Dealer issue - Haldex / rear differential

No, it's a personal loan not PCP, just the monthly payment, no deposit.
It's not fun but at least I own the car, been down the PCP route a few times and you end up with nothing after paying more than that per month.
I plan to keep the car long term, unless it goes seriously wrong and can't get warranty any more.
I'll be writing to Audi when this is all over to see if I can get some compensation, probably not but worth a shot.

Not impressed - I told them on Monday morning to investigate camshaft adjuster fault (1 hour labour supposedly) and I have to chase them on Wednesday afternoon for an update as I've not heard anything! Not impressed (but not surprised either)...
Out of interest are you renewing the warranty next year/time after this experience?
 
I probably will as I can't see a repeat of this happening. Having said that, still waiting to hear back the results of investigation into camshaft adjuster fault; left a message for service team to call me back yesterday at 3 pm, didn't get a call back. Awful service, it's now 3 days since I authorised the investigation and not heard a peep. Even a call to say it's done and sent off to warranty people for a decision would be something!
 
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Wow, let me pick myself up off the floor...
Just called into the dealer again. Lady was very chirpy, apparently she wasn't there yesterday (though I was told she's on the phone and will call me back!)!! Camshaft issue requires part totalling over £1k!!! They're sending it off to extended warranty to see if it's covered :puke2:

When I complained about the labour charges to diagnose the faulty rear diff, she said don't worry, you only have to pay the camshaft diagnostics!!! That's over £250 knocked off my bill....:rockwoot: She said she doesn't want me to have a bad experience with them!! Maybe the chat with Audi UK on Tuesday paid off...
 
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Don't think so, I'll find out once I get the paperwork
 
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Makes you wonder if extending the warranty is worth it though!

Well, a couple of months after the warranty didnt cover my enormous bill I got an email from Audi asking me if I wanted to extend my warranty. As well as laughing in disbelief you can imagine the language which came out of my mouth. Someone somewhere has an ironic sense of effing humour.
 
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My response to that will very much depend on whether they pay out on this camshaft issue or not!!
 
OK,
So my car didn't sound right and I got the car towed to my local dealer.
Two days later, I get a call from the dealer.
First they ask if I had work done elsewhere. I said yes, I had the Haldex serviced elsewhere.
Then she tells me that whoever worked on the car must've drained the rear differential as well as the Haldex and apparently it's been running without differential oil for over a year. Does anyone know if this is possible? The garage that serviced my Haldex said that the car wouldn't drive without differential oil for longer than a day, never mind 14 months or so!
Anyone know something about this?
Luckily the last time was in was with the same dealer when I said there was suspected Haldex fault and they said it was fine, so I'm going to call them back and argue this point.

By the way they quoted north of £3,800 for new rear differential and Haldex system!


Spotted this while browsing my old Golf R forum. Thought you might find it interesting.

https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/34288-destroyed-rear-diff/
 
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Plot thickens - dealer told me that warranty came back saying they'll cover 100% parts 0% labour! Doesn't make sense as I read the policy inside out, if work is covered then labour is covered too. Said I'd call Audi extended warranty up and get back to them.

Speak to Audi - they haven't even seen the claim, no idea what the dealer is on about!!!

Makes me wonder whether the rear diff claim went to them at all...
 
Very interesting indeed...thanks @GeoffT

based on that golf r I would very out mechanic mate to wear a GoPro or something similar from start to finish as he takes it off your car and apart to see what’s going on inside. Might be worth an argument with Audi after you get your replacement in.
 
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Very good point, I was thinking along these lines (though good shout re the Go Pro!). At the moment they've got me by the proverbials as they have my car...I will ask whether I can even trust their previous claim that warranty refused to pay for the rear diff...
 
Plot thickens - dealer told me that warranty came back saying they'll cover 100% parts 0% labour! Doesn't make sense as I read the policy inside out, if work is covered then labour is covered too. Said I'd call Audi extended warranty up and get back to them.

Speak to Audi - they haven't even seen the claim, no idea what the dealer is on about!!!

Makes me wonder whether the rear diff claim went to them at all...

The labour/parts split is ridiculous, the fact that Audi haven’t seen the claim points to dodgy dealer. I would be fuming about this lol.

