cabriolet hydraulic control unit failure AAARRRRGGHHH!!

[Stulynn]

Hi there

1st ever post for me, and hot a happy one.

The roof on my My 2006 A4 cab failed the other day (Opened OK but had to close it manually with special key for the first time ever).

Had a sale agreed at £11k to a friend, and putting funds towards a brand new A5 Sportback raedy in March (being purchased from Audi Manchester).

Took it to Audi Macclesfield today and they were unable to re-open the hood manually or electrically! After 2 hours of diagnosis (and £250 labour charges later!) they establish the 'hydraulic control unit is not operating'. And will cost a further £1500 to replace!!! Just what I need when I'm ready to sell.

Question: under sales of goods act/fit for purpose, should this item be failing after 4.5 years and only 39.9k miles. Roof only been used 2-3 times in 2010 due to new baby arrival. Its not as if its a hot climate with roof up and down like a yo yo.

Got Head Office/Customer Services on the case who are speaking to Audi Macclesfield tomorrow to see if anything can be done. The Sportback will be my 3rd Audi in a row over last 8 years, spending over £85k.

Any tips/advice? Do I have grounds to dispute this cost?

(Audi Macclesfield and Audi Manchester are different franchises so no co-operation between the two).

Thanks

 

[hades-]

even if that unit has failed it will open and close manually
i know iv had 1 fail
i got a sh 1 from ebay and had it fitted £60 for the part £50 fitted
did they give you any fault codes ?

 

[Stulynn]

thanks mate. don't suppose you know the proper name of the part? Searched for 'A4 hydraulic control unit' but not really sure what one looks like! Maybe I'll ask the technician to show me the part?

The technician at Audi said they couldn't open the roof manually when they tried. They had to call in a 'specialist' to help diagnose the issue. Said they hadn't seen one like this before!? Not sure if they've actually got it moving yet. Maybe its something other than the control unit??

Even if they returned it to me with the roof moveable manually, I'm not going to be able to sell it in this state.

They said the computer diagnostic was reading faults with the sensors in the boot tray initially (they were talking about charging me £270 for a new tray!), but on inspection they found no actual fault. I'll ask the for the fault codes if it helps?

Thanks. Stu

 

[hades-]

it will help loads or get a friend or someone from here to scan it for you
iv had 6 and had probs with nealy every sensor pump etc on them so i know quite a bit and how to do all the output tests on each sensor
but no matter what that hood will open
if you could get it to sheffield id scan it and do output tests on the sensors etc

 

[Stulynn]

Thanks. Will see what Audi come back with tomorrow. If they're not prepared to cover it, I may have to pay them for the labor for now to get the car back and then decide what to do next. I'll try and get exact part number and codes etc, and ask if there's anything else.

Found this on ebay for £125 new

AUDI CABRIOLET HYDRAULIC ROOF HOOD CONTROL UNIT NEW on eBay (end time 15-Feb-11 10:40:28 GMT)

Is this the sort of thing? My chassis number is wazzz8H87K........... so presumably this is a '8H' shassis?

I have a friend who knows someone that works in the local Audi. Maybe I can get some inside info from them. Maybe they'll fit it as a foreigner!?

I live in Mac, so Sheffield not too far.

Its worrying me that they insisted the roof wouldn't move. The fact they're quoting another £1500 perhaps suggests there's other things wrong with it as well? The same part new from Audi is only £300 so whats the extra £1200 going to be for. I'll see if they can give me a breakdown of how that cost is made up.

Cheers mate. may be in touch again tomoro...

 

[Stulynn]

turns out they told me the wrong part! Its the hydraulic roof pump thats gone (perhaps why they couldn't move the roof manually?). Cost of part £1k! then 4.5 hours labour! = £1750! After complaining to head office, they went back to the dealer and have agreed 50% reduction on both the part and labour. Still an expensive visit, but can at least now proceed with the purchase of the new A5 in a few weeks! Could have done without it tho. Thanks for your help/advice. Good to know there's people out there willing to help.

If I wasn't selling it to one of my best mates for a fair price, I'd have probably gone for a 2nd hand part, found a fitter, and stuck it in Auto Trader. Thanks again. Stu