Hi all,<p>Thought I will share my recent (bad) experience with my 8 months old Audi A4 1.8 TQ. <p>I was taking 3 of my colleagues in my car to office on friday( 11/6) morning. It was cold and little breezy and there was a traffic jam coz of an accident. Suddenly I could smell something burning. With in a minute my cluch was going inside. I mean it's not coming up when I realease it and rpm is increasing. I had a real tough time to pull over. There is a hell lot of smoke coming out of hood. I felt like something related to cluch is burnt.<br>I towed it to nearest dealer (Bell Audi, Rahway, NJ) around 12 noon and still waiting for him to have a look at car (11/9 - 11.45AM). I had to wait on the road for more than 3 hours on the road in this process. I didn't feel that bad when my car broke down, but it ws annoying when my honda and toyota friends ask me if it is normal to have these kind of problems with Audi's.<p>I had a car starting probelm just after 2 weeks I bought the car. My dealer said it's coz clutch circuitry wasn't getting connected and they replaced it.<p>Now my car is 8 months old. I am really wondering if I should expect more problems with A4 or it is just that I am unlucky. :-((<p>I really love driving my Audi than any other thing.<p>Regards,<br>Pratap

Pratap, <br>I hope everything works out well with your car. I honestly don't think Bell Audi has any knowledge about Audis and that's why they don't know what's going on with your car. After Bell Audi "fixes" it, I'ld bring it up to Audi of Bernardsville and have them check it out to be safe. <p>Jason<br>98.5 1.8T pearlescent

Jason,<p>It's really a great peice of advice. I will surely take it to someother dealer once Bell Audi returns my car. I am in kind of hurry mood as I am moving to VA soon. I thought repairing at Bell may work out fast as it is very close to my office and didn't want to give to Princeton Audi. Not that Princeton Audi service is bad, I bought my car there and had the first problem fixed there. I am little doubtful about my first problem (mentioned in my previous post), so I decided to give a try at other dealer.<p>I observed a small change in Bell Audi recently. They removed Saab from their name plate and u don't see any Saab's in showroom. They also appointed a new assistant (Jennifer) at service department. So if u go there for service, u will have to talk to her and getting Todd (service mgr) to talk to isn't easy. Me having little knowledge about cars and having to explain about a car problem to no-car-knowledge person wasn't at all easy either.<p>One thing I appreciate about Todd is they gave me a rental car though I didn't buy car from them. but i returned this car to them within hours coz I didn't like driving escort. I rented grandcheroke on my own.<p>Regards,<br>prata

Pratap,<br>I too bought my car from Princeton in July, but since then I moved further up North and so now I'm in between Audi of Bernardsville and Paul Miller in Parsippany. I liked the guys at Princeton (Jim I think was the service guys name). He definitely knew what he was doing and was on-the-level. The whole Bell Audi place gave me the creeps and I always ended up frustrated with them about everything. Plus, I that whole Saab thing was weird. I would talk about an Audi and they'ld talk about a Saab. I was like "hello..are you listen to what I'm saying??"..anyways, also don't go to Paul Miller cause they are just stuck up. Audi of Bernardsville I have nothing but praise for. I know a lot of other fellow A4.org people like them too. Well, I wish u luck, etc....<p>Jason<br>98.5 1.8T pearlescent

If you are ever traveling in the Atlanta area and in need of a repair I have had great service from Jim Ellis AUDI in Marietta GA.<p>My 96 A4Q Auto...hasn't missed a beat or at least one that hasn't been fixed correctly the first time except the dam cup holder..it's been replaced three times<p>Good Luck<p>Chris<br>Chattanooga, TN

Princeton Audi doesn't seem to be aware of it.

Actually Saab USA is restructuring their dealer network. They want Saab ONLY dealers. This has caused quite the stir with the Saab fans.<p>-randy<br>

However, Saab Canada was restructing Canadian's Saab dealer network from individual Saab dealers into a Saab/Saturn/Isuzu dealer network. This has caused a lot of complains here in Canada since then. The treat of being a lower class citizens at the service department, assigned a flimsy Saturn SL1 courtesy car at every oil change and less attention to details of some service details. That's why Saabs in Canada not sell as well as south of the border.<br>Tom<br>97 A4 1.8TQM

Thanks for all those who replied to me. This may be of some use to those who are planning to go to Bell Audi in NJ.<p>I called up Bell Service Dept. today to find out if they fixed the problem in my car. After 3 days they say, they test drove it and there is no problem.<p>Asked them about the smoke and the burnt thing.<br>(service dept) >> I don't know. it runs fine.<br>What about that burning smell. Didn't you see that when I towed in my car?<br>>> Yes, I still see that. We are not able to figure out. I will test drive it once again and see.<p>I called them after 1 hour and the response is there is no problem with the car and I can take it.<p>I collected the car and it stinks like any thing. burnt smell is still there.<p>I am driving this to Bernardville Audi tomorrow. I hope they can figure out something. <p>Regards<br>Pratap<br>98 A4 1.8 TQ Cactus Green

Of course by Audi law if they are aware that you chipped your car and you have engine problems it can't be under warranty.<p>