Day Audi SUCKS

[James M Dean <aes@idsi.net>]

Craig,

Those guys at Day Audi are a Joke. Find my posts below over the last
couple of weeks. I was travelling and had an emergency and they TRIED to
screw me also. If I were you, I'd cancel the check and then fight it otu
with them. They really don't know what they're doing!


> A few weeks ago I noticed that my V8 would tend to run a little hot when
> at idle. On the road everything was fine; running temp was around 80
> deg. C. However, once the engine was sufficiently heat soaked and I was
> in traffic or at a stop light, I noted that the temp would rise slowly,
> but usually did not exceed 105 deg. C. This was occuring on hot days in
> the summer so I blew it off to the hot days of summer. However, as
> cooler weather approached here in ther northeast, I noticed that my V8
> would tend to run hotter...faster while idling. Sometimes it would reach
> 110 deg. C. I checked the typical cast of suspects including sensors,
> coolant level, etc.
>
> All seemed to be fine, but I was still getting this chronic overheating.
> Eventually, the overheating became more pronounced and more frequent.
> Last week I was in the Pittsburgh area (500 miles from home, of course)
> and the car was overheating above 110 deg. C every time I came to a
> stop. As an emergency measure, I contacted two local dealers (arrrgh)
> and one of them agreed to look at the car. After spending three hours on
> the car, the Service Advisor notified me that they found the thermostat
> stuck in a half open position??. That seemed a little odd to me, because
> I thought that the car would overheat ALL the time if it were a
> thermostat problem, but they convinced me that I had a thermostat that
> was stuck in a intermediate position and that would cure the problem.
> Then they calmly told me that it would be ONLY $268 to change it. I knew
> I was getting raped, but what could I do.
>
> After two more hours they finally finished with my car. The Service
> Advisor then notified me that the NEW thermostat did not "TOTALLY" fix
> the overheating problem. I asked what he meant by "NOT TOTALLY" and he
> said, "well........it overheats when the car idles". I almost hit the
> guy!!
>
> I told him in no uncertain terms that was EXACTLY why I brought the car
> in. After about 30 minutes of some vigorous discussions, he shoved the
> service order in front of me and said, " sign HERE.......no charge". At
> least I avoided a well overpriced thermostat, but still had my
> overheating problem.
>
> I was able to nurse the car back home to New York without much problem
> (interstate all the way). After taking the car to my regular mechanic
> (Greg Hayman @ Autofirme). he diagnosed the problem within 15 minutes.
>
> As I understand it, the main cooling fan is operated on a clutch
> mechanism which receives a signal from a bimetallic strip. The hotter
> the car gets, the more the clutch is engaged. At approximately 105-110
> deg. C the clutch mechanism is supposed to be fully engaged with no
> slippage. We let the car idle and we were able to stop the fan
> (carefully). Therefore, the fan clutch was not fully engaging and was
> not cooling properly.
>
> The fan clutch cost is $195, plus installation.
>
> Thank the Audi Gods for mechanics that know what they're doing!!
>


> Reid,
>
> Sorry to disappoint you, but it was Day down in Monroeville. They seemed
> very
> courteous and really appeared to want to help me, but frankly, I don't
> think
> their mechanic's "really" knew what a V8 was and definitely did not know
> how
> to properly diagnose the problem.
>
> They went for the first "probable" cause right of Mechanics 101
> class.....if
> it's overheating, then it must be the thermostat. I told the Service
> Advisor
> that I did not intend to pay them for "shot gunning" the diagnosis. Any
> shade
> tree mechanic can start replacing parts until something works. But at
> $70/hour, I don't expect trial and error diagnosis.
>
> The next thing he tried to tell him was a possible clogged radiator (second
> probable cause from Mechanics 101). I asked if they had used a boroscope to
> check the radiator and he replied that they would have to "send it out" for
> that level of diagnosis and they could arrