2000 A4 Known Problem W/ E-Brake/Cable?
02-12-2004 | 09:19 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
2000 A4 Known Problem W/ E-Brake/Cable?
Hello and Thank You All for the Good Info I've Learned Here-
November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect until,
in January, when (coincidentally?) the weather here in New England
plunged to the single digits Fahrenheit, I came out one day when the
car had been parked with the hand brake on (it's a standard if that
matters), and the brake was slightly "stuck." When you released the
brake, it didn't "ratchet" down the last inch or so of travel, it did
go down, but felt strange. The car felt like the brakes were lightly
applied. It took me a part of the mile drive to my office to figure
out what was going on. Called the Audi tow program and they towed it
to the dealer.
Dealer said the rear rotors (?) were trashed and the car
needed what sounded like kind of a major re-build of the rear brakes.
But, they kept the car for a week, mostly waiting for parts. I
questioned why so long for common parts for a relatively new car.
Never really got a straight/satisfactory answer. I was given a
loaner under the warranty (still using the balance of the new car
warranty).
A week later, same problem, but not as bad, much more
subtle. The brakes "barely" dragging, but still, not right. Brought
it back. Now dealer says it will be "at least" a week, and that
another A4 has been waiting about that amount of time for the
same/similar parts for the same/similar problem. Service guy
speculates maybe it's a wide or ing problem, although he
says there have been no service bulletins.
THIS time, they say it's the e-brake cable. Seems to me
this was likely the problem the first time, too, but that they fixed
the damage caused by the problem the first time, and not the problem
itself. This time, they say it's just the cable, but they assure me
the rear brakes themselves are fine this time, that they look like new
"just as you'd expect."
I like these guys. This is my second Audi from this
dealership, and I've always felt they've treated me as fairly as any
dealership, and honestly. My questions:
1. Is anyone aware of this as a known problem with the A4?
2. Should I accept that my brakes were not damaged this time?
3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
month, for a 2 year old car? Do I have any choice? Can I go to
another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
make any difference?
Thanks for your collective wisdom,
Brad
November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect until,
in January, when (coincidentally?) the weather here in New England
plunged to the single digits Fahrenheit, I came out one day when the
car had been parked with the hand brake on (it's a standard if that
matters), and the brake was slightly "stuck." When you released the
brake, it didn't "ratchet" down the last inch or so of travel, it did
go down, but felt strange. The car felt like the brakes were lightly
applied. It took me a part of the mile drive to my office to figure
out what was going on. Called the Audi tow program and they towed it
to the dealer.
Dealer said the rear rotors (?) were trashed and the car
needed what sounded like kind of a major re-build of the rear brakes.
But, they kept the car for a week, mostly waiting for parts. I
questioned why so long for common parts for a relatively new car.
Never really got a straight/satisfactory answer. I was given a
loaner under the warranty (still using the balance of the new car
warranty).
A week later, same problem, but not as bad, much more
subtle. The brakes "barely" dragging, but still, not right. Brought
it back. Now dealer says it will be "at least" a week, and that
another A4 has been waiting about that amount of time for the
same/similar parts for the same/similar problem. Service guy
speculates maybe it's a wide or ing problem, although he
says there have been no service bulletins.
THIS time, they say it's the e-brake cable. Seems to me
this was likely the problem the first time, too, but that they fixed
the damage caused by the problem the first time, and not the problem
itself. This time, they say it's just the cable, but they assure me
the rear brakes themselves are fine this time, that they look like new
"just as you'd expect."
I like these guys. This is my second Audi from this
dealership, and I've always felt they've treated me as fairly as any
dealership, and honestly. My questions:
1. Is anyone aware of this as a known problem with the A4?
2. Should I accept that my brakes were not damaged this time?
3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
month, for a 2 year old car? Do I have any choice? Can I go to
another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
make any difference?
Thanks for your collective wisdom,
Brad
02-12-2004 | 10:02 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2000 A4 Known Problem W/ E-Brake/Cable?
