[A4] Rebuilt 2.8l 12v? Mine is a write-off...

[Brian White]

Sean, 

I'd seriously contemplate getting the BBB involved in your plight.  It seems the mechanic has been 
stringing you on intentionally to get more money, or is completely inept at their job.

Noisy lifters messing up a cam is one thing, but all your subsequent failures are just inexcusable 
especially since they just had the heads off the car.  They should have replaced what they saw as 
bad there and then, or if they failed just after the work, it's almost like it's a result of their 
work.

Seriously, get the BBB involved.  Seems the mechanic didn't do what they should have done.
I wonder if the place has other complaints as well...which you can find out through the BBB (Better 
Business Bureau)

Good luck with it.
Brian



---------- Original Message -----------
From: "Brandon Rogers" <brogers at terrix.com>
To: "Sean Reifschneider" <jafo-audifans at tummy.com>, <a4 at audifans.com>
Sent: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 09:37:25 -0600
Subject: Re: [A4] Rebuilt 2.8l 12v?  Mine is a write-off...

> Frankly, it sound like the mechanic you've been using is building a nice
> retirement nest egg with your money.  Find a new mechanic who knows what
> he's doing.  The whole story just sounds fishy to me..
> 
> Brandon
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Sean Reifschneider" <jafo-audifans at tummy.com>
> To: <a4 at audifans.com>
> Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 3:17 AM
> Subject: [A4] Rebuilt 2.8l 12v? Mine is a write-off...
> 
> > I'm starting to think that the only way we can make any progress with
> > our '97 A4 2.8 is to replace the engine.  I'm not having much luck with
> > finding rebuilders that are well regarded.  Any thoughts on that?
> >
> > We've spent over $6k on the current engine this year, and it's been in
> > the shop something around 8 weeks so far this year.  In the last 6 weeks
> > we've had the car a total of 2 days.
> >
> > It all started back in January with some lifter noise.  Some pictures
> > are at the bottom of:
> >
> >    http://journal.codeslinger.com/getentry.html?stamp=20040107_1544
> >
> > I heard it when I started it up, and took it to the mechanic right away.
> > One totally shot lifter, which also toasted the cam.  In the end I asked
> > them to replace both cam shafts and all the lifters, because having a
> > reliable car is a good thing.
> >
> > Everything was fine until Memorial Day weekend, when the car died in the
> > middle of Nebraska.  Broken timing belt.  The current belt, water pump,
> > and idler pulley should have had only 20k on them, or around 3k since
> > the cam work above.
> >
> > After the repair, within 10 miles of driving, the car died again, as if
> > the belt broke.  Apparently, the belt slipped because the idler was bad.
> > No valves were hurt, the shop replaced the belt and idler at their cost
> > because he had said the idler was fine when replacing the broken belt.
> >
> > We got the car back Saturday afternoon, and within about 10 miles the
> > check engine light came on.  On the way home, within about 20 miles, the
> > car stalled out at a light.  I was able to get it to re-start, but it
> > was running really rough, and the lifters are noisy again.  It idled
> > fine for about a minute, then died out again.  I had it towed back to
> > the mechanic in question and need to go have a chat with them.
> >
> > We love the car, but we're pretty sure that any more money going into the
> > current engine would be a mistake at this point.  I found some
> > indication that a rebuilt engine could be had for around $2500, and I
> > figure about another $1500 for related parts to do an engine swap (might
> > as well do CV boots and clutch at the same time, and there's no way I'm
> > putting the current water pump and idler on there).
> >
> > At this point we've spent $6k on the car, and now I'm talking about
> > another $4k in parts alone to get a car that's worth (at best) $10k
> > running again.  The Audi is obviously worth more to us running than
> > anyone else, but at some point we have to stop pouring cash into this
> > car and just sell it for a fraction of what we've recently put into it.
> >
> > I'd like to be able to keep the Audi, because we really do like it as a
> > car (we've had it since something around 12 miles).  There's not a lot
> > of choice in AWD sedans, particularly of the fit and finish level and
> > features of the Audi.
> >
> > I'd appreciate any comments or pointers to rebuilt engines anyone has.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Sean
> > -- 
> >  "The only thing more expensive than hiring a professional is hiring
> >  an amateur."  -- Red Adair,  Oil Well Fire-Fighter
> > Sean Reifschneider, Member of Technical Staff <jafo at tummy.com>
> > tummy.com, ltd. - Linux Consulting since 1995.  Qmail, Python, SysAdmin
> > _______________________________________________
> > A4 mailing list
> > A4 at audifans.com
> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/a4
> 
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------- End of Original Message -------