2011 Audi A4 2.0 TFSI - Clutch Judder woes
2011 Audi A4 2.0 TFSI - Clutch Judder woes
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Discussion

Ray Singh

Original Poster:

3,084 posts

260 months

Monday 6th November 2017
quotequote all
My car related woes continue. Please fill your boots with history here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...
After advising my 75 year old Father in Law to buy an Audi two years ago, we have had nothing but bother. Firstly the Pistons and Con rods needed replacing as the engine used oil. Whilst this was being carried out we were offered the opportunity to replace (at our cost) the clutch and DMF. We did this circa £2k.

Since this, my father in law has complained that the clutch judders especially in the cold. We have called up our service engineer at Inchcape Audi Swindon and reported the issues, but he has always responded with "they all do that" or "it will get better". The service engineer has now left Audi (under a cloak of secrecy) It now transpires that we are out of warranty on both the labour and parts.

The car is in with Inchcape today and they have called to warn me that if they cannot find anything wrong with the parts, they will have to charge for the labour. This is likely to be a lot of money.

I have recorded e-mail transcripts of e-mail exchange with the engineer, but Audi are confident that they will not help with the issue.

Any advice please? What causes the juddering clutch? Out of interest my wifes 2007 A6 avant also has a juddery clutch........


Edited by Ray Singh on Friday 10th November 13:10

tigger1

8,476 posts

251 months

Monday 6th November 2017
quotequote all
Don't know if it's relevant, but I *think* that A5 and Q5's of about the same age have had a software update for clutch (although that may have been, oddly, just manuals)

anonymous-user

84 months

Monday 6th November 2017
quotequote all
Might be worth getting a second opinion on the car from an independent.

I have given up with Swindon Audi, they were okay when located by J16 but since moving the quality and performance have fallen off a cliff.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

148 months

Tuesday 7th November 2017
quotequote all
tigger1 said:
Don't know if it's relevant, but I *think* that A5 and Q5's of about the same age have had a software update for clutch (although that may have been, oddly, just manuals)
Even though the clutch is a fully mechanical system?

Clutches can be juddery. Depends on the use. Is it slipped alot (being driven by an old bloke).

Was release bearing replaced? Either way £2k for a clutch was mental.

tigger1

8,476 posts

251 months

Tuesday 7th November 2017
quotequote all
xjay1337 said:
tigger1 said:
Don't know if it's relevant, but I *think* that A5 and Q5's of about the same age have had a software update for clutch (although that may have been, oddly, just manuals)
Even though the clutch is a fully mechanical system?

Clutches can be juddery. Depends on the use. Is it slipped alot (being driven by an old bloke).

Was release bearing replaced? Either way £2k for a clutch was mental.
I know, it sounds odd. It was either an A5 or a Q5, but somebody i know definitely had a software update for the clutch on a manual 2.0 TDI (136bhp in the A5, or 150bhp if it was in the Q5).

Can't remember any more of the details - although this post suggests somebody else had a software update that was clutch sensor(?) related:

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/shudder-when-...


Ray Singh

Original Poster:

3,084 posts

260 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the help.
The car now has its gearbox out and they have found hot spots on the pressure plate. Audi Swindon are saying that this is due to driver error, like resting foot on clutch whilst driving...
They are asking for over £2.5k for the repair even thought we complained about the judder within weeks of the last repair.

Full options and price list to be sent over later this afternoon.

Why would anyone buy an Audi?


xjay1337

15,966 posts

148 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
Ray Singh said:
Thanks for the help.
The car now has its gearbox out and they have found hot spots on the pressure plate. Audi Swindon are saying that this is due to driver error, like resting foot on clutch whilst driving...
They are asking for over £2.5k for the repair even thought we complained about the judder within weeks of the last repair.

Full options and price list to be sent over later this afternoon.

Why would anyone buy an Audi?
Didn't you say the owner was an old boy?
Could be driver error.
Either way £2.5k is ridiculous. An indy would charge approx £1100 all in.

Ray Singh

Original Poster:

3,084 posts

260 months

Friday 10th November 2017
quotequote all
He might be an old boy, but he knows how to drive.
I have sat with him on many occasions. Proper old school, safe but not slow.

It wont be him and it doesn't make sense, We complained about the juddering almost straight after the car was originally repaired. This would have been a few hundred miles of use.

I have asked Audi UK their opinion.


Edited by Ray Singh on Friday 10th November 13:10

Ray Singh

Original Poster:

3,084 posts

260 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
Swindon Audi returned after taking the gearbox out....

Total estimate to replace clutch and flywheel - £2520.80. It will also need a four wheel alignment (circa £100) following the replacement and the car also needs a service.

Turns out that the clutch has hot spots - Audi are saying that this is related to resting foot on clutch pedal or using clutch to keep car stationary on hills. Both of which FiL denies.

After some negotiation - I have agreed for all the work, clutch and flywheel, plus 4 wheel alignment, plus the service needed - £1200.

I have given them the go ahead - but still feel a bit cheated. We reported the clutch juddering within weeks of the original repair.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

148 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
Ray Singh said:
Swindon Audi returned after taking the gearbox out....

Total estimate to replace clutch and flywheel - £2520.80. It will also need a four wheel alignment (circa £100) following the replacement and the car also needs a service.

Turns out that the clutch has hot spots - Audi are saying that this is related to resting foot on clutch pedal or using clutch to keep car stationary on hills. Both of which FiL denies.

After some negotiation - I have agreed for all the work, clutch and flywheel, plus 4 wheel alignment, plus the service needed - £1200.

I have given them the go ahead - but still feel a bit cheated. We reported the clutch juddering within weeks of the original repair.
It's not ideal at all mate.

Their explanation is plausible
Usually hot spots are from incorrect bedding in of the clutch.

Ideally 500 miles of lots of gentle town driving. IE - lots of changing gear, etc. Not just doing 500 miles on the motorway
It's always recommended to keep the car in N at traffic lights etc.

Anyway in the future I'd suggest not going to Audi as even so £1200 is more than the cost at an independent garage for all of the above.

Not the best outcome mate but an outcome nevertheless and hopefully it will be problem free from now on.