On 12 Feb 2004 18:19:33 -0800, bradnh@volcanomail.com (brad) wrote:
>Hello and Thank You All for the Good Info I've Learned Here-
>
> November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
>dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect until,
>in January, when (coincidentally?) the weather here in New England
>plunged to the single digits Fahrenheit, I came out one day when the
>car had been parked with the hand brake on (it's a standard if that
>matters), and the brake was slightly "stuck." When you released the
>brake, it didn't "ratchet" down the last inch or so of travel, it did
>go down, but felt strange. The car felt like the brakes were lightly
>applied. It took me a part of the mile drive to my office to figure
>out what was going on. Called the Audi tow program and they towed it
>to the dealer.
>
> Dealer said the rear rotors (?) were trashed and the car
>needed what sounded like kind of a major re-build of the rear brakes.
>But, they kept the car for a week, mostly waiting for parts. I
>questioned why so long for common parts for a relatively new car.
>Never really got a straight/satisfactory answer. I was given a
>loaner under the warranty (still using the balance of the new car
>warranty).
>
> A week later, same problem, but not as bad, much more
>subtle. The brakes "barely" dragging, but still, not right. Brought
>it back. Now dealer says it will be "at least" a week, and that
>another A4 has been waiting about that amount of time for the
>same/similar parts for the same/similar problem. Service guy
>speculates maybe it's a wide or ing problem, although he
>says there have been no service bulletins.
>
> THIS time, they say it's the e-brake cable. Seems to me
>this was likely the problem the first time, too, but that they fixed
>the damage caused by the problem the first time, and not the problem
>itself. This time, they say it's just the cable, but they assure me
>the rear brakes themselves are fine this time, that they look like new
>"just as you'd expect."
>
> I like these guys. This is my second Audi from this
>dealership, and I've always felt they've treated me as fairly as any
>dealership, and honestly. My questions:
>1. Is anyone aware of this as a known problem with the A4?
>2. Should I accept that my brakes were not damaged this time?
>3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
>month, for a 2 year old car? Do I have any choice? Can I go to
>another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
>for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
>make any difference?
>
>Thanks for your collective wisdom,
>
>Brad
This is the first time I've seen this bug reported *here*, fwiw.
You could ask them to pull the rear wheels off so you can inspect the rotors.
The dealer wouldn't suggest this (for obvious reasons) but the last time I had
an e-brake cable seize (on my well-aged and thoroughly salted New England
Pathfinder) I disconnected it and continued to drive until the replacement
cable assembly arrived.
I doubt venting to Audi NA will get the parts there any quicker, but it might
make you feel better. The dealer might be notified, but from your description
it doesn't sound like a dealer problem wrt the parts availability.
As for whether they should have noticed the balky cable, the fact that the
symptoms were greatly reduced after the initial service makes it a bit of a
close call...
/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd
>Hello and Thank You All for the Good Info I've Learned Here-
>
> November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
>dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect until,
>in January, when (coincidentally?) the weather here in New England
>plunged to the single digits Fahrenheit, I came out one day when the
>car had been parked with the hand brake on (it's a standard if that
>matters), and the brake was slightly "stuck." When you released the
>brake, it didn't "ratchet" down the last inch or so of travel, it did
>go down, but felt strange. The car felt like the brakes were lightly
>applied. It took me a part of the mile drive to my office to figure
>out what was going on. Called the Audi tow program and they towed it
>to the dealer.
>
> Dealer said the rear rotors (?) were trashed and the car
>needed what sounded like kind of a major re-build of the rear brakes.
>But, they kept the car for a week, mostly waiting for parts. I
>questioned why so long for common parts for a relatively new car.
>Never really got a straight/satisfactory answer. I was given a
>loaner under the warranty (still using the balance of the new car
>warranty).
>
> A week later, same problem, but not as bad, much more
>subtle. The brakes "barely" dragging, but still, not right. Brought
>it back. Now dealer says it will be "at least" a week, and that
>another A4 has been waiting about that amount of time for the
>same/similar parts for the same/similar problem. Service guy
>speculates maybe it's a wide or ing problem, although he
>says there have been no service bulletins.
