After I punishing city ride last night that had me second-guessing the decision to go with the sport package, I was reading another post here where someone had mentioned to check for shipping blocks in the springs. I just went out to check and sure enough, some brightly colored hockey-pucks are wedged into my front springs. I knew something had to be wrong (tire pressure too high or the blocks still in) when I could literally feel the painted stripes in each crosswalk.

Two questions - can I extract them myself (raise the car and pull out)? -- and are they usually front only or front and rear? I really don't have time to drive all the way to the dealer AGAIN...

Thanks for any help.

since rear is not spring over shock.

....because of future warranty problems with the springs.

I'd call AoA, then have the dealer send a tech out to your home or office to remove them.......

with the way AOA is denying warranties nowadays, it's better to be cautious. Also, they screwed up, make them spend the time and money to take em out and maybet they will not make the same mistake in the future.

I'm sure its just a mistaken on the dealers part, but they should be made aware of it - so they can better educate the 17yr old lot boy that does the PDI.

there is nothing you can do by removing them that would void your warranty.

As for a 17 year old lot boy.. gotta be 18 to be a registered Audi tech.. so no chance of that. Some Dealers have people who specifically just do PDIs.. and they are not lot boys, others have the regular techs do them, generally how stuff like this gets missed because they do not have a system developed to make sure they get every part done. Lots of stuff pertaining to the PDI is not listed anywhere.. you just sort of have to know it.

AOA and just since they are similar VOA almost never void warranties. Dealers refuse warranty service but really have no basis, so little basis they do not even submit it to Audi or VW. It is very difficult for them to actually void a warranty.

Having worked at a dealer in the past I only know of 1 or 2 instances where someones actual warranty was voided by VOA, everything is just the dealer BSing.

having to deal with it sucks. just take it back to them and make them fix it.

it's not paranoia per se, it's just making htem do their job right and alleviating some headaches that MAY occur.

taking it to them becuase it was their job and they didnt' do it is totally different.

I won't apologize for trying to inform people of how things actually work..

dealers and the manufacturer should be synonomous, as the dealer is usually the first line of defense with the buyer.

That is just totally negligent of the dealer!
You could potentially sue him a lot for endangering you and your passengers.

Force him to get someone over, or get them to drop a courtesy car round for you while they sort your car out.

That's a disgrace!
</rant>

Si

I took it to the dealer at lunch and sure enough, the blocks (bright orange) were missed during the PDI. I guess they prep the cars in two steps (when they first arrive on the lot) and then again just before delivery. They were very embarrassed by the whole thing. I only had 200 miles on the car at the time, so its no biggie -- I'm just glad to have a smooth (but still taunt) drive back. Took all of 2 minutes to pop out the blocks.

...I suggested that the dealer do it to prevent future warrany issues with the springs.

The dealer screwed up and now they should fix it. Aside from that, it might teach the PDI guy or gal to be more careful in the future. If he does it himself then there will be a bunch of A3 driving around on shipping blocks......

That aside, I had an XJS-V12HE that started sagging to one side after about 3k kms. The original dealer had left a shipping block on the driver's side and the car sagged when the serviving dealer pulled it out. Had I yanked it out and my springs sagged, then I'd have been the one to pay.....