[s-cars] The dealer's great deal

[Philip Mische]

These are the guys that make everyone hate most dealers - they clearly don't
care a whit about cars.

The way I see it:

1) Magnaflux - in the old days this meant magnetic particle inspection, a
very good and through means of finding cracks in ferrous materials (not
alum).   Magnaflux Corp has 2 means for non-ferrous inspection: Zyglo and
Spotcheck.  I've used them both, Zylgo is much better.  Spotcheck is pretty
crude, but it does find big cracks.  Do a little research on
http://www.magnaflux-online.com/ and make sure everyone's on the same page -
saying "Magnaflux" is not completely descriptive.

2) I can't imagine the head not being flat - this is a canard.

3) They better damn well be on the hook for the all the valves, seats, &
guides.  You cannot say there's no damage just because it's not visible to
the naked eye - the head must be disassembled and inspected by a person
qualified to make a judgment.  If any part doesn't pass out it goes.  Any
work on the head should be by someone known to be good at it, and they'll
surely verify that all the combustion chambers seal with a fluid test before
it leaves the bench.

4) Turbo motors really like the piston tops to have integrity, else they
will be consumed by fire.   It's not just the smite of the valve doinking
the head, it's the wedge of the bent valve getting jammed between the head
and the piston.  All kinds of bad things can happen, again a qualified hi-po
engine person should inspect everything, including the rod and bearings, and
make the call.

In summary you can't really accept an offer before a qualified third party
(obviously not Hoffmann) assesses the damage, unless they take the fast way
out and get a short block from the factory.  I do not think that approach is
all that extreme - they've really made a big mistake here and there are a
lot of unknowns which will take time to verify.  I know you're really sorry
their nitwit broke your engine, but they do have to pick up the pieces - all
the pieces.  And I'm not surprised they're tired of talking to you, they'll
be pulling the burrs out of their ass on this one for a long time.  I think
the listees will have a lot of staying power wrt your predicament.

Phil Mische
95.5 S6, and builder of many motors


----- Original Message -----
From: "David Molk" <rmolk at cox.net>
To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 8:59 PM
Subject: [s-cars] The dealer's great deal


> Hello all:
> I don't know how sick of this you all are, but I, of course, find it
> entertaining in a bizarre way, like picking off a thick scab a crackle
> at a time. Let me know when you have had enough.
>
> First, thank you all again for your help in this matter. As you know, I
> took my wife's 95 S6 in perfect running condition in to the local Audi
> Dealership for routine service a month ago and agreed to the suggested
> timing belt change at 87000 miles. After they cut the timing belt off,
> then loosened the crank pulley, then replaced all and started it up,
> they thought is ran rough and noisy. When the head was pulled, two
> grossly bent valves were obvious in cylinder four where the piston
> smashed them since the valve timing was off. After talking to lawyers
> and the DMV complaint department, I finally got in writing today what
> Hoffman's offer is:
>
> "Magnaflux the cylinder head to check for cracks (performed at machine
> shop)
> check cylinder head for flatness (performed at machine shop)
> Replace two bent valves at the number four cylinder
> Replace all valve stem seals
> Cut the valve seats
> Reassemble and install cylinder head
>
> Our normal warranty is twelve months or twelve thousand miles, which
> ever comes first. Hoffman Audi is willing to warranty the cylinder head
> for any failure due to metal fatigue relating to the two bent valves at
> the number four cylinder for as long as you own the car."
>
> What do you guys think? I better pray the number three valves don't
> fail and aren't bent, as they are not covered. Sure hope the piston
> that smashed the valves and has the score mark on it doesn't fail --it
> is not covered, is it? We all know if you smash the valves, it has no
> effect on the valve guides; that must be why they aren't covered
> either. In fact, if it isn't metal fatigue from the two valves in
> cylinder four, it isn't covered.
>
> The DMV says after I got this in writing, I can tow the car to another
> expert (?dealer?) and get his estimate of repair, which he must be
> willing to testify to as an expert. Then the DMV can go after the
> dealer for breaking the truth in repair laws, if it can be proven that
> they are not planning an adequate repair.
>
> Let me know when you have had enough! Actually, I kind of get the
> feeling the dealer is saying the same thing to me.
>
> Yours,
> Rich Molk
> Disaffected owner of a few cars,
> Audi S6 '95
> Audi A6 '98
> Sunbeam tiger '67 (not the snow car)
> Diesel ford pickup with plow and sander (the daily ride)
>
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