I'm not happy with AoA's client services. Anyone else?

[Sean_Ford@idx.com]

To:   quattro
You guys will love this...

I've basically sat on my butt when it comes to my "weeping" head gasket.
Things are worsening at a slow rate, but I feel like I should be more
proactive now and track down some financial assistance from Audi if I can
find it.

Just to bring you up-to-date, the head gasket leak was discovered by
AutoBon in Cambridge at roughly 35k miles. The diagnosis was then confirmed
by both Clair Audi (to legitimize it, I guess) and Master Auto Works in
Framingham. My '92 100 now has approximately 39.3k miles and although the
oil consumption is minimal, I'd rather not gamble with it any longer.
Besides, I'm now having a hesitation problem when the engine's cold that
may or may not be a result of the head gasket (loss of compression,
maybe?).

So, I was cruising my Alldata disc this morning and came across: [Group 15,
94-02, Subject: "Engine Oil Leaks, Upper"]

Condition: Accumulation of oil in the V6 engine intake valley because of:
 - Leaking cylinder head gaskets
 - Leaking valley pan gasket (Scott, are you reading this?)

Production: Modified cylinder head gaskets:
 - Part number: 078 103 383 E
 - VIN Number: 4APN100660, 8GPA007244


Well, I'm thinking, "Ah, ha! There was a head gasket change, it (more or
less) lists the reason for the change to be leaking. I'll call AoA back and
see what they have to say."  They, or more to the point, some woman Cheryl
whom I do not hold in high regard, say that the TSB is for a maintenance
upgrade not because of a bad head gasket.

"Not because of a bad head gasket!" When I mentioned to this woman that a
head gasket's sole function is to NOT leak and actually hold the oil inside
the engine, she replies that she not technical and does not have that
information. Great.

Cheryl then goes on to tell me that I should have been taking my car to the
dealership rather than an independent mechanic, because the Audi Authorized
Service would've found the leak SOONER! Can you believe this? I told her
that I was taking my car to a Master Audi Technician trained by Audi.
Doesn't matter to her, apparently all Audi knowledge and skill is sucked
out whenever a mechanic leaves the dealership. What a dead end.

To make matters worse, and probably the reason that I'm on this trail
again, is that my father just received a $1500 refund from FoMoCo for the
head gasket job that he had to have done on his '94 Continental.

I don't know, am I asking for too much? I am the 2nd owner, the car is 6
years old (but it only has 39k miles), and I don't use Audi Authorized
service, I am not Audi's idea of a great customer. Then again, what better
way to build a reputation than to support the product through thick and
thin.

Anyone feel like giving me a reality dope slap?

Sean Ford
'92 Audi 100CS 5-spd 39k mi
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/5528 (with some new pix on the
Audi page)