98 A6 problems go on

I hate to complain about this car because when I have it, I love it but things keep happening. A/c Compressor failed, fuel pump noise problems,headlight broken, transmissions seems to slip from time to time(Dealer can't experience it),gas gauge failed. Took two weeks to get parts. Now I hear a noise like lifters banging so I take it in and they tell me it's probably the power steering pump and to come back next week. I get to one mile of my house and the oil pressure signal comes on goes out and stays on. I have the car towed back to Rector Motors and they tell me the light's not on, they can't here the noise now but the will keep the car and call Audi for help.

Car has 34,000 miles on it. I hope the newer A6's are more reliable.

Can you describe what you mean by "slipping transmission?" My boss has a '99 A6, and she swears that in the morning when she puts it in drive and first tries to accelerate, the engine revs, but the car doesn't accelerate. I could not duplicate the problem, nor could the dealer. I described the first gear hold to her (during warmup), but she said that's not what it's doing. She claims it's like the car is in neutral. Is this anything like what you're experiencing? Otherwise, she has not had any problems with the car, and absolutely loves it. Her husband wants her to get a bigger car, but she refuses!

Good luck with your car. I wish I knew what was going on, but I don't. Hopefully, it will get fixed so that you can enjoy the car! :-)

Charles

I've got a 99 A6 Avant.
It seems to do what you described your bosses'
car does. Not all the time and when it does, only
after it hasn't been driven for 8+ hours.
And usually only in the morning; almost never
after work.

It seems that if you just gas it and don't
change throttle angle in doesn't happen.
But if you give it a little throttle, lift
then give it throttle again is where it will
happen. And once you've driven about 100 ft or
so it won't happen.

...backs out of the garage fine, and then it does it soon after starting to move forward. After about 100 ft or so (just like you said), it is fine. I wonder if it is something in the transmission ECU programming. I drive an A4 Tiptronic which does not exhibit that behavior, and they have the same transmission. However, it seems like the shift programming is different on the A6, and also the A6 has better engine breathing. maybe that has an effect on how the transmission acts? I'll have to ask her if it is still doing it. The car has about 9K miles on it now, i think. If you find out anything, please post the answer. I will post if i find out anything also! :-) Thanks!

Charles
Also in Seattle! (well, Issaquah, actually)

As long as you let them make the car your problem, they will. Time to make it their problem.

Document how many times, and for what duration, the car has been out of service, then examine your state's consumer protection laws. If you've exceeded, or are even close to the levels where the law comes into play, invite them to take the car back.

If they cooperate, you my want to try another one. My A6 Avant has been trouble free so far, and so have most others. Audi has been quietly repurchasing problem cars when things like this happen, so make sure you're dealing with the regional service rep, not your dealer.

If they try to force you into arbitration, do whatever you can to bury them, including contacting the local news media.

If this seems harsh, remember, you kept your part of the bargain, you paid them for the goods. Now it's time for them to make good on their end.

jm

My 1999 A6 Avant is in the body shop waiting for a backordered Fender (over 2 weeks now). I was having problems with the Transmission (when cold) idling very high and not coming back down immediately. Only had 1400 miles on it when the idle stayed high 4 or 5 times as I quickly braked, finally resulting in a rear ender which I believe resulted from this problem. While I'm waiting for the Fender I had the dealer check it our and they adjusted a chip-recalibrated it to ajust the idle? We'll see after it is finally out of the body shop if it still does it.

I read in a magazine review a few months ago that the tester was complaining that when driving the car 'from cold', for example first thing in the morning, the car was an absolute slug until the Quattro drivetrain warmed up. That could be part of the problem being experienced here.

it's really just a car. If you're having this much trouble you can't enjoy it, so pursue your options under the lemon law or sell it and try something else ... maybe a new A6.

Okay, I remembered to try and make it happen after
work today. When I first got the car I thought it
had to do with cool temperatures since I got it
in February but that doesn't make too much sense
since I park in my garage. Plus it was 70 when I
left work according to my dash. I think what
happens is that I've learned how not to make it
happen so I drive even more gently than before
when first starting it.

It definitely feels *like* a slipping transmission
but I'm not really too worried about it since it
only does it when cold and only for such a short
distance. I remember my first car's (69 firebird
with powerglide 2 speed automatic!) transmission
would slip when it was low on fluid.

Oh, and I lied, I'm actually in Bellevue.