Audi A5 - coolant Still Leaking after Main Dealer replaced Pipe

[Nick Lewis]

Hi - I recently had my Audi A5 3Litre Quattro s-line serviced recently, I asked them to look at the Coolant system as my Radiator fluid kept going down - After two hours of inspection they found a pipe leaking at the bottom of the engine - had it replaced at a cost of £1,000.
A week later after only doing local journeys the coolant warning light came back on and the coolant reservoir was empty again. Took it back into Audi again - after another inspection the found a secondary leak coming from a bolt at the back agh the engine - they said they could not get a scope camera in to find where it was coming from but there head technician said he suspects a crack in the head!! - The car only has 68,000 on the clock 2011 plate! - they told me to inspect it fully they needed to take the engine out/apart - apparently 15 hours labour - plus put it back again and if there suspicions right maybe a new head - cost £5/6000 - you can guess i was in total shock as the car is only 6 years old and had been looked after and serviced fully with Audi - They even had the cheek to charge me again for further inspections - needless to say i am left with a car i can afford to fix - plus apparently i cant even trade the car in as its against the law knowing a fault.
Im currently trying to get something sorted with Audi uk.
But is there anyone that can help with any advice in what I can do?.
Thanks Nick

 

[bobby singh]

Hi you would be the first person to crack/blow a head gasket on a 3.0TDI imo
Look in the Vee between the two heads I'm sure you'll spot the leak very quickly.

These engines are solid and don't have head gasket or head failures.

Cheers
Bobby

 

[bobby singh]

I made the assumption its a diesel?

 

[Nick Lewis]

Hi you would be the first person to crack/blow a head gasket on a 3.0TDI imo
Look in the Vee between the two heads I'm sure you'll spot the leak very quickly.

These engines are solid and don't have head gasket or head failures.

Cheers
Bobby

Thanks Bobby.
I am currently trying to get in sorted with Audi - uk head office - they said about getting a second opinion at there Epsom Branch - I have recently heard its linked Franchise with Driftbridge Audi in Walton - which Is where it was serviced and originally fixed - but they did not supply any video evidence of the pipe they originally thought was leaking and replaced - as far as I know that might have been the part at fault and just fixed the easier part - rather than investigate properly and find the second leak.

 

[bobby singh]

On the RHS bank there is a banjo bolt which can leak on these - have a look at this before digging too deep.
I've seen this twice now - I also at first thought head gasket but on closer inspection it was the banjo bolt.

Just need a UJ on a 10mm socket and you can tighten it without removing much.

Cheers

 

[Nick Lewis]

Hi - I recently had my Audi A5 3Litre Quattro s-line serviced recently, I asked them to look at the Coolant system as my Radiator fluid kept going down - After two hours of inspection they found a pipe leaking at the bottom of the engine - had it replaced at a cost of £1,000.
A week later after only doing local journeys the coolant warning light came back on and the coolant reservoir was empty again. Took it back into Audi again - after another inspection the found a secondary leak coming from a bolt at the back agh the engine - they said they could not get a scope camera in to find where it was coming from but there head technician said he suspects a crack in the head!! - The car only has 68,000 on the clock 2011 plate! - they told me to inspect it fully they needed to take the engine out/apart - apparently 15 hours labour - plus put it back again and if there suspicions right maybe a new head - cost £5/6000 - you can guess i was in total shock as the car is only 6 years old and had been looked after and serviced fully with Audi - They even had the cheek to charge me again for further inspections - needless to say i am left with a car i can afford to fix - plus apparently i cant even trade the car in as its against the law knowing a fault.
Im currently trying to get something sorted with Audi uk.
But is there anyone that can help with any advice in what I can do?.
Thanks Nick

 

[bobby singh]

Nick as above check this banjo bolt - I have worked on many 3.0TDI engines now and never had head issues with them.
I'm running just over 500hp and the heads are still good.

Take the car to someone else to look at before you have any work done

 

[desertstorm]

Hi Nick, how much coolant is it leaking ?. If it's only a reasonable amount and it's not getting any worse then just keep topping the coolant up, a £1000 buys a lot of coolant. What pipe did they replace that cost £1000 to change.
Listen to Bobby he probably knows more about these engines than the so called Master Techs at the dealers.
I would find yourself a good independent VAG specialist and go with them. Even if Audi give you a reduction of 30-40% on labour charges it will still be cheaper.