>
> THIS time, they say it's the e-brake cable. Seems to me
>this was likely the problem the first time, too, but that they fixed
>the damage caused by the problem the first time, and not the problem
>itself. This time, they say it's just the cable, but they assure me
>the rear brakes themselves are fine this time, that they look like new
>"just as you'd expect."
>
> I like these guys. This is my second Audi from this
>dealership, and I've always felt they've treated me as fairly as any
>dealership, and honestly. My questions:
>1. Is anyone aware of this as a known problem with the A4?
>2. Should I accept that my brakes were not damaged this time?
>3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
>month, for a 2 year old car? Do I have any choice? Can I go to
>another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
>for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
>make any difference?
>
>Thanks for your collective wisdom,
>
>Brad
This is the first time I've seen this bug reported *here*, fwiw.
You could ask them to pull the rear wheels off so you can inspect the rotors.
The dealer wouldn't suggest this (for obvious reasons) but the last time I had
an e-brake cable seize (on my well-aged and thoroughly salted New England
Pathfinder) I disconnected it and continued to drive until the replacement
cable assembly arrived.
I doubt venting to Audi NA will get the parts there any quicker, but it might
make you feel better. The dealer might be notified, but from your description
it doesn't sound like a dealer problem wrt the parts availability.
As for whether they should have noticed the balky cable, the fact that the
symptoms were greatly reduced after the initial service makes it a bit of a
close call...
/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd
02-13-2004 | 10:17 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2000 A4 Known Problem W/ E-Brake/Cable?
bradnh@volcanomail.com (brad) wrote in message news:<74d34be9.0402121819.a18e55b@posting.google.c om>...
> Hello and Thank You All for the Good Info I've Learned Here-
>
> November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
> dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect
However, with that kind of miles on it, *not driven* regularly. Also,
it's quite likely the parking brake wasn't used often, if at all.
This is the absolute fastest and best way to kill these parking brake
mechanisms. This idiotic Audi 'design feature' has been around for at
least 20 years now (my '84 4KQ has it) and it still works no better.
> in January, when (coincidentally?) the weather here in New England
> plunged to the single digits Fahrenheit, I came out one day when the
> car had been parked with the hand brake on (it's a standard if that
> matters), and the brake was slightly "stuck."
This could have been a frozen cable from a slight break in the jacket
or end bellows or it could have been frozen crud around the exposed
mechanism on the bottom of each rear caliper. Have the dealer show it
to you next time it's up on a lift and you'll understand. Either way,
it's hard to prevent without constant visual inspection. The best
prevention, as others will surely tell you here, is to lubricate the
living hell out of it and use it as often as possible to keep it
moving. Even then, expect it to crap out every few years,
necessitating an obscenely expensive caliper rebuild or (faster and
cheaper) replacement with ~@$200 rebuilt calipers.
> Dealer said the rear rotors (?) were trashed and the car
> needed what sounded like kind of a major re-build of the rear brakes.
Unfortunately, it's about as major as you can get for a system as
'simple' as disk brake calipers.
> But, they kept the car for a week, mostly waiting for parts. I
> questioned why so long for common parts for a relatively new car.
Most people don't use that brake, so the problem simply hasn't been
discovered yet. It's when these cars 'trickle down' to guys like you
and me that it arises. Oddly, as time goes on, the parts get easier
to find. If you're keeping this thing beyond the warranty period, you
might want to look for an independent who can work on it and get in
touch with Blaufergnügen (www.audiquattroparts.com) for parts.
> A week later, same problem, but not as bad, much more
> subtle. The brakes "barely" dragging, but still, not right. Brought
> it back. Now dealer says it will be "at least" a week, and that
> another A4 has been waiting about that amount of time for the
> same/similar parts for the same/similar problem. Service guy
> speculates maybe it's a wide or ing problem, although he
> says there have been no service bulletins.
The service guy is either lying or he's new to Audis. He wouldn't be
far wrong to say, "They *all* do that." I can understand his
reluctance to do so, but if you tell him you already heard it here, he
might open up. ;^)
> THIS time, they say it's the e-brake cable. Seems to me
> this was likely the problem the first time, too, but that they fixed
> the damage caused by the problem the first time, and not the problem
> itself.
