Loose locking wheel nut unacceptable after a Audi dealer repair?

B5NUT

B5NUT

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So about 8 weeks ago the Mrs A3 went it for repair and it needed new top mounts under warranty. Now I've just been doing a bit of a tidy up of the arches so had to take the wheels off. The drivers side bolts were so tight I needed a breaker bar to remove them and the other side were just about nipped up with the locking wheel nut so lose it was just rattling around, and was only stopped from disappearing by the alloy wheel center cap.

This is the second time on the same repair they messed things up, so I went over there today and talked with one of their service people. The manager was too busy to talk with me, and the other person I talked with just dismissed the issues.

Am I being over sensitive on the issue or would you think making sure the cars are safe to drive after being repaired would be a basic requirement, and that you don't need to double check their work(Even more so at Audi service prices)! Even Kwik-Fit have a second tech to make sure the wheel nuts are tight and at the correct torque level.

It also makes me wonder what else they bodged during the repair.
 
That in my opinion is one of the most basic levels of engineering they should not be getting wrong. Also very dangerous

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Well that is my thought as well, however I did have a devils advocate idea and thought that I should also be checking my wheel nuts every so often. However I then came up with the following that idea's that put's the responsibility back at the dealer, First, a having a disability and second would be older more frail person. Also how many people have a torque wrench at home.

I also asked about the over tightened wheel nuts, and that I would not have been able to change the wheel if I need to with the jack supplied with the car, and was told to use road side assist!

I think I need to find a new dealership to service my cars while they are still under warranty, after that the dealers can go to a place where the sun don't shine.
 
Even my little local Black Circles tyre place checks each nut with a torque wrench after fitting a wheel. However, I have had similar to you from small garages and I put it down to misuse of the "windy gun" when they are tightened to around 200 NM or getting interrupted by a phone call when they are left too loose. Very annoying :sadlike:
 
The problem with name and same etc, is that I have very little proof/evidence, I have a picture of a loose locking wheel nut (could have been faked)
Upload 2019 9 16 19 37 12


And one very rusty thread hole (more difficult to fake but not impossible)
Upload 2019 9 16 19 37 56

Compare that to the ones where the nut has been in place
Upload 2019 9 16 19 38 51


The problem with all of the above they could be faked, but why someone would do that I have no idea. I think I will contact the lookers central complaints (for what good it will do but they may have to look at QC inspections before releasing cars) but think I will use another dealer in future.

I'll be glad when my cars no longer have warranty, and I can service them myself. At least if I know I've bodged the job then I have only one person to blame.
 
Really not good enough, you should have a chat with the dealer principal or whoever else is listed as the top dog in that garage, the service manager not being available for a quick chat will normally be because he/she is hiding behind an office door and does not want any sh*t as it spoils their day. Plus they don't need you pointing out that one/some of their operatives are sloppy, hands over ears time as trained by VW Group!

May daughter bought a new Leon Cupra and the first thing that I did was to slacken off and retighten every wheel bolt using a torque wrench to carry out the final tightening, they all seem "acceptable" though - as to how you remove these bolts using the supplied wheel wrench I don't know, I'm sure my daughter has a telescopic wheel wrench but it seems not to have made it across into this car!
 
I'd report it to Audi customer services centrally if the dealership aren't issued, I did the same when they failed to check my brakes properly (also a safety issue) and Audi UK were less than impressed and forced the dealer to resolve

Problem is, as it hasn't caused an actual incident (because you've identified and rectified the problem) what are you expecting from Audi except an apology?
 
Well, a complaint went into the head office so will see what happens over the next few weeks (if anything:blahblah1:) However I really do think it's going to go in one ear out the other.
 
I feel your pain. I agree that work ethic should be foremost and present with all work performed anywhere. Unfortunately, it's not. The techs get a list of work and they try to complete it as fast as possible to get more work to make money. I know techs who cut corners frequently. These are recurrent abusers of the trade. I am now fortunate to have a tech who as the mentality of do it right the first time and return the car to the customer in Audi factory condition. He is a foreman who catches this stuff all the time and usually blows a gasket by Friday. I can tell you that I have talked to Audi Corporate about a previous dealership and said dealership got their *** handed to them and the apologies flowed from the dealerships owner.My advice is do what I have done in the past. I do a walk through with the service writer and the tech and ask what specific work was done and where and what torque specs were used upon replacement and I want it documented with a reference. Yeah, I am that guy but I can tell you that my car was always done right at that dealership.
 
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