Can you not deal with Audi UK direct on the warranty instead of relying on what is clearly a normal audi dealer? I.e. crap

Hope they are sorting you out with a nice courtesy while this is ironed out!
 
AFAIK the only way to get Audi extended warranty paid is to go through official dealer, otherwise believe you me I'd be doing it myself!!

Extract from extended warranty on how to make a claim:

If you need to make a claim, please take the following steps:

1. Take your vehicle to any Audi Approved Centre and show them your Confirmation of Cover. If you need help finding your local Audi Approved Centre please go to www.audi.co.uk

2. Your Audi Approved Centre will assess your vehicle and liaise with us on your behalf by calling 0333 043 3808.

3. If it is not possible for you to return your vehicle to an Audi Approved Centre, please contact us for authority prior to the commencement of any work to your vehicle on 0333 043 3780.

If you do not follow these steps, we may reject your claim


I wonder if I could invoke 3 on the basis that dealer is useless??
 
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Plot thickens - dealer told me that warranty came back saying they'll cover 100% parts 0% labour! Doesn't make sense as I read the policy inside out, if work is covered then labour is covered too. Said I'd call Audi extended warranty up and get back to them
I really can't understand that at all. It's either covered or it isn't.
I've had a few approved used repairs done over the years and never heard anything like it.
I'm also about to pull the trigger on the extended warranty on the SQ5 and it's got me thinking what's going on?
 
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Good news (ish) - whilst the rear diff is still not covered (I asked her to go back to the techs to check that the oil hasn't turned to sludge as per the link above!), the camshaft is so all I have to pay is my £100 excess and then I can get my car back after tomorrow (towed to my indie for 'new' rear diff to be fitted, that is).

I have no idea what they were playing at earlier, but at least it ended (somewhat) well.
 
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Light at the end of the tunnel then I suppose.
Best to get it repaired and chalk it off as a bad episode, then at least you can start to get your head straight again.
 
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Good news (ish) - whilst the rear diff is still not covered (I asked her to go back to the techs to check that the oil hasn't turned to sludge as per the link above!), the camshaft is so all I have to pay is my £100 excess and then I can get my car back after tomorrow (towed to my indie for 'new' rear diff to be fitted, that is).

I have no idea what they were playing at earlier, but at least it ended (somewhat) well.

So your camshaft is knackered at 57000 miles?
 
Good news re the camshaft. Still crazy the dif isn’t covered. Perhaps you could try sending them the cost of part and indi direct...especially if you crack it open and do find it’s defective.
 
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So your camshaft is knackered at 57000 miles?
Not sure exactly what's wrong with it but it appears so

Good news re the camshaft. Still crazy the dif isn’t covered. Perhaps you could try sending them the cost of part and indi direct...especially if you crack it open and do find it’s defective.
My thoughts exactly. I did mention to the lady that she should ask the technicians to have a look inside to see if the oil has turned to sludge, whether they do it or not remains to be seen. It'll definitely get cracked open once it's out of the dealer's.
 
Not sure exactly what's wrong with it but it appears so


My thoughts exactly. I did mention to the lady that she should ask the technicians to have a look inside to see if the oil has turned to sludge, whether they do it or not remains to be seen. It'll definitely get cracked open once it's out of the dealer's.

It shouldn’t go at such low mileage unless it’s had poor maintenance. Skipped oil changes, wrong oil grade etc....
 
Been maintained properly (owned by colleague from new before me so I know entire history) so not sure what's gone wrong, clearly no foul play otherwise extended warranty wouldn't accept claim
 
Been maintained properly (owned by colleague from new before me so I know entire history) so not sure what's gone wrong, clearly no foul play otherwise extended warranty wouldn't accept claim

Something’s not right with it clearly, probably work prematurely. Glad it’s being sorted
 
You’ve had nothing but bad look with that car, am
I right in thinking you also had problems with it back in October time? Sure I saw another post from you about some other problems back then.

Goes back to my point about not really wanting to keep the car after the problems you’ve had, god knows what else ( fingers crossed nothing ) is going to go wrong with it that may or may not be covered by extended warranty.
 
