shortshifter

Hi members, i am new to this board although i have been reading and searching for a few weeks now, i haven't posted until now.

The reason for my post as you can tell is that i am having trouble with my 2000 A4 1.8T. the engine turns but will not start. The symptoms were, that the red oil light came on (onboard display), it beeped out loud, i drove it home about 4 miles and planned on taking it to the mechanic the next morning. Next morning comes, i try to start the car and it would not start, it kept turning, but would not start.

So, i towed it the mechanic, the one who's been working on the car since i bought it used at 33K miles (maintenance, servicing etc) and according to him the problem was that due to lack of Oil pressure, the Camshaft tensioner did not get lubricated along with the chain belt, and led to frictional burning of the tensioner resulting in the timing getting messed up and eventually caused the Camshafts to get misaligned this led to the piston hitting the valve and the valves getting bent.

Now he attributed this to the filter getting clogged due to sludge and hence not letting the oil through to between the tensioner and the chain.

The total damage to fix this would be 6K(dealer) or 4K(non dealer).

So my question to you guys is,

1) whether this makes sense and can the above described events be attributed to what the mechanic claims.

2) Another question is that i have heard of Audi having extended the warranty on the 4cylinder engines upto 150K miles due to known sludging problems, so would this case qualify under the warranty.

3) Should i get it checked by the dealership and can i trust them to give me the correct diagnosis?

4) i live in Boston and i know of Autobahneast, the name of the mechanic is Chip and he's known to be very ethical, should i get it checked by him as well to get a second opinion before i take the car to the dealership (for a third opinion)?

I would really appreciate your replies and any advice, help that you might be able to give on this, since i am relatively new to this.

Thanks for your time.

-SS

cowboynj

I have a 2000 A4 1.8tq as well. I'm done with Audi's. I just authorized my wife to spend the extra $6000 and get a 2002 BMW 330xi. I have a 330ci with 84,000 miles and maintenance has cost me $300 in 6 years. These things are engineering abominations and an auto mechanics dream. Good luck with your situation. I hope it is covered under warranty.

4Driver4

If you are the original owner and can prove oil changes, you might have some luck with Audi. worth a try regardless. Good luck.

qfrog Ti20

I don't think the 1.8T is a mechanic's dream by a long shot.

cowboynj

If you can keep it under 2700 then go ahead and fix this POS. If I drive it another year maybe I can sell it and get some of the money back. I'll just pray the turbo doesn't go. I am fine with the clutch. This thing doesn't make enough power to warrant a new clutch. lol

CT

4Driver4

That's not what he means. Dealing with sludge and other issues is not a mechanic's dream.

ScratchRob13

if you don;t change your oil on regular intervals, well that is what happens