Audi A4 - Cutting Out

Red29

Hi

I have a 1998 S reg A4 1.6 saloon which has done about 53000 miles.

Recently when I start the car up from cold, say in the morning, it drives off fine but when I next have to stop or slow down say at a corner or junction, as the car is slowing down it just stops suddenly and the dashboard lights come on. There are no judders, noises or anything, the car is just slowing down and then a sudden stop which renders the steering wheel unmovable. This happens only during about the first five minutes of driving.

I took the car to a local garage who couldn't work out what was wrong with it so I bit the bullet and took it to my local audi dealers who I don't really trust.

Any way they have said the fault is caused by the following:

1. The throttle body is full of sludge and oil so needs changing - cost £595.00
2. The temperature coolant is not working - fixing cost £99.00

My problem with this is the following:

1. They won't say if both things combined are causing the problem or if it could be just one. i.e. could fixing just the temperature gauge solve the problem?
2. They have also said if the problem continues after these changes then I will have to pay again - so I could spend £700 and still have the problem.

I would really appreciate some advise could these issues be causing the car problems? Is it worth just getting the temperature coolant fixed first to see if that does the trick? And if changing the throttle body isn't the cause is it worth getting it changed anyway will it cause me other problems down the road?

Many thanks for any help or advise!!

Red

markelock

how much has the local garage quoted? I'd get a second opinion, if only for the price.

the fact that they think they know how to fix it, but that if this doesn't fix it, more work will be done, would make me think they're not 100% sure that they will fix the problem.

hewhoisnotintheknow

clean the sensors yourself

goldspanners

the throttle body should be able to be cleaned, your local garage should have done this as a matter of course when checking for any fault i would have thought.

strip the throttle body and clean it out with brake cleaner.

the coolant, change it yourself,remove the bottom radiator hose,let the old coolant drain off and then refil with the correct type and quantity of antifreeze/water mixture.

Red29

Hi

Thank you all for your replies. I should have posted on my original message that I am a disgrace to all women and have absolutely no clue about doing anything myself to the car!! So I have to rely on the garage!

I think I need to clarify if they are changing or just cleaning the throttle body? Surely £595 would be for a change not just to clean it?

I have been a recommended a couple of other local indep garages by friends so I think I will go there for a second opinion and alternative quotes on both of audi's proposed solutions.

If they have the same view I might try a process of elimination and start with the coolant first.

However, I would really apprciate it if someone could let me know if I do go down the coolant route and that fixes the problem so I leave the throttle body alone will it damage my car if it is as audi say full of oil and sludge?

Thank you for all your assistance - it's like trying to get blood out of a stone trying to get information from the audi staff - they can be quite arrogant at this particular dealership - they probaly think I shouldn't be driving a ten year old car!!!

goldspanners

i doubt the coolany has anything to do with your problem.
the main fault you describe sound like it could be the throttle body full of !!!!.

get a local independant to give it a clean out, it shouldnt cost much at all.

audis price seems ridiculous even to replace the part.

curlyfairy

Dont touch the main Stealers,my next door neighbour works as a mechanic at a main dealer and they charge £120 an hour.The throttle body can be cleaned by yourself or a local garage,do you have one or someone you know to recommend one?Cant understand why changing the coolant will stop a car stalling???If its not been done it is worth doing especially as the car is 10 years old.(dont worry my Audi is 12 years old)
I will have an ask amongst my car chums,will get back to you if i get any info.

Ben.

Lorian

They need to clean the idle control valve in the throttle body and check any vacuum hoses and top-end breather hoses. I've never worked on an Audi but I've done several Vauxhalls with similar symptoms. It usually takes me (very amateur at mechanics) about 60-90 minutes to do. I would have thought £50-£80 would be my target price at an independant garage. forget the dealer, they will just replace it.

Its also worth checking the oil level is not above the top mark as that can sometime help gum up the thorttle boddy. For Vauxhalls (not sure Audi) there is aslo a cheap oil-trap part that can be fitted in the breather hose that helps to stop it from happening again.

Red29

Hi thanks all for your responses.

My understanding re the coolant was that whatever controls the temperature isn't working - so I need to clarify that as well. If it's possibly not the coolant so I were to get the throttle body cleaned - leaving the coolant as it is - would that cause me other problems with the car?

Re the throttle body if I have it cleaned as part of that process will the idle control valve be cleaned and the hoses checked or do I need to specifically say that I want them checked?

Sorry for all these questions but you have all already helped me massively. On Friday when I got the quote I felt sick at the thought of spending £700 and felt I had no chocie but to go with it. However, I have more options to explore now and I feel much better.

I just want to be as fully informed as I can when I grill audi on monday morning - it's the only way I'll get answers from!! But it also helps when I go other garages as well.

goldspanners

Red29 wrote: »

Hi thanks all for your responses.

My understanding re the coolant was that whatever controls the temperature isn't working - so I need to clarify that as well. If it's possibly not the coolant so I were to get the throttle body cleaned - leaving the coolant as it is - would that cause me other problems with the car?

Re the throttle body if I have it cleaned as part of that process will the idle control valve be cleaned and the hoses checked or do I need to specifically say that I want them checked?

Sorry for all these questions but you have all already helped me massively. On Friday when I got the quote I felt sick at the thought of spending £700 and felt I had no chocie but to go with it. However, I have more options to explore now and I feel much better.

I just want to be as fully informed as I can when I grill audi on monday morning - it's the only way I'll get answers from!! But it also helps when I go other garages as well.

forget audi,seriously dont even bother phoning them. dont waste your time because they simply wont care about a 10 year old audi.

take t to an indie, let them deal with it.

Dealwithit

goldspanners wrote: »

forget audi,seriously dont even bother phoning them. dont waste your time because they simply wont care about a 10 year old audi.

take t to an indie, let them deal with it.

I totally agree. Took ours to maufacturer garage last year and it cost me about £1300 for the MOT (problems that would have cost about £500 in any other garage) but we did have the convenience of them giving us a car for a few days (no charge whilst they did the repairs) so swings in roundabouts.