Might well be, but you say there *was* less drag, so it's probably
fine.
> 1. Is anyone aware of this as a known problem with the A4?
No; *all* VW/Audi products with rear disk brakes use this moronic
system. You can read about it by doing a Google search here for
threads about it dating from years before yours was even built.
> 2. Should I accept that my brakes were not damaged this time?
In the absence of any evidence otherwise (You can *see* the disks
through the wheels, can't you?), I would.
> 3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
> month, for a 2 year old car?
Not for a Ford or a Chevy. Yes, for an Alfa. Audi's in between.
However, as another poster suggested, you *can* drive the car this
way. First make sure the parking brake is fully disengaged. Then,
just don't use it and don't park on any hills ...
> Can I go to
> another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
> for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
> make any difference?
Nope. Not worth it. Audi's got two decades of 'experience' with this
crap. If they were responsive to logic and input, they would have
changed it long ago.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Not new here)
> Hello and Thank You All for the Good Info I've Learned Here-
>
> November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
> dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect
However, with that kind of miles on it, *not driven* regularly. Also,
it's quite likely the parking brake wasn't used often, if at all.
This is the absolute fastest and best way to kill these parking brake
mechanisms. This idiotic Audi 'design feature' has been around for at
least 20 years now (my '84 4KQ has it) and it still works no better.
> in January, when (coincidentally?) the weather here in New England
> plunged to the single digits Fahrenheit, I came out one day when the
> car had been parked with the hand brake on (it's a standard if that
> matters), and the brake was slightly "stuck."
This could have been a frozen cable from a slight break in the jacket
or end bellows or it could have been frozen crud around the exposed
mechanism on the bottom of each rear caliper. Have the dealer show it
to you next time it's up on a lift and you'll understand. Either way,
it's hard to prevent without constant visual inspection. The best
prevention, as others will surely tell you here, is to lubricate the
living hell out of it and use it as often as possible to keep it
moving. Even then, expect it to crap out every few years,
necessitating an obscenely expensive caliper rebuild or (faster and
cheaper) replacement with ~@$200 rebuilt calipers.
> Dealer said the rear rotors (?) were trashed and the car
> needed what sounded like kind of a major re-build of the rear brakes.
Unfortunately, it's about as major as you can get for a system as
'simple' as disk brake calipers.
> But, they kept the car for a week, mostly waiting for parts. I
> questioned why so long for common parts for a relatively new car.
Most people don't use that brake, so the problem simply hasn't been
discovered yet. It's when these cars 'trickle down' to guys like you
and me that it arises. Oddly, as time goes on, the parts get easier
to find. If you're keeping this thing beyond the warranty period, you
might want to look for an independent who can work on it and get in
touch with Blaufergnügen (www.audiquattroparts.com) for parts.
> A week later, same problem, but not as bad, much more
> subtle. The brakes "barely" dragging, but still, not right. Brought
> it back. Now dealer says it will be "at least" a week, and that
> another A4 has been waiting about that amount of time for the
> same/similar parts for the same/similar problem. Service guy
> speculates maybe it's a wide or ing problem, although he
> says there have been no service bulletins.
The service guy is either lying or he's new to Audis. He wouldn't be
far wrong to say, "They *all* do that." I can understand his
reluctance to do so, but if you tell him you already heard it here, he
might open up. ;^)
> THIS time, they say it's the e-brake cable. Seems to me
> this was likely the problem the first time, too, but that they fixed
> the damage caused by the problem the first time, and not the problem
> itself.
Might well be, but you say there *was* less drag, so it's probably
fine.
> 1. Is anyone aware of this as a known problem with the A4?
No; *all* VW/Audi products with rear disk brakes use this moronic
system. You can read about it by doing a Google search here for
threads about it dating from years before yours was even built.
> 2. Should I accept that my brakes were not damaged this time?
In the absence of any evidence otherwise (You can *see* the disks
through the wheels, can't you?), I would.
> 3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
> month, for a 2 year old car?
