HELP - B7 RS4 exhaust flaps / S button won't work

[Scooby P1]

Hi more knowledgeable people than I

For some time now my '56 plate B7 RS4 Avant "S" button has done very little.

I did have the car on a ramp a while back and poked a long crow bar down there and opened and closed the flaps myself as much as I could whilst dousing the levers in WD40 but to no avail. They did feel stiff though!

The car lives on a London street, but has only done 53k miles and is very well cherished.

Audi garage called today to suggest it needs 2x rear exhaust boxes (dream on - I'd get Miltek if I was to do anything!) as they can't seem to find any other fault.

Any experts on here had any previous experience or got any bright ideas?
Much obliged.

[neilferg]

Common problem to be honest . Mine was the same but managed to free them . Loads of oil/grease plus continually moving them to eventually free them. No easy solution but elbow grease and patience. I'm presuming it doesn't get used much if it's only done 53k miles which will make it more likely to seize. I've now disconnected mine and have them open permanently as the car isn't getting used as much now and they were starting to seize again. Milltek with valves is a ridiculous price imho.

[Dr G]

They get caked up with soot in no time at all and either seize or as you've found become too stiff for the solenoids to move.

You can continue with the clean/lube approach and they may come back to life but plenty we've seen over the years were too far gone.

[Scooby P1]

Thank you both for your input.
Interesting suggestion of just elbow grease and patience. I got the feeling that was not going to be Audi’s approach. They did charge me £100 for what ended being no result except leaving the flaps open. Let’s wait and see if they stay open.

Audi wanted to replace both back boxes as the potential solution for which they would be happy to relieve me of £1800!! Suddenly the Miltek doesn’t look such bad value.

Tbh if I can find a garage who will spend the time freeing the valves I think that might be the best option. Or your route of disconnecting and leaving valves open.

Just got the car back. Front top suspension arms changed and one lower. Decent bill!!

But it is still such a good car.

[neilferg]

Dread to think what Audi charged for the suspension arms. Previous owner for mine had the four upper arms replaced at Audi......£1100! I purchased four Meyle HD lower arms and got my local garage to fit them....total cost £255!

[Scooby P1]

Lower arm as well as service plus some investigative work and a bill of double what you mentioned.
But my car has had no penny spared keeping it in mint condition from day 1.
But doesn’t stop the costs from knocking the wind out of you on occasions.