On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:26:59 +0000, tockeyhockey@gmail.com wrote:

>Thanks for the truly worst case scenario!
>
>I have had the car in the shop at least once every two months over the
>past year. It just seems to me like audi didn't take much time in
>building this car right. how can a supposed "luxury car" have more
>reliability problems than a hyundai?

While most may consider a them a reliable automobile, Hyundais do not even
come close to the driving experience your A4 should provide you with.
That's not even a fair comparison. Audi's engineering on everything from
the suspension to it's electronics is a lot more sophisticated than your
average Hyundai grocery getter. The cars are geared to different
audiences; which one do you enjoy driving more?

>anyway, i am going to drive the car home and take it to my mechanic
>tomorrow morning. i'll report back on what i find out.

 

On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:26:59 +0000, tockeyhockey@gmail.com wrote:

>Thanks for the truly worst case scenario!
>
>I have had the car in the shop at least once every two months over the
>past year. It just seems to me like audi didn't take much time in
>building this car right. how can a supposed "luxury car" have more
>reliability problems than a hyundai?

While most may consider a them a reliable automobile, Hyundais do not even
come close to the driving experience your A4 should provide you with.
That's not even a fair comparison. Audi's engineering on everything from
the suspension to it's electronics is a lot more sophisticated than your
average Hyundai grocery getter. The cars are geared to different
audiences; which one do you enjoy driving more?

>anyway, i am going to drive the car home and take it to my mechanic
>tomorrow morning. i'll report back on what i find out.

 

On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:26:59 +0000, tockeyhockey@gmail.com wrote:

>Thanks for the truly worst case scenario!
>
>I have had the car in the shop at least once every two months over the
>past year. It just seems to me like audi didn't take much time in
>building this car right. how can a supposed "luxury car" have more
>reliability problems than a hyundai?

While most may consider a them a reliable automobile, Hyundais do not even
come close to the driving experience your A4 should provide you with.
That's not even a fair comparison. Audi's engineering on everything from
the suspension to it's electronics is a lot more sophisticated than your
average Hyundai grocery getter. The cars are geared to different
audiences; which one do you enjoy driving more?

>anyway, i am going to drive the car home and take it to my mechanic
>tomorrow morning. i'll report back on what i find out.

 

On Jul 23, 6:36 am, Madesio <em...@invalid.address> wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:26:59 +0000, tockeyhoc...@gmail.com wrote:
> >Thanks for the truly worst case scenario!
>
> >I have had the car in the shop at least once every two months over the
> >past year. It just seems to me like audi didn't take much time in
> >building this car right. how can a supposed "luxury car" have more
> >reliability problems than a hyundai?
>
> While most may consider a them a reliable automobile, Hyundais do not even
> come close to the driving experience your A4 should provide you with.
> That's not even a fair comparison. Audi's engineering on everything from
> the suspension to it's electronics is a lot more sophisticated than your
> average Hyundai grocery getter. The cars are geared to different
> audiences; which one do you enjoy driving more?
>
> >anyway, i am going to drive the car home and take it to my mechanic
> >tomorrow morning. i'll report back on what i find out.

I'm not going to argue that point! As I was driving this morning, i
took one nice sweeping turn in third gear, pushed the throttle down,
and felt the thing just hug to the road. I almost welled up because I
knew I just can't afford to keep a car that is costing me several
thousands of dollars more per year in maintenance. The thought of
getting a japanese or korean grocery getter breaks my heart. But I am
very near that point.

I decided not to take it into the shop this morning when they said
they couldn't look at it until tomorrow. I have to get to the airport
for a trip tomorrow morning, so this issue will have to wait.
However, while driving this morning the "coolant low" light went on.
I have started a new thread to discuss this issue.

 

On Jul 23, 6:36 am, Madesio <em...@invalid.address> wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:26:59 +0000, tockeyhoc...@gmail.com wrote:
> >Thanks for the truly worst case scenario!
>
> >I have had the car in the shop at least once every two months over the
> >past year. It just seems to me like audi didn't take much time in
> >building this car right. how can a supposed "luxury car" have more
> >reliability problems than a hyundai?
>
> While most may consider a them a reliable automobile, Hyundais do not even
> come close to the driving experience your A4 should provide you with.
> That's not even a fair comparison. Audi's engineering on everything from
> the suspension to it's electronics is a lot more sophisticated than your
> average Hyundai grocery getter. The cars are geared to different
> audiences; which one do you enjoy driving more?
>
> >anyway, i am going to drive the car home and take it to my mechanic
> >tomorrow morning. i'll report back on what i find out.