Back in February I took it in as I suspected a failed Haldex pump as the car slipped on ice, in hindsight it may be linked to rear differential issue I have now. The dealer couldn't replicate the problem but had found thermostat housing leak which I had no idea had happened.
I did have a faulty airbag control module too before that too. Extended warranty has picked up quite a lot of stuff for me so I'll continue with it until I no longer can (100k miles).
Unless I win the lottery or something and move on to something more luxurious, or have a third child and be forced to move to a 7 seater.
Personally I think the car will be better than ever with fairly new rear diff, new camshaft, replaced thermostat housing. Obviously if I'm proven wrong and other things start failing then I'll have to re-evaluate the position.
 
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Update from dealer: my car requires inlet and exhaust camshaft adjusters replaced (so camshaft itself must be OK), work will be done today (despite telling me on Thursday that it'd be completed by close of play Friday!) and then car can be towed to indie for rear diff replacement.
 
I hope by towed you mean carried on a flatbed as I don’t think you’re meant to tow 4wd with wheels on the ground.
 
Yep, definitely flatbed!

Although saying that, my rear diff is F**ked anyway lol, but I wouldn't tow it in case it causes other issues.
 
Good video posted yesterday on the rear diff.

7mins in car in garage on lift.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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Sorry to hear about your issues mate.

Funnily enough I watched that video last night as I subscribe to that channel. Rather than shell out for a new rear diff, there are quite a few for sale on ebay as I had a quick look after watching the vid.
 
Thanks, I see it now!
Interesting indeed.
Well the car is now ready apparently so off to indie for diff replacement it goes.
@davc I got a used one on eBay from a 2018 car with supposedly 4k miles on the clock from a breaker for £370 delivered. Other sellers kept reducing prices as I'm guessing they're not shifting a lot of these so worth holding out a bit if you need one
 
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This is a joke - after one lady confirmed to me (more than once) that no diagnostics charges will be made, now I get an invoice for the policy excess plus a £60 diagnostics charge.
I have spent over 2 hours arguing this, stupid me didn't get this in writing, so the other lady dealing with my account reluctantly agrees to remove the charge (for now) until the other girl is in tomorrow. Meantime I've got a tow truck on its way over there any time now and I'm still awaiting for the revised invoice!!! Opinion of the dealer down the drain again...
 
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Three phone calls later they finally revise the invoice to just have the policy excess on there, argument over £60 diagnostics charge to be continued tomorrow. Hopefully the lady will not deny stating to me more than once that diagnostic charges have been removed.

I quote her: "I want you to have a good experience with us"!!! (which tbh was getting much better after she said that, but then the debacle of today has tinted my experience again)
 
Three phone calls later they finally revise the invoice to just have the policy excess on there, argument over £60 diagnostics charge to be continued tomorrow. Hopefully the lady will not deny stating to me more than once that diagnostic charges have been removed.

I quote her: "I want you to have a good experience with us"!!! (which tbh was getting much better after she said that, but then the debacle of today has tinted my experience again)

Tell them to listen to the recorded phone call and get back to you!

I never heard anything when they tried to charge me £250 for a lightbulb!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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I did say I'm not sure if you have call recording, if so listen to it.

The other lady is in tomorrow, I wanna see her trying to back-track now on what she said to me, I asked on two separate occasions as it sounded too good to be true. Should've got it by E-mail!
 
Three phone calls later they finally revise the invoice to just have the policy excess on there, argument over £60 diagnostics charge to be continued tomorrow. Hopefully the lady will not deny stating to me more than once that diagnostic charges have been removed.

I quote her: "I want you to have a good experience with us"!!! (which tbh was getting much better after she said that, but then the debacle of today has tinted my experience again)
Mate the more I hear about yours and other people's problems with Audi the more I'm put off getting another one!

A lad in work today asked me if I'm getting another Audi after this one and I said probably not....he was very surprised! I'm sick of their rip off prices for servicing, lower than anyone for a px and stupid calls offering me "A great deal", which turns out to be the same car again with the same deposit and discount over the same term but at £123 per month more! :blink: Yeah that sounds great, where do i sign??? :whistle2:
 
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