Not for a Ford or a Chevy. Yes, for an Alfa. Audi's in between.
However, as another poster suggested, you *can* drive the car this
way. First make sure the parking brake is fully disengaged. Then,
just don't use it and don't park on any hills ...
> Can I go to
> another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
> for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
> make any difference?
Nope. Not worth it. Audi's got two decades of 'experience' with this
crap. If they were responsive to logic and input, they would have
changed it long ago.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Not new here)
02-14-2004 | 09:16 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2000 A4 Known Problem W/ E-Brake/Cable?
On 12 Feb 2004 18:19:33 -0800, bradnh@volcanomail.com (brad) wrote:
>Hello and Thank You All for the Good Info I've Learned Here-
>
> November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
>dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect until,
>in January, when (coincidentally?) the weather here in New England
>plunged to the single digits Fahrenheit, I came out one day when the
>car had been parked with the hand brake on (it's a standard if that
>matters), and the brake was slightly "stuck." When you released the
>brake, it didn't "ratchet" down the last inch or so of travel, it did
>go down, but felt strange. The car felt like the brakes were lightly
>applied. It took me a part of the mile drive to my office to figure
>out what was going on. Called the Audi tow program and they towed it
>to the dealer.
>
> Dealer said the rear rotors (?) were trashed and the car
>needed what sounded like kind of a major re-build of the rear brakes.
>But, they kept the car for a week, mostly waiting for parts. I
>questioned why so long for common parts for a relatively new car.
>Never really got a straight/satisfactory answer. I was given a
>loaner under the warranty (still using the balance of the new car
>warranty).
>
> A week later, same problem, but not as bad, much more
>subtle. The brakes "barely" dragging, but still, not right. Brought
>it back. Now dealer says it will be "at least" a week, and that
>another A4 has been waiting about that amount of time for the
>same/similar parts for the same/similar problem. Service guy
>speculates maybe it's a wide or ing problem, although he
>says there have been no service bulletins.
>
> THIS time, they say it's the e-brake cable. Seems to me
>this was likely the problem the first time, too, but that they fixed
>the damage caused by the problem the first time, and not the problem
>itself. This time, they say it's just the cable, but they assure me
>the rear brakes themselves are fine this time, that they look like new
>"just as you'd expect."
>
> I like these guys. This is my second Audi from this
>dealership, and I've always felt they've treated me as fairly as any
>dealership, and honestly. My questions:
>1. Is anyone aware of this as a known problem with the A4?
>2. Should I accept that my brakes were not damaged this time?
>3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
>month, for a 2 year old car? Do I have any choice? Can I go to
>another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
>for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
>make any difference?
>
>Thanks for your collective wisdom,
>
>Brad
The problem lies in the boots for for the e-brake cables. The
cables finish their run vertically and moisture runs down past the
boots inside the cable housing and collects in the lowest point and
freezes. Audi is exausting it's supply of cables and so they're not
readily available. There is some talk of applying a lubricant with
water displacing properties,insted of replacing cables, but nothing
definate yet. I will re-post if I hear anything else. A bottle of
Triflow from the local bike shop would probably do more good than
beating up on the dealer.
douglas
>Hello and Thank You All for the Good Info I've Learned Here-
>
> November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
>dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect until,
>in January, when (coincidentally?) the weather here in New England
>plunged to the single digits Fahrenheit, I came out one day when the
>car had been parked with the hand brake on (it's a standard if that
>matters), and the brake was slightly "stuck." When you released the
>brake, it didn't "ratchet" down the last inch or so of travel, it did
>go down, but felt strange. The car felt like the brakes were lightly
>applied. It took me a part of the mile drive to my office to figure
>out what was going on. Called the Audi tow program and they towed it
>to the dealer.
>
> Dealer said the rear rotors (?) were trashed and the car
>needed what sounded like kind of a major re-build of the rear brakes.
>But, they kept the car for a week, mostly waiting for parts. I
>questioned why so long for common parts for a relatively new car.
>Never really got a straight/satisfactory answer. I was given a
>loaner under the warranty (still using the balance of the new car
>warranty).
