Yet another problem! Switch off engine check coolant level!

[Rs3Dude]

The little niggles with this car is starting to **** me off!

Driving along today and heard a 3 beep noise followed by a red fluid light on the dashboard: switch off engine check coolant level.

I Immediately pulled over, checked the coolant to find it was absolutely empty!! Got the car towed to the local halfrauds, the noobs didn't want to help, in regards to topping up the coolant one of them squeezed my pipe and the coolant came back up, got some water there and then and filled it up just over the brim mark. He said that would be fine, you can be on your way, off he went to go and lock up for the day... The mixture of coolant that he got back up from squeezing the pipe and bottled water added made the coolant in the tank 'sizzle' with it started to 'spit' over, (just a small amount.) the fluid level constantly dropped and rised but he said it should be ok for you to drive so I put the cap back on and off I went..

Less than a minute down the road, oil temp level went well above the 90 degree mark, close to the red, then it dropped back down, then started to rise, then settle again.. same light came back on, checked coolant, all of it had gone again. Drove back home slowly, called AA out immediately, did a compression test, guy seemed like he didn't have a scooby doo what he was doing, did a quick compression test, he didn't even check the oil cap to see if it had any funny substance on it. He then proceeded to check near the radiator and then stated; "feels damp around there, radiator needs replacing"

Any thoughts on what to do next?! I feel like just handing the car back to the small independent dealer I bought it from and just getting back my money!!!!!

 

[GMballistic]

If you've not had the car long then it should still be covered by at least a 3 month warranty I'd have thought. Pretty certain that's the minimum.
If it's close enough then take it back to see if they'll fix it for you FOC or possibly get your money back and try to buy a better car somewhere else.

What year is it & model btw?
Maybe some of the more knowledgeable members will be able to help spot what your issue is with more info.

If you're losing coolant then you need to find out where from. Could be the radiator as the AA man suggested or it could be a split hose or lose clamp on a hose maybe. Just because it's wet in one area doesn't necessarily mean that's where it's come from as obviously gravity can pull liquid downwards, ....it could flow along a ledge whilst driving etc or if it's under pressure could be forced out.

By the sounds of it though you need to get this looked at ASAP before it causes you some major damage to your motor.

 

[SootySport]

Getting that hot points to the water pump not pushing coolant around the engine. In reality it could one of a number things gone wrong, coolant system leaks or a head gasket gone if you can see white smoke coming out the exhaust. A good VAG independent specialist should be able to diagnose this. Or, go back to the dealer who sold you the car.

 

[Rs3Dude]

Thanks. I'm located in Birmingham, car dealership is located in Bristol, it's a specialist high performance independent family dealership and yeah I have 3 months warranty but warranty is in house as they say. So anyway work needs to be done there I was told when I asked during purchase.

I don't mind bringing it down to them but I don't see how I should be left out of pocket in terms of fuel or without a car (similar like for like car would only be fair) until they completely sort out the issues I'm having with the car.

It's a 2010 s3 black edition with just over 30k on the clock.

Ideally I would like to reject the car from what I've seen online I can do so it seems but not entirely sure, think it says something about giving them a chance to fix issues first or something. Luckily I paid 500 on a CC so any **** I get the finance company and the bank involved.

 

[Rs3Dude]

Waiting to speak to the sales chap, he will phone me back in an hour I'm told.

 

[SootySport]

Shouldn't have problems on a 2010 car at all. Yes you are supposed to give them a chance to repair it correctly, give them the chance. I don't think you'll get a courtesy car out of them, they don't have to as you are the one that went long distance to buy.
Hope they do make you a happy Audi driver again.

 

[GMballistic]

Waiting to speak to the sales chap, he will phone me back in an hour I'm told.

I hope you've spoken to him & it's good news then....

I bought my S3 from a dealer 140 miles odd away from where I live so I know what you're going through Rs3Dude. I've got problems with my door locks which is a fairly common issue apparently from what I've read.
It must have been an intermittent problem when I bought the car as I never noticed the problem happening when I test drove the car. After I'd had the car a week or so I started to notice the problem and have since found out how costly it can be to fix. Still at least mine runs well.

 

[Rs3Dude]

Shouldn't have problems on a 2010 car at all. Yes you are supposed to give them a chance to repair it correctly, give them the chance. I don't think you'll get a courtesy car out of them, they don't have to as you are the one that went long distance to buy.
Hope they do make you a happy Audi driver again.

I hope you've spoken to him & it's good news then....

I bought my S3 from a dealer 140 miles odd away from where I live so I know what you're going through Rs3Dude. I've got problems with my door locks which is a fairly common issue apparently from what I've read.
It must have been an intermittent problem when I bought the car as I never noticed the problem happening when I test drove the car. After I'd had the car a week or so I started to notice the problem and have since found out how costly it can be to fix. Still at least mine runs well.

Thanks for your responses. Yep I spoked to the guy at the dealers and gosh, he couldn't wait to get off the phone! Customer service was atrocious. Asked silly questions like "how many miles have you done" "how come all these problems have happened" "coolant is a small issue, 50p fix with the hose pipe replaced" errrr how do you know when you haven't seen the car! AA has told me it's the radiator that's gone!!! wtf!

Said he won't cover the costs for all the work. (Oh yes he will) said I need to go to awesome Gti for the suspension side of things, nothing to do with them, which I disagree as I bought the car off them not Awesome but fair enough., I need to pop down to Manchester anyway at the end of the month I'll get them to look at that..

Said the car needs to be recovered to them and to ring back Monday, that was it really couldn't wait to get off the phone... In regards to a courtesy car, that's currently out, they have plenty of cars on their showroom, I think it's only fair that they atleast provide me with some sort of transport to get around in, I paid top money for the car and I expect nothing more than a loan car until my car is fixed if I'm honest.

Early days but looks like i may have to shout to get work done..

GMballistic, hope you get that issue with your car sorted buddy did you also buy from an Independent? Surely has put me off buying from one again, especially if it's not local, will prefer big main dealers as I least the car would of been in like today with minimal inconvenience caused, you can tell that this guy is going to skimp on replacement costs and/or try get out of fixing certain stuff!

 

[GMballistic]

GMballistic, hope you get that issue with your car sorted buddy did you also buy from an Independent?

Thanks and yes I bought from an Independent too. Currently in discussions with them. Lol.
I'm not holding out too much hope and tbh I'm guessing they'll say to bring it back to them which if I'm honest I'm not sure I fancy the 3 hour drive, plus fuel plus faffing around etc.
I'm trying to see if they'll contribute to the lock repairs at my local independent garage as a gesture of good will.Time will tell.

It's a bit frustrating yes but luckily it's more an inconvenience than a major problem as I said the car drives great which is the main thing.


Hope you get yours sorted and the garage does the right thing.

 

[raffhussain]

I'd contact the specialist you purchased it off and have the car towed to them and ask for a full refund. Rather pay for a tow back then big bills to repair a car which shouldn't have so many problems.

 

[-Ju-]

Did I remember you saying the previous owner had bought it from the dealer a few months earlier and then returned it for a different car?
If so its starting to sound a little fishy now.
I'd be giving the dealer a letter stating all the issues you've had and giving him a chance to sort it or give you your money back.
If you do hand it back afaik they are entitled to deduct for usage.

 

[raffhussain]

I remember reading something along them lines.
If that's the case and as Ju said sounds fishy and something not right with the car from day one and the reason the previous owner returned it would have been due to problems and not down to some blag story they have given you.