EPC/Limp Mode/fuel contamination

ugly_em

Good evening, I'm looking for some advice. I've been told that my car, which us still under warranty, has developed a fault (EPC warning light/limp mode) due to fuel contamination and as such isn't covered under warranty. Since last fuelling with the alleged contaminated fuel, I have driven it 240 miles and then kept it in the garage for 3 1/2 weeks before driving another 30 miles before it developed the fault. I would have thought that if it is a fuel contamination issue, it would have developed a fault before I had driven it nearly 300 miles? Does anyone know?
Thanks in advance.

greyteam1959

Get a second opinion would be the thing to do.

ugly_em

Thank you. I have been advised to ask for a sample of the fuel to send off for analysis myself and for details of what the contaminant is.

Grumpy_chap

As greyteam says get a second opinion is the simplest next step.  Don't reinforce the first opinion by giving to the garage you ask for the second opinion.

daveyjp

Some details of the vehicle is always appreciated.

If its brand new the response may be different to that for a 10 year old car which has been serviced twice in 90,000 miles.and has a a 3 month dealers 'warranty'.

Alfrescodave

ugly_em said:

Good evening, I'm looking for some advice. I've been told that my car, which us still under warranty, has developed a fault (EPC warning light/limp mode) due to fuel contamination and as such isn't covered under warranty. Since last fuelling with the alleged contaminated fuel, I have driven it 240 miles and then kept it in the garage for 3 1/2 weeks before driving another 30 miles before it developed the fault. I would have thought that if it is a fuel contamination issue, it would have developed a fault before I had driven it nearly 300 miles? Does anyone know?
Thanks in advance.

Who has said that the fuel is contaminated?   ask for their evidence to support this statement.
Contact the fuel station / fuel company where you last filled up and ask if there have been any other reported problems around that time

ugly_em

Thank you for your post. Audi have said their tests show is a fuel contamination problem but they've not yet sent a sample for analysis.
I've asked for a sample so that I can do an independent analysis. I haven't been able to get through to the fuel station yet due to limited staff because of the pandemic. I'm not confident they'll still have cctv as it was 24 June when I filled up last.

MinuteNoodles

Audi are talking crap if they've not even sent a sample off unless it's so badly contaminated it's visible to the naked eye when looking at it in a glass jar for example. The computer might be telling them it is but it doesn't mean there's actually a problem with the fuel, rather it's a sensor issue. The trouble is your modern mechanic nowadays tends to be incapable of diagnosing much without a laptop and believes what the computer tells them even though common sense clearly demonstrates it's wrong.

ugly_em

They've told me all four injectors are faulty which tells them it's a fuel contamination issue. I've arranged to collect a sample on Monday for independent analysis. 
Audi Assist  (AA) who came to the rescue said they'd had a lot of similar call outs which has been due to computer communication problems due to people not starting/driving their cars for several weeks due to lockdown (last time I drove before this was 4 weeks previously).

ugly_em

daveyjp said:

Some details of the vehicle is always appreciated.

If its brand new the response may be different to that for a 10 year old car which has been serviced twice in 90,000 miles.and has a a 3 month dealers 'warranty'.

It's an Audi A3 Sportback TFSI 1.5 petrol. Less than 3 years old.

MinuteNoodles

ugly_em said:

They've told me all four injectors are faulty which tells them it's a fuel contamination issue.

It does nothing of the sort, it's merely a convenient get out excuse they can foist on the less knowledgeable. Even if there was a fuel contamination issue it wouldn't take out all four injectors.

All four being taken out at the same time by contaminated fuel takes some believing.  If they believe in continuing down this line insist on them handing you over the injectors so you can take them to a fuel injection specialist to confirm they're faulty and what the cause was. I expect that you'll see much sucking of air through teeth and a rapid U turn from the service department and a mysteriously conveniently timed claim of goodwill from Audi by the dealership.