>
> A week later, same problem, but not as bad, much more
>subtle. The brakes "barely" dragging, but still, not right. Brought
>it back. Now dealer says it will be "at least" a week, and that
>another A4 has been waiting about that amount of time for the
>same/similar parts for the same/similar problem. Service guy
>speculates maybe it's a wide or ing problem, although he
>says there have been no service bulletins.
>
> THIS time, they say it's the e-brake cable. Seems to me
>this was likely the problem the first time, too, but that they fixed
>the damage caused by the problem the first time, and not the problem
>itself. This time, they say it's just the cable, but they assure me
>the rear brakes themselves are fine this time, that they look like new
>"just as you'd expect."
>
> I like these guys. This is my second Audi from this
>dealership, and I've always felt they've treated me as fairly as any
>dealership, and honestly. My questions:
>1. Is anyone aware of this as a known problem with the A4?
>2. Should I accept that my brakes were not damaged this time?
>3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
>month, for a 2 year old car? Do I have any choice? Can I go to
>another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
>for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
>make any difference?
>
>Thanks for your collective wisdom,
>
>Brad
The problem lies in the boots for for the e-brake cables. The
cables finish their run vertically and moisture runs down past the
boots inside the cable housing and collects in the lowest point and
freezes. Audi is exausting it's supply of cables and so they're not
readily available. There is some talk of applying a lubricant with
water displacing properties,insted of replacing cables, but nothing
definate yet. I will re-post if I hear anything else. A bottle of
Triflow from the local bike shop would probably do more good than
beating up on the dealer.
douglas
02-15-2004 | 02:46 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2000 A4 Known Problem W/ E-Brake/Cable?
Oops, don't know how that brain fart happened, it's an 02 A4, not a
2000 (sorry)- o.p.
warp2_shadow@yahoo.com (C.R. Krieger) wrote in message news:<a8a578a8.0402130717.70522dcc@posting.google. com>...
> bradnh@volcanomail.com (brad) wrote in message news:<74d34be9.0402121819.a18e55b@posting.google.c om>...
> > Hello and Thank You All for the Good Info I've Learned Here-
> >
> > November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
> > dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect
>
> However, with that kind of miles on it, *not driven* regularly.
However, in light of this part of your answer, I guess my mistake
doesn't affect your answer....
> mechanisms. This idiotic Audi 'design feature' has been around for at
> least 20 years now (my '84 4KQ has it) and it still works no better.
> No; *all* VW/Audi products with rear disk brakes use this moronic
> system. You can read about it by doing a Google search here for
> threads about it dating from years before yours was even built.
I will do so, but just from reading some of the other responses to
this post, I'm getting a sense of it. Vertical termination of cable
housing (near rear wheels?) causes freezing of collected water in this
area. Makes sense, I guess I was just lucky that the 97 A4 I just
traded this new one in for after 6 new england winters never had the
problem, and I'd never heard of it.
> > 3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
> > month, for a 2 year old car?
>
> Not for a Ford or a Chevy. Yes, for an Alfa. Audi's in between.
Yep, I see what you mean (former 86 Alfetta GT owner...)
> However, as another poster suggested, you *can* drive the car this
> way. First make sure the parking brake is fully disengaged. Then,
> just don't use it and don't park on any hills ...
I certainly would have been willing to do this had I known it was an
option. But at certain times I couldn't get my brake "unstuck" (it
was in the "stuck" position when I drove it to the dealer, but with
just a slight pull). If I coulda "unstuck" it I would have driven it
that way, especially if I had known it was going to take what's now
going on 2 weeks....
> > Can I go to
> > another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
> > for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
> > make any difference?
>
> Nope. Not worth it. Audi's got two decades of 'experience' with this
> crap. If they were responsive to logic and input, they would have
> changed it long ago.
Yep, you are of course clearly right about this. It's hard to be this
rational when you want your new car back, but I'll try to be....
thanks for your helpful response....
2000 (sorry)- o.p.
warp2_shadow@yahoo.com (C.R. Krieger) wrote in message news:<a8a578a8.0402130717.70522dcc@posting.google. com>...
