault, although usually the boost tails off then comes back in at high revs when the maf starts to go. Unplugging it makes the ECU use "base" settings for fueling etc, os if it runs a lot smoother, this is the MAF at fault and its an easy fix.

Again, has this car had an O2 sensor recently that has gone again? If so, this is unusual! Who diagnosed it, are they sure its the 02 sensor. (can be a pig to remove also). If it is a recurrent fault and the sensor has already been replaced once, it may be the wiring to it damaged, its close to a lot of hot things!!

 

[S3 Wannabe]

........I meant this comment he made, suggesting the O2 sensor has been replaced recently already? Or am I missing something.

BTW, you did not say who diagnosed the problem, the indy dealer or someone else.
Try unplugging your MAF sensor the bit in the airflow tube from the airbox to turbo and see if it improves it. If so, it is the MAF at fault, although usually the boost tails off then comes back in at high revs when the maf starts to go. Unplugging it makes the ECU use "base" settings for fueling etc, os if it runs a lot smoother, this is the MAF at fault and its an easy fix.

Again, has this car had an O2 sensor recently that has gone again? If so, this is unusual! Who diagnosed it, are they sure its the 02 sensor. (can be a pig to remove also). If it is a recurrent fault and the sensor has already been replaced once, it may be the wiring to it damaged, its close to a lot of hot things!!

apologies! it was an independent dealer who diagnosed the problem. however i'm aware of this fault on other cars that I've had in the past. took it to audi today and they agreed it was most likely the o2 sensor.

it had just been replaced as it had failed on a test drive after mine (-in which the car ran fine!) but before i placed a deposit on the vehicle. if that makes sense!

if it is a wiring problem (as i must admit 2 sensors in a few weeks is a little strange!) then so be it. I'm not too fussed about it as it should be resolved on monday and (as I've said) the dealer I bought the car from is footing the bill.

re the maf, I don't want to start pulling bits apart when i've no idea what I'm doing! however the boost doesn't 'tail off' then kick in again, it pulls strongly then just stutters its way slowly up around 2.5-4.5K revs I haven't gone any higher however with full throttle down during this as the managment light flashes and I don't want to risk buggering anything else! ie the cat!
it does pull fine and smoothly when I accelerate slowly all the way up to 6k revs.

thanks for your help!

 

[Issac Hunt]

as i must admit 2 sensors in a few weeks is a little strange!

Id say it's more than a little strange!

 

[S3 Wannabe]

Id say it's more than a little strange!

now you're scaring me!

got to stop looking at the thread I've created! be in touch again on monday when audi have taken it in! fingers crossed! It'll either be champagne or a bottle of scotch depending on the results!

 

[simch]

Are you sure its the management light coming on..........?

Try turning your ESP off and having a go. Sorry if it seems obvious but it could be your esp kicking in if its in the lower gears only....? now this should not happen with the 4wd "quattro" (4 mo) system, ......unless the haldex is not kicking in and you are in 2wd mode...? I tak eit you tested the 4wd was working on the test drive, using the handbrake trick...?

Engine lights normally stay on if there is a problem not flash on and off.......but your ESP light will flash if the wheels are spinning a bit and cut power to the motor, makeing it stutter.
Try the ESP off and the wheels may spin but the motor pull smooth if this is your problem.....
Hope if it IS a 4wd problem its just the controller, not the haldex itself, or you really will need the scotch! !! !

 

[S3 Wannabe]

well here I am at home, -my car??? in the audi service centre!

cambelt job wasn't done properly apparently and the timings are out. once they've fixed this they need to retest for any other prob's.

am i ****** off?? you bet! but not as much as the dealer i bought it off is! the bill will be pretty high and he's certainly going to make a loss on this car!

fingers crossed tomorrow all will be well! the only way I can get by is saying this over and over again!

good things come to those who wait........

good things come to those who wait........

good things come to those who wait..........




ps it's vodka, somewhere in between the other 2!

 

[noodle]

bummer, sorry to hear you are having problems.. i hate that when it happens to me, takes all the initial excitement away.

i'm sure that your local dealer will put things straight for you, and pass the bill onto the garage who sold you the car - result!

 

[S3 Wannabe]

bummer, sorry to hear you are having problems.. i hate that when it happens to me, takes all the initial excitement away.

i'm sure that your local dealer will put things straight for you, and pass the bill onto the garage who sold you the car - result!

that's the plan!

it's just like you yours (nog blue with rstt alloys) but with blue/black full leather. not too sure initially on this, however it has grown on me very quickly!