I'm not going to argue that point! As I was driving this morning, i
took one nice sweeping turn in third gear, pushed the throttle down,
and felt the thing just hug to the road. I almost welled up because I
knew I just can't afford to keep a car that is costing me several
thousands of dollars more per year in maintenance. The thought of
getting a japanese or korean grocery getter breaks my heart. But I am
very near that point.

I decided not to take it into the shop this morning when they said
they couldn't look at it until tomorrow. I have to get to the airport
for a trip tomorrow morning, so this issue will have to wait.
However, while driving this morning the "coolant low" light went on.
I have started a new thread to discuss this issue.

 

On Jul 23, 6:36 am, Madesio <em...@invalid.address> wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:26:59 +0000, tockeyhoc...@gmail.com wrote:
> >Thanks for the truly worst case scenario!
>
> >I have had the car in the shop at least once every two months over the
> >past year. It just seems to me like audi didn't take much time in
> >building this car right. how can a supposed "luxury car" have more
> >reliability problems than a hyundai?
>
> While most may consider a them a reliable automobile, Hyundais do not even
> come close to the driving experience your A4 should provide you with.
> That's not even a fair comparison. Audi's engineering on everything from
> the suspension to it's electronics is a lot more sophisticated than your
> average Hyundai grocery getter. The cars are geared to different
> audiences; which one do you enjoy driving more?
>
> >anyway, i am going to drive the car home and take it to my mechanic
> >tomorrow morning. i'll report back on what i find out.

I'm not going to argue that point! As I was driving this morning, i
took one nice sweeping turn in third gear, pushed the throttle down,
and felt the thing just hug to the road. I almost welled up because I
knew I just can't afford to keep a car that is costing me several
thousands of dollars more per year in maintenance. The thought of
getting a japanese or korean grocery getter breaks my heart. But I am
very near that point.

I decided not to take it into the shop this morning when they said
they couldn't look at it until tomorrow. I have to get to the airport
for a trip tomorrow morning, so this issue will have to wait.
However, while driving this morning the "coolant low" light went on.
I have started a new thread to discuss this issue.

 

On Jul 23, 6:36 am, Madesio <em...@invalid.address> wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:26:59 +0000, tockeyhoc...@gmail.com wrote:
> >Thanks for the truly worst case scenario!
>
> >I have had the car in the shop at least once every two months over the
> >past year. It just seems to me like audi didn't take much time in
> >building this car right. how can a supposed "luxury car" have more
> >reliability problems than a hyundai?
>
> While most may consider a them a reliable automobile, Hyundais do not even
> come close to the driving experience your A4 should provide you with.
> That's not even a fair comparison. Audi's engineering on everything from
> the suspension to it's electronics is a lot more sophisticated than your
> average Hyundai grocery getter. The cars are geared to different
> audiences; which one do you enjoy driving more?
>
> >anyway, i am going to drive the car home and take it to my mechanic
> >tomorrow morning. i'll report back on what i find out.

I'm not going to argue that point! As I was driving this morning, i
took one nice sweeping turn in third gear, pushed the throttle down,
and felt the thing just hug to the road. I almost welled up because I
knew I just can't afford to keep a car that is costing me several
thousands of dollars more per year in maintenance. The thought of
getting a japanese or korean grocery getter breaks my heart. But I am
very near that point.

I decided not to take it into the shop this morning when they said
they couldn't look at it until tomorrow. I have to get to the airport
for a trip tomorrow morning, so this issue will have to wait.
However, while driving this morning the "coolant low" light went on.
I have started a new thread to discuss this issue.