> bradnh@volcanomail.com (brad) wrote in message news:<74d34be9.0402121819.a18e55b@posting.google.c om>...
> > Hello and Thank You All for the Good Info I've Learned Here-
> >
> > November 1, 2003 purchased a 2000 A4 w/ 18,000 miles from a
> > dealer (w/ audi certified warranty). The car has been perfect
>
> However, with that kind of miles on it, *not driven* regularly.
However, in light of this part of your answer, I guess my mistake
doesn't affect your answer....
> mechanisms. This idiotic Audi 'design feature' has been around for at
> least 20 years now (my '84 4KQ has it) and it still works no better.
> No; *all* VW/Audi products with rear disk brakes use this moronic
> system. You can read about it by doing a Google search here for
> threads about it dating from years before yours was even built.
I will do so, but just from reading some of the other responses to
this post, I'm getting a sense of it. Vertical termination of cable
housing (near rear wheels?) causes freezing of collected water in this
area. Makes sense, I guess I was just lucky that the 97 A4 I just
traded this new one in for after 6 new england winters never had the
problem, and I'd never heard of it.
> > 3. Would you accept waiting a week for brake parts, twice in one
> > month, for a 2 year old car?
>
> Not for a Ford or a Chevy. Yes, for an Alfa. Audi's in between.
Yep, I see what you mean (former 86 Alfetta GT owner...)
> However, as another poster suggested, you *can* drive the car this
> way. First make sure the parking brake is fully disengaged. Then,
> just don't use it and don't park on any hills ...
I certainly would have been willing to do this had I known it was an
option. But at certain times I couldn't get my brake "unstuck" (it
was in the "stuck" position when I drove it to the dealer, but with
just a slight pull). If I coulda "unstuck" it I would have driven it
that way, especially if I had known it was going to take what's now
going on 2 weeks....
> > Can I go to
> > another level without alienating the guys who I have to "live with"
> > for service for the next 80,000 miles, and if I did, is it likely to
> > make any difference?
>
> Nope. Not worth it. Audi's got two decades of 'experience' with this
> crap. If they were responsive to logic and input, they would have
> changed it long ago.
Yep, you are of course clearly right about this. It's hard to be this
rational when you want your new car back, but I'll try to be....
thanks for your helpful response....
02-15-2004 | 02:49 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2000 A4 Known Problem W/ E-Brake/Cable?
Douglas,
Thank you for this very helpful information. Sheesh, why can't the
dealer just tell you this stuff? How could there not be a service
bulletin on it if the parts are getting scarce and the fix (at least
temporary) may be so easy?...
Is the area where the water collects reasonably accessible, so that
you could spray some wd-40 in there?
dogleggs@earthlink.net wrote in message news:<21lt20p8l1t27udvm4qiqp7tut60p2mi7q@4ax.com>. ..
>
> The problem lies in the boots for for the e-brake cables. The
> cables finish their run vertically and moisture runs down past the
> boots inside the cable housing and collects in the lowest point and
> freezes. Audi is exausting it's supply of cables and so they're not
> readily available. There is some talk of applying a lubricant with
> water displacing properties,insted of replacing cables, but nothing
> definate yet. I will re-post if I hear anything else. A bottle of
> Triflow from the local bike shop would probably do more good than
> beating up on the dealer.
>
> douglas
Thank you for this very helpful information. Sheesh, why can't the
dealer just tell you this stuff? How could there not be a service
bulletin on it if the parts are getting scarce and the fix (at least
temporary) may be so easy?...
Is the area where the water collects reasonably accessible, so that
you could spray some wd-40 in there?
dogleggs@earthlink.net wrote in message news:<21lt20p8l1t27udvm4qiqp7tut60p2mi7q@4ax.com>. ..
>
> The problem lies in the boots for for the e-brake cables. The
> cables finish their run vertically and moisture runs down past the
> boots inside the cable housing and collects in the lowest point and
> freezes. Audi is exausting it's supply of cables and so they're not
> readily available. There is some talk of applying a lubricant with
> water displacing properties,insted of replacing cables, but nothing
> definate yet. I will re-post if I hear anything else. A bottle of
> Triflow from the local bike shop would probably do more good than
> beating up on the dealer.