 

[noodle]

blue/black full leather? i was going to have the blue/black but it wasn't all leather, the blue was alcantara. looks nice.

post some pics up when you get it back.

 

[S3 Wannabe]

blue/black full leather? i was going to have the blue/black but it wasn't all leather, the blue was alcantara. looks nice.

post some pics up when you get it back.

got a pic, no idea of how to upload it though from my laptop album. cannot seem to change the settings, any ideas????

 

[Aky]

got a pic, no idea of how to upload it though from my laptop album. cannot seem to change the settings, any ideas????

You have to use a hosting program to upload photos. First you upload to their account then you can click on the pic icon where you type a thread then insert the URL. I'm not sure but you might be able just to cut and paste into AS.NET. Other forums don't allow.

I use Photobucket but I think there are a few programmes out there (all free)

 

[simch]

Not sure I understand their diagnosis tbh. If the timing belt was put on wrong (how often do we hear of this on here, I mean its not hard ***, I have done my own twice on the drive!), it would have had a clear camshaft position sensor fault showing up. And yet when you took it in there the otherday, they said it was the 02 sensor.
I also dont think it would ahve run at all well, irrespective of load on the engine. (you posted it reved clean on light throttle).
I think you will get typical audi stealer dont have a clue runaround now, especially as you have tld them the other dealer si footing the bill, they will just start faffing about with it changing stuff fof r the sake of it for no reason if you are not careful.
Who on here had the car with the dodgy throttle body, and the delaer faffed ahout with it for about 20 hours before they located the problem...?
Be careful the dealers at BEST are mediocre now on these cars, they dont care about them, they dont understand them they arre OLD cars now to the dealer.
I owuld recommend you find yourself a trusted independant dealer who's bread and butter is VAG cars and let them deal with it in future.
You see what makes that diagnosis weird, it that if the belt was a tooth out, why was it ok on the test drive and why did it take 10 miles after you collected it before it ran like a piece of ****?
Dealer Techs are ful of **** most fo the time !

 

[jbw]

I'm sorry to hear about your problems and whilst I've no experience to go on with your particular problem I do second simch's suggestion of finding a trusted specialist to take a look at the car. It seems to me that dealers rely too heavily on the computer diagnostic equipment rather than getting their hands dirty these days.

 

[simch]

Ask a dealer tech to explain how an internal combustion engine works.....you will be surprised just how unbelieveably clueless most of them are!!

They think the computer will automaticaly tell them without having to use some common sense about it all. And yet want to charge £100 an hour, even though they dont understand the basic operation of engines!!
Find a guy who risks not being able to ay his mortgage if he makes a hash of your car, and you will find your trusted specialist! lol

 

[S3 Wannabe]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

The beast lives!!!!! Finally problem is sorted!!!! To be honest I still don't know exactlty what it was (and if they were honest neither does Audi!), cambelt was redone but a problem persisted. They eventually changed the spark plugs and coil. Voila!!!! She functioned well again! £870!!!!!!!
Will not be taking her there in future due to price and lack of real knowledge of problem. I think it was a case of try this, nope that doesn't work, try this, nope.......

Just taken her out on the a30 for a proper spin, f*CK ME!!!!!! awesome perfomance. I had a clio 172 before this (o-60 similar on paper) but this is in a different league!!! 'Wannabe' no longer, long live the king!
If Everton overcome Chelsea later it could be up there with my wedding day as the best day of my life! (hope this misses doesn't see this!)

Some pics (sorting an arm rest, other than that heated seat was only compromise!)
Thanks to all those of you for help and advice over the past few days!



http://robbiec77.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album02&id=DSC00022

http://robbiec77.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album02&id=DSC00023

http://robbiec77.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album02&id=Lg225593_02

 

[simch]

So they did a cambelt that was not needed, but still charged for it. And it ended up being a flipping coilpack...?

Well I suppose if its something as obscur and unheard of as that, for A VAG car, how is the dealer supposed to know........? ...wtf

MUPPETS!

 

[Aky]

Not sure whether its me but those wheels don't look genuine. Apart from that - nice lookiing motor

 

[S3 Wannabe]

Not sure whether its me but those wheels don't look genuine. Apart from that - nice lookiing motor

tbh I thought they looked a little different to normal rstt alloys, but that's great! -anything extra to help me stand out from the crowd!

 

[grathies]

I really cant get used to the blue leather, each to their own I suppose tho, lovely colour of car, wanted a Noggy blue myself (looked at this one as it happens but wasnt the one for me, glad its got an owner who loves it tho!)