 

On Jul 22, 11:11 pm, Tony <tonyjNOS...@NOSPAMvisi.com> wrote:
> >> I really do hope that your clunking doesn't turn out to be serious.
>
> >> Peter.
>
> > thanks for the wishes. i bought this car with 28,000 miles on it and,
> > granted, i have driven it hard. a lot of city driving on the barely
> > paved streets of baltimore. but i have had a bad thermometer, two bad
> > vacuum lines, and now this issue all in about a year. add that to
> > regular service and my bill is really rising.
>
> > i drove home today from the shore, probably about 150 miles. the
> > clunking was there at low speeds, when driving out of a toll booth for
> > instance, but there was nothing noticeable at highway speeds.
>
> > also, as a slight adjustment to my original post: i now do not
> > believe that the noise is in any way connected to vibrations that i
> > can feel through the steering wheel. i studied that as much as i
> > could, and there was no correlation between the sound, a bump in the
> > road, or vibrations through the steering wheel.
>
> > if the problem truly were related to the bushings, wouldn't the thunks
> > come during moments of turning, accelerating, or hitting road bumps?
> > as far as i can tell, the noise is MORE likely to happen when
> > traveling slowly on smooth roads in first or second gear at a steady
> > pace.
>
> > it's very strange.
>
> > i also noticed that my door has recently gotten a little creaky when i
> > open and close it. the sound is a very similar pitch to the thunk i'm
> > describing. is it possible that the door swing mechanism is creating
> > the noise, even when closed? i'm going to spray some WD-40 on it to
> > see if that helps.
>
> > also, is there anything that a ley-person could see regarding bad
> > control arms from an unsprung inspection? cracks? leaks? is there
> > any portion of the assembly i should particularly look at?
>
> > any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> If it is due to control arm bushings you could reach in to the joints
> while the car is sitting on the ground and feel for any play.
>
> Again while siting on the ground get a good hold of each front tire with
> both hands and try to shake it in / out at the top and back and forth
> when holding it at 9 / 3 O'clock as if it is steering. If you feel any
> clunks or other mechanical sounds this may be your problem.
>
> Another thing that can happen is that the rubber sway bar mounts can
> deteriorate and cause sounds. You might be able to detect this by trying
> to bounce each front corner of the car by pushing on the bumper. Don't
> try thi when pushing on and plastic trim or sheet metal as it cound be
> damaged.
>
> Another thing to look for is leaks in the fluid filled engine mounts. If
> the leak the engine drops down a bit and can cause components to hit
> things they are near.

I did these tests just now, and there was no fluid, I could not
replicate any sound while "sitting" on the car to make it move up and
down. But when I pulled outward on the tire, as you said, there was a
"ting" noise of metal hitting metal on some of my harder pulls. This
sound did not sound like the clunk that I hear when I am driving and
there wasn't any real perceptible "play" in the wheel. The noise I
hear while driving is much more muted than this noise was, and, I
believe, louder.

 

On Jul 22, 11:11 pm, Tony <tonyjNOS...@NOSPAMvisi.com> wrote:
> >> I really do hope that your clunking doesn't turn out to be serious.
>
> >> Peter.
>
> > thanks for the wishes. i bought this car with 28,000 miles on it and,
> > granted, i have driven it hard. a lot of city driving on the barely
> > paved streets of baltimore. but i have had a bad thermometer, two bad
> > vacuum lines, and now this issue all in about a year. add that to
> > regular service and my bill is really rising.
>
> > i drove home today from the shore, probably about 150 miles. the
> > clunking was there at low speeds, when driving out of a toll booth for
> > instance, but there was nothing noticeable at highway speeds.
>
> > also, as a slight adjustment to my original post: i now do not
> > believe that the noise is in any way connected to vibrations that i
> > can feel through the steering wheel. i studied that as much as i
> > could, and there was no correlation between the sound, a bump in the
> > road, or vibrations through the steering wheel.
>
> > if the problem truly were related to the bushings, wouldn't the thunks
> > come during moments of turning, accelerating, or hitting road bumps?
> > as far as i can tell, the noise is MORE likely to happen when
> > traveling slowly on smooth roads in first or second gear at a steady
> > pace.
>
> > it's very strange.
>
> > i also noticed that my door has recently gotten a little creaky when i
> > open and close it. the sound is a very similar pitch to the thunk i'm
> > describing. is it possible that the door swing mechanism is creating
> > the noise, even when closed? i'm going to spray some WD-40 on it to
> > see if that helps.
>
> > also, is there anything that a ley-person could see regarding bad
> > control arms from an unsprung inspection? cracks? leaks? is there
> > any portion of the assembly i should particularly look at?
>
> > any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> If it is due to control arm bushings you could reach in to the joints
> while the car is sitting on the ground and feel for any play.
>
> Again while siting on the ground get a good hold of each front tire with
> both hands and try to shake it in / out at the top and back and forth
> when holding it at 9 / 3 O'clock as if it is steering. If you feel any
> clunks or other mechanical sounds this may be your problem.
>
> Another thing that can happen is that the rubber sway bar mounts can
> deteriorate and cause sounds. You might be able to detect this by trying
> to bounce each front corner of the car by pushing on the bumper. Don't
> try thi when pushing on and plastic trim or sheet metal as it cound be
> damaged.
>
> Another thing to look for is leaks in the fluid filled engine mounts. If
> the leak the engine drops down a bit and can cause components to hit
> things they are near.

