£10k gbox bill on 4yr old Audi. Was it ever fit for purpose?
Discussion
I've had reason to put my 2012 A6 C7 3.0 TDI Qtr into the dealer for a gearbox complaint. It's the S Tronic 7 speed and slow speed manoeuvres have become very difficult with the car not moving then lunging either forwards or back, until recently box was silky smooth, in for gearbox oil change and becomes snatchy, abrupt and very sharp changes, to the extent it does throw your head back on up changes. (all in full auto/drive mode only) It's a one owner car and it has been driven mostly sedately. (Not that this should matter anyway?)
I've had the 'kiss points realigned' by the dealer, which fixed the issue for two days, then back to the same. Now they tell me its the whole gearbox that needs replaced with a bill of £9,700. The car has FSH by main dealer, always gets what its needed and has 56k miles on it.
I can feel a fight for some form of goodwill. I don't have the extended warranty and the car was remapped until last week. (Dealer insisted on the map being wiped before they'd make the assessment)
Is this a case of get a second opinion, obtain a full report into the reasons for the failure?, take Audi to task about the premature failing of the gearbox, which at four years old and FSH surely this isn't at the end of it's design life?
Any tips on how to deal with this, that doesn't involve fire?
Any recent cases I can cite, have Audi at any point admitted failing gearboxes and they'd assist?
Some advice and pointers on any of the above that could help my case would be much appreciated. thanks guys
I've had the 'kiss points realigned' by the dealer, which fixed the issue for two days, then back to the same. Now they tell me its the whole gearbox that needs replaced with a bill of £9,700. The car has FSH by main dealer, always gets what its needed and has 56k miles on it.
I can feel a fight for some form of goodwill. I don't have the extended warranty and the car was remapped until last week. (Dealer insisted on the map being wiped before they'd make the assessment)
Is this a case of get a second opinion, obtain a full report into the reasons for the failure?, take Audi to task about the premature failing of the gearbox, which at four years old and FSH surely this isn't at the end of it's design life?
Any tips on how to deal with this, that doesn't involve fire?
Any recent cases I can cite, have Audi at any point admitted failing gearboxes and they'd assist?
Some advice and pointers on any of the above that could help my case would be much appreciated. thanks guys
CraigT007 said:
I can feel a fight for some form of goodwill. I don't have the extended warranty and the car was remapped until last week. (Dealer insisted on the map being wiped before they'd make the assessment)
I would have thought that 'remapping' the engine to beyond the torque level that the gearbox was specified to handle would make any goodwill unlikely. If you dick around with the car and it breaks as a consequence then you pay for your own mistake. Can't hurt to ask and see what they say though, if the car was left as it was designed and the gearbox failed like that I'd be very annoyed.CraigT007 said:
I've had reason to put my 2012 A6 C7 3.0 TDI Qtr into the dealer for a gearbox complaint. It's the S Tronic 7 speed and slow speed manoeuvres have become very difficult with the car not moving then lunging either forwards or back, until recently box was silky smooth, in for gearbox oil change and becomes snatchy, abrupt and very sharp changes, to the extent it does throw your head back on up changes. (all in full auto/drive mode only) It's a one owner car and it has been driven mostly sedately. (Not that this should matter anyway?)
I've had the 'kiss points realigned' by the dealer, which fixed the issue for two days, then back to the same. Now they tell me its the whole gearbox that needs replaced with a bill of £9,700. The car has FSH by main dealer, always gets what its needed and has 56k miles on it.
I can feel a fight for some form of goodwill. I don't have the extended warranty and the car was remapped until last week. (Dealer insisted on the map being wiped before they'd make the assessment)
Is this a case of get a second opinion, obtain a full report into the reasons for the failure?, take Audi to task about the premature failing of the gearbox, which at four years old and FSH surely this isn't at the end of it's design life?
Any tips on how to deal with this, that doesn't involve fire?
Any recent cases I can cite, have Audi at any point admitted failing gearboxes and they'd assist?
Some advice and pointers on any of the above that could help my case would be much appreciated. thanks guys
I'm not sure the word 'remap' is going to help you here. It wouldn't surprise me if they suggested that's the problem.I've had the 'kiss points realigned' by the dealer, which fixed the issue for two days, then back to the same. Now they tell me its the whole gearbox that needs replaced with a bill of £9,700. The car has FSH by main dealer, always gets what its needed and has 56k miles on it.
I can feel a fight for some form of goodwill. I don't have the extended warranty and the car was remapped until last week. (Dealer insisted on the map being wiped before they'd make the assessment)
Is this a case of get a second opinion, obtain a full report into the reasons for the failure?, take Audi to task about the premature failing of the gearbox, which at four years old and FSH surely this isn't at the end of it's design life?
Any tips on how to deal with this, that doesn't involve fire?
Any recent cases I can cite, have Audi at any point admitted failing gearboxes and they'd assist?
Some advice and pointers on any of the above that could help my case would be much appreciated. thanks guys
I would simply be as calm and professional as you can be.
Will be interesting to hear how you get on.
CraigT007 said:
I don't have the extended warranty and the car was remapped until last week.
Any tips on how to deal with this, that doesn't involve fire?
Really? I mean REALLY?Any tips on how to deal with this, that doesn't involve fire?
Good luck with this one. You altered the car's factory spec and it's ruined the gearbox. Now you want Audi to pay.....????
You have ZERO chance of goodwill. Zero.
Edited by Soov535 on Friday 17th February 10:31
Umm. Tricky one. My only gripe with this kind of situation is that the bill will include a lot of gross profit presumably on both the parts and labour and for both the manufacturer and the dealer, which is kind of profiteering out of someone (self-inflicted) misfortune. Which I guess is why there can be out of warranty contributions, but the remapping is not going to help much...
Asking Audi to repair this is the reason it's costing so much. On a remapped car out of warrantee, the chances of a good-will offer being forthcoming is slim to nil.
For me, I would be looking for a replacement 'box from a scrapped car and getting an independent VW/Audi specialist to swap it over it, then sell the car and then don't buy another Audi.
For me, I would be looking for a replacement 'box from a scrapped car and getting an independent VW/Audi specialist to swap it over it, then sell the car and then don't buy another Audi.
Sheepshanks said:
Soov535 said:
You altered the car's factory spec and it's ruined the gearbox.
That's a massive assumption.OP: what was the extent of the map and do you know the torque limit for the gearbox in your car?
Edited by Sheepshanks on Friday 17th February 10:38
Sheepshanks said:
OP: what was the extent of the map and do you know the torque limit for the gearbox in your car?
This is an interesting point in this case as I have been vaguely looking at these (A6s) as a next purchase and there are several versions of the 3l with differing power outputs. Not sure of the exact ins and outs but it may be the OP has a lower power version and just wants a bit extra pep.Sheepshanks said:
Soov535 said:
You altered the car's factory spec and it's ruined the gearbox.
That's a massive assumption.OP: what was the extent of the map and do you know the torque limit for the gearbox in your car?
Edited by Sheepshanks on Friday 17th February 10:38
55palfers said:
Presumably Audi will be able to tell if the car has been remapped even if it is now returned to OE map?
He's made it clear the dealer knew anyway. Whatever the cause, taking it in with the map loaded seems rash, to say the least.As others have suggested, even if Audi did offer, say, 50% goodwill it still leave a 5 grand bill. Likely it'd be better to find a DSG specialist and get them to have a look.
Have a root around the VW Audi Forums, there are some knowledgeable people on there including some Audi techs who are regular posters.
http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.ph...
http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.ph...
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