Have you sold your 172? I love them to pieces, my mate has one that he uses for trackdays, its totally standard but **** me does that thing fly round a track, with the boost delay etc he would kick my **** round a track I recon

 

[S3 Wannabe]

I really cant get used to the blue leather, each to their own I suppose tho, lovely colour of car, wanted a Noggy blue myself (looked at this one as it happens but wasnt the one for me, glad its got an owner who loves it tho!)


Have you sold your 172? I love them to pieces, my mate has one that he uses for trackdays, its totally standard but **** me does that thing fly round a track, with the boost delay etc he would kick my **** round a track I recon

yeah traded it in for £3500, which was what it was worth if I'd sold it privately.(77K on the clock)
The s3 has a tall order to live up to (pound for pound) as I had to really struggle with my conscience to get rid of the 172.

what did you make of ther dealer when you went to see it -out of interest????

 

[grathies]

S2000-4u people? Found them to be a bit off tbh, didnt seem overly interested in helping me out that much, they seem to have a nice assortment of high spec cars in but didnt seem in a rush to return calls etc

Plus this made me wonder
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/312315.htm
2litre Apparently... the only 2litre 20vT I can think of was TSRs Passat? I could be wrong and the car may have been converted but just seemed strange?

They have a 172 in there with 46k on the clock for 6k, shame about the wheels on it tho!

 

[S3 Wannabe]

S2000-4u people? Found them to be a bit off tbh, didnt seem overly interested in helping me out that much, they seem to have a nice assortment of high spec cars in but didnt seem in a rush to return calls etc

Plus this made me wonder
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/312315.htm
2litre Apparently... the only 2litre 20vT I can think of was TSRs Passat? I could be wrong and the car may have been converted but just seemed strange?

They have a 172 in there with 46k on the clock for 6k, shame about the wheels on it tho!

communication between customers and eachother definitely isn't their strong point! it was the first dealer i've ever been to where they haven't actually gone out of their way to try and sell me a car!

mine (the 172) has now gone onto their website, pics yet to be uploaded!

 

[ash_s3]

Nice car mate, not keen on the blue leather (looks a bit max power to me) but i love the outside.
Good luck with the S3, hope you enjoy it

ASH

 

[Splab333]

hey, another S3 in cornwall! where about are you? Look out for my Ming blue S3, glad to hear your car is ok.

 

[cornish_a3_turbo]

i want to race u james....do u ever go porthreath run wat u brung??

 

[Splab333]

i want to race u james....do u ever go porthreath run wat u brung??

lol, would you fight a man on crutches too!!! I bet you have been looking at my posts about how bad my s3 is running at the moment! Its running in 'obscene MPG and completely lame performance' mode at the moment, i have heard about portreath but still not ventured up there, wanna give me a shout next time its on? I might have a more healthy car by then, do you ever go to helston VW? I think its kev that works in parts has an S3 too, i'll get invite him too. Is yours re mapped?

 

[cornish_a3_turbo]

yes but mines is only a 150 bhp turbo.
no i used carrs 4 parts, i know a mech there and i get trade which is good.
yes ill give u a shout. look out 4 me, mines is 3 door w plate with golf gti alloys (mk5 5 holes)
cheers!

 

[Splab333]

cool,

sorry to hijack the thread though

 

[S3 Wannabe]

surprised to this old thread back in the limelight!

I'm in Grampound Road James, would be nice to organise a meet at some point in the new year!

If you're having prob's with the car try RK engineering at Aggie. One of the guys that owns it has an s3, and seems to know everything you need to know!

 

[cornish_a3_turbo]

surprised to this old thread back in the limelight!

I'm in Grampound Road James, would be nice to organise a meet at some point in the new year!

If you're having prob's with the car try RK engineering at Aggie. One of the guys that owns it has an s3, and seems to know everything you need to know!

yes some 1 please arrange a cornish-devon meet!!!

 

[Splab333]

yes some 1 please arrange a cornish-devon meet!!!

surprised to this old thread back in the limelight!

I'm in Grampound Road James, would be nice to organise a meet at some point in the new year!

Indeed, would be good!

If you're having prob's with the car try RK engineering at Aggie. One of the guys that owns it has an s3, and seems to know everything you need to know!

Yeah, its Simon I think, hes cool, really helpfull and willing to chat, would really reccomend going there for VAG stuff, they know their stuff, they put an S3 20v in a rallye that somone I know owns, and when I went there, there was a lowered Mk1 Caddy 16v with 2 20v engines in the back, looked awesome