Audi dealers.... are they taking the pi$$???

[Jaffa]

Hey guys,
My esp light has been on constantly for a few weeks now... taken it into local Audi dealer for diagnostic check this morning.
After an hour I get a call saying they have spent 1/2 hour on the car and there is a few fault codes showing up...... BUT they need another 2 1/2 hours to do a wiring check.... at a cost of £280!!!! just to diagnose the problem.
I thought the Vag Com would list the faults.... ok if there is a few codes stored then its either this or that but surely 2 1/2 hours to narrow down a few codes is rediculous??
Is this the norm or are they taking the mickey??
I would rather do without ESP than hand over almost £300 just to find out whats wrong. Ill ask them for the codes and do it as a process of elimination.

Any Views???

 

[Jaffa]

Ok guys,
Just got back from dealers and these are the faults they have come up with:-
1) steering angle sender - no signal/communication.
2) Lateral acceleration sensor - implausible signal, sporadic fault.
3) Lateral acceleration sensor - electrical fault in circuit.

So im guessing the first step is to replace both the above and see what happens?

Also threw up a fault in the climate control system if anyone can help...
1) Air flow flap positioning motor - locked or no power supply.

Any help would be very helpfull.

Cheers.

 

[bearthebruce]

For the record, had you taken your car to the guy with the OBD/EOBD scanner, you most likely would not have seen these fault codes. OBD/EOBD only scan the engine, tranny and emissions related systems. Steering and Central Convenience items are not covered by an OBD tool.

VAG-COM is the equivalent of the VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda factory tool when installed on your pc. It provides access to all electronic systems that are diagnostic capable in models from 1990 through 2007.

 

[rich1068]

Answer = yes, they are taking the pi$$

Find a local VAG specialist.

 

[1ndy]

Answer = yes, they are taking the pi$$

Find a local VAG specialist.

Ditto - when have they ever been know not to do so!!!!

 

[FactionOne]

I bet you spend £280 on them disconnecting then reconnecting the connectors at the control unit and the offending sensors, and maybe even changing a fuse. If it's any more complicated a fault than that they probably wouldn't look for it as I'd guess the workshop manual says that anything like that would be unsafe to repair - given that this is on a 'safety' critical system (and bad for your liability insurance premium and parts sales figures) and just replace the loom... (The workshop manuals are FULL of repair advice like that).

I'd take it back, try 're-seating' or even cleaning (IPA) the connectors and checking all the fuses first, and if that doesn't fix it find someone with VAG-COM to check *exactly* what the whole car is saying (the big picture often holds clues); and/or take it to a local specialist.

Regards,

Rob.

 

[mad max]

go with faction ones advice.dont think i have ever been to an audi dealership apart from harold hill audi where they didnt rip you off and make you wait for the privelidge

 

[Jaffa]

I'd take it back, try 're-seating' or even cleaning (IPA) the connectors and checking all the fuses first, and if that doesn't fix it find someone with VAG-COM to check *exactly* what the whole car is saying (the big picture often holds clues); and/or take it to a local specialist.

Cheers for the advice:thumbsup:
When you say try re-seating or cleaning the connections which connections do you mean? Sensor connections?
I think its time to get me a Vag Com what with my A3 the wifes New Beetle and brother in laws New Polo could save us a fortune in the future.

If I manage to fix the problem would I have to get the fault codes reset at the stealers for the light to go off??

Thanks again.

 

[FactionOne]

If were going to have a quick go at it I'd first disconnect the negative terminal on the battery, then find the abs/esp controller and the dirty big plug on it; unplug it, give it a clean if it looked like it wanted it - which it shouldn't really as they are in a pretty tough housing - I'd use either an air blower (compressor (so long as it's been drained recently!)) or an 'air-duster' spray can, some electrical contact cleaner (IPA) or just a clean dry brush, then plug it back in and check it's nice and tight. I'd do the same for any connectors I found at the sensors that Audi say are reporting intermittent/lost communication; once everything's back together I'd reconnect the battery (remembering to do it with no load on it (ie dome light or other equipment active)) and see what happened. If the fault persisted this is when I'd go find a specialist.

EDIT: Mentioning fuses too; it might be worth having a look at them - to be honest the main fuse for abs/esp equipment if blown, will result in absolutely no communication from the modules at all, so it's unlikely given that Audi have apparently got fault codes out; but there may be more than one fuse at play, and for the time it would take to check them...

Sometimes you'll get dash error lights that won't need faults clearing to reset them; these tend to be ones listed as intermittent; as obviously there is a regular test happening which all being well will be passed and the fault condition (and warning light) being reset; other times it might need faults clearing. Again though, it doesn't have to be a dealer that does this; any helpful soul with VAG-COM can do it in about three or four clicks.

Hope you get it sorted,

Regards,

Rob.

 

[tractorman]

This happened to mine in October, but didnt get round (and CBA!) to taking it to the dealer till mid-Jan. It is under warrenty anyway, knew it was a sensor as it would go on/off after awhile and come on driving round town if I u-turned at junctions. Had a couple of scary moments tho when it wasnt working!! They took a couple of hours to find fault and replace the steering angle sender.

 

[simch]

I turn my esp off everytime i get int he car!! hate it!! lol

 

[jonS3]

I had a similar problem, Audi Stratford diagnosed it for free. I could have walked away knowing what needed to be replaced (just the longitudinal sensor on the column) but decided to let them do it, only charged me for the part and 1 hours labour!

 

[Toxik-Signal]

I don't have an 'ESP'

 

[j4g3d]

lol why goto main dealers? with my car last owner had a new gear linkage put on, ever since that it was tiny bit hard to put into gear. audi said its a deathtrap said it needs a new gearbox well a recon 1 will cost £2600 from them. Also said the clutch was going to on it. strange? ive bought the car gearbox and clutch is fine. Just the gearlinkage needs adjustment/lookat.

 

[haraldo]

Jaffa,
what was the outcome?
I am suffering something simmilar and would appreciate the heads up?