I did these tests just now, and there was no fluid, I could not
replicate any sound while "sitting" on the car to make it move up and
down. But when I pulled outward on the tire, as you said, there was a
"ting" noise of metal hitting metal on some of my harder pulls. This
sound did not sound like the clunk that I hear when I am driving and
there wasn't any real perceptible "play" in the wheel. The noise I
hear while driving is much more muted than this noise was, and, I
believe, louder.

 

On Jul 22, 11:11 pm, Tony <tonyjNOS...@NOSPAMvisi.com> wrote:
> >> I really do hope that your clunking doesn't turn out to be serious.
>
> >> Peter.
>
> > thanks for the wishes. i bought this car with 28,000 miles on it and,
> > granted, i have driven it hard. a lot of city driving on the barely
> > paved streets of baltimore. but i have had a bad thermometer, two bad
> > vacuum lines, and now this issue all in about a year. add that to
> > regular service and my bill is really rising.
>
> > i drove home today from the shore, probably about 150 miles. the
> > clunking was there at low speeds, when driving out of a toll booth for
> > instance, but there was nothing noticeable at highway speeds.
>
> > also, as a slight adjustment to my original post: i now do not
> > believe that the noise is in any way connected to vibrations that i
> > can feel through the steering wheel. i studied that as much as i
> > could, and there was no correlation between the sound, a bump in the
> > road, or vibrations through the steering wheel.
>
> > if the problem truly were related to the bushings, wouldn't the thunks
> > come during moments of turning, accelerating, or hitting road bumps?
> > as far as i can tell, the noise is MORE likely to happen when
> > traveling slowly on smooth roads in first or second gear at a steady
> > pace.
>
> > it's very strange.
>
> > i also noticed that my door has recently gotten a little creaky when i
> > open and close it. the sound is a very similar pitch to the thunk i'm
> > describing. is it possible that the door swing mechanism is creating
> > the noise, even when closed? i'm going to spray some WD-40 on it to
> > see if that helps.
>
> > also, is there anything that a ley-person could see regarding bad
> > control arms from an unsprung inspection? cracks? leaks? is there
> > any portion of the assembly i should particularly look at?
>
> > any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> If it is due to control arm bushings you could reach in to the joints
> while the car is sitting on the ground and feel for any play.
>
> Again while siting on the ground get a good hold of each front tire with
> both hands and try to shake it in / out at the top and back and forth
> when holding it at 9 / 3 O'clock as if it is steering. If you feel any
> clunks or other mechanical sounds this may be your problem.
>
> Another thing that can happen is that the rubber sway bar mounts can
> deteriorate and cause sounds. You might be able to detect this by trying
> to bounce each front corner of the car by pushing on the bumper. Don't
> try thi when pushing on and plastic trim or sheet metal as it cound be
> damaged.
>
> Another thing to look for is leaks in the fluid filled engine mounts. If
> the leak the engine drops down a bit and can cause components to hit
> things they are near.

I did these tests just now, and there was no fluid, I could not
replicate any sound while "sitting" on the car to make it move up and
down. But when I pulled outward on the tire, as you said, there was a
"ting" noise of metal hitting metal on some of my harder pulls. This
sound did not sound like the clunk that I hear when I am driving and
there wasn't any real perceptible "play" in the wheel. The noise I
hear while driving is much more muted than this noise was, and, I
believe, louder.