Was all going so well...!

[stuartkern]

Hi there,

Before I start I think it's worth pointing out that I am not exactly 'in the know' when it comes to how a car works... I mean I understand the basics like most, but other than that - I know a nice car when I see one!

I've had my '99 Audi A3 1.8TSport for over couple of years now (couldn't afford the S3!) and have had it regularly serviced at an Audi specialist near me. I love my car. It's my first Audi and will most certainly not be my last. However, it's seems that my honeymoon period is over, and my beloved car is falling apart on me!

1. First thing I noticed... the ****** stereo volumn control!! Read about this fault all over the place, and have slowly come to terms with it (Despite that the fact it still scares the sh*t out of me at 7am!!)

2. The handbrake goes 'ping!' on me! Doesn't quite work as well now, especially when snowing. However, I'm hoping this just needs tightening?

3. I put it through my local BP car wash whilst feeling lazy - £5...job done (ish). Only 5 mins later my girlfriend is complaining her feet are wet?! Yup, it's leaking water to the passenger footwell. B*ll*cks!

4. Next morning, start the car (stereo gives me the usual wake up call)...I've got a warning light staring back at me - AIR BAG..."Oh for f*ck sake!!" The leaked water has probably messed with the electrics as it trickled through the inside of my car!

5. Pull up at work, get out my car feeling a little ****** off by now, to notice some rust on the roof...

6. With all these little bits going wrong I find myself subconsciously searching for the next problem... and sure enough I find it! Probably the one that's worring me the most - that f*cking great sqeaking coming from the front suspension everytime I drive over the slightest lump in the road, or turn a corner!

Now you're probably you're thinking: Shut up moaning, your car's 8 years old - what do you expect! And fair enough you're probably right. But what I do know is; all these bits added together is going to result in one mother of bill!

With this in mind i'm thinking I need to prioritise the problems I need to sort. So:

1. Stereo - I can live with that for now...summers coming.. works better in the heat!

2. Handbrake - over rated. Still works to about 80% - leave it in gear on hills.

3!! Leaky Car - No more BP car washes for me! I'm going to have to get my lazy **** back out with the buckets and the complete collection of 'Auto Glym' I've purchased over the last 2 years!! However, can anyone suggest any common faults? Or where I should be looking for worn seals? Might be any easy one?

4!! Air Bag Light - Yeah should probably sort this - anyone experienced anything similar? Any thoughts? Is it gonna cost me £££'s for someone to pull apart my dashboard??

5. Rust - Gonna have to ingore that one!

6!! Sqeaky Suspension - Gotta sort this. Am I right thinking this could be just worn bushes? Any ideas how much this should cost me to sort? Anyone recommend a mechanic or garage in the Reading, Berks area?

And so my moan comes to an end. Sorry if i've wasted 5 mins of your life reading this, but should you have any input at all you wish to share - please reply!! In particular some help on the Air Bag and Suspension???


Cheers!
Stu

 

[rodenal]

Most of the things you've listed are just little fixes mate - the leak i'd get all the rubber seals checked.

Squeaking, bit of a needle in a haystack, i wouldnt say arb bushes would normally squeak as suck more a knocking noise(in my experience) Sounds pretty simple tho take it to a vag mechanic who'll check it over on a ramp. Wont be expensive.

Volume, just buy a new radio £50 on ebay

Handbrake, i have no idea but id get under and make sure the cable isnt stretching anywhere and about to snap - park in gear for a while lol

 

[rodenal]

Oh and the rust, i wouldnt worry too much about unless its very noticeable they all get it on the roof channels and at the bottom of your doors.

 

[jonS3]

Oh and the rust, i wouldnt worry too much about unless its very noticeable they all get it on the roof channels and at the bottom of your doors.

I had the bottom of my doors and roof channels painted under Audi's 12 year or something paint warranty. speak to your local dealer about how to get it repaired

 

[claudefrog]

1. First thing I noticed... the ****** stereo volumn control!! Read about this fault all over the place, and have slowly come to terms with it (Despite that the fact it still scares the sh*t out of me at 7am!!)

Second hand radio on ebay about £50ish, easy to fit yourself

2. The handbrake goes 'ping!' on me! Doesn't quite work as well now, especially when snowing. However, I'm hoping this just needs tightening?

Most likely could be tightened up easily at your audi specialist, when is it in for service next?

3. I put it through my local BP car wash whilst feeling lazy - £5...job done (ish). Only 5 mins later my girlfriend is complaining her feet are wet?! Yup, it's leaking water to the passenger footwell. B*ll*cks!

check the pollen filter is housed correctly, thats under the black plastic tray at front of passengerside windscreen, if the black plastic is not seated correctly on top of the pollen filter the water can just run straight through into footwell

4. Next morning, start the car (stereo gives me the usual wake up call)...I've got a warning light staring back at me - AIR BAG..."Oh for f*ck sake!!" The leaked water has probably messed with the electrics as it trickled through the inside of my car!

find someone local who has vagcom, get them to see what the airbag problem is, most likely some nice person would do this for free if you put up a post asking for someone in your area to do this for you

5. Pull up at work, get out my car feeling a little ****** off by now, to notice some rust on the roof...

you may be in luck.. audi has a 12 year paint warranty with a 1999 car, i had a little bubbling starting on the roof channels on my S3, fixed for free under warranty, easy process, go to audi dealership, speak to someone on service desk about paint warranty, few weeks later, car no rust and me nothing out of pocket

6. With all these little bits going wrong I find myself subconsciously searching for the next problem... and sure enough I find it! Probably the one that's worring me the most - that f*cking great sqeaking coming from the front suspension everytime I drive over the slightest lump in the road, or turn a corner!

could be the front bushings or Anti roll bar squeeking.. again get it checked out at your next service if its not in the too distant future