>
> douglas
02-15-2004 | 06:53 PM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2000 A4 Known Problem W/ E-Brake/Cable?
On 15 Feb 2004 11:49:57 -0800, bradnh@volcanomail.com (brad) wrote:
>Douglas,
>
>Thank you for this very helpful information. Sheesh, why can't the
>dealer just tell you this stuff? How could there not be a service
>bulletin on it if the parts are getting scarce and the fix (at least
>temporary) may be so easy?...
>
>Is the area where the water collects reasonably accessible, so that
>you could spray some wd-40 in there?
>
>
>dogleggs@earthlink.net wrote in message news:<21lt20p8l1t27udvm4qiqp7tut60p2mi7q@4ax.com>. ..
>>
>> The problem lies in the boots for for the e-brake cables. The
>> cables finish their run vertically and moisture runs down past the
>> boots inside the cable housing and collects in the lowest point and
>> freezes. Audi is exausting it's supply of cables and so they're not
>> readily available. There is some talk of applying a lubricant with
>> water displacing properties,insted of replacing cables, but nothing
>> definate yet. I will re-post if I hear anything else. A bottle of
>> Triflow from the local bike shop would probably do more good than
>> beating up on the dealer.
>>
>> douglas
This really depends on how much water and how long it's been
in there. Triflow or something similar that has some Teflon in it will
work better. In my experience WD 40 doesn't have much staying power.
This problem is actually different on the '02 and up A4's because the
earlier cables didn't go up vertically. This is also I think, why Audi
hasn't had an answer so quickly. Yes, it has been common to replace
cables in older vehicles, but that is because eventually the housing
coating breaks down so that the metal jacket rusts and binds. Freezing
is a new problem (at least for A4 Audi's). The weather in New England
has been paticularly bad this year, very cold with enough warm wet
days for the water to get in.
To apply Triflow you have to get underneath and find the
rubber boots on the brake calipers and using the small plasic tube
that coms with the bottle, run several drops inside. It may take a
couple of applications to get enough penetration to do some good. Very
good on lock cylinders too this time of year.
good luck
douglas
>Douglas,
>
>Thank you for this very helpful information. Sheesh, why can't the
>dealer just tell you this stuff? How could there not be a service
>bulletin on it if the parts are getting scarce and the fix (at least
>temporary) may be so easy?...
>
>Is the area where the water collects reasonably accessible, so that
>you could spray some wd-40 in there?
>
>
>dogleggs@earthlink.net wrote in message news:<21lt20p8l1t27udvm4qiqp7tut60p2mi7q@4ax.com>. ..
>>
>> The problem lies in the boots for for the e-brake cables. The
>> cables finish their run vertically and moisture runs down past the
>> boots inside the cable housing and collects in the lowest point and
>> freezes. Audi is exausting it's supply of cables and so they're not
>> readily available. There is some talk of applying a lubricant with
>> water displacing properties,insted of replacing cables, but nothing
>> definate yet. I will re-post if I hear anything else. A bottle of
>> Triflow from the local bike shop would probably do more good than
>> beating up on the dealer.
>>
>> douglas
This really depends on how much water and how long it's been
in there. Triflow or something similar that has some Teflon in it will
work better. In my experience WD 40 doesn't have much staying power.
This problem is actually different on the '02 and up A4's because the
earlier cables didn't go up vertically. This is also I think, why Audi
hasn't had an answer so quickly. Yes, it has been common to replace
cables in older vehicles, but that is because eventually the housing
coating breaks down so that the metal jacket rusts and binds. Freezing
is a new problem (at least for A4 Audi's). The weather in New England
has been paticularly bad this year, very cold with enough warm wet
days for the water to get in.
To apply Triflow you have to get underneath and find the
rubber boots on the brake calipers and using the small plasic tube
that coms with the bottle, run several drops inside. It may take a
couple of applications to get enough penetration to do some good. Very
good on lock cylinders too this time of year.
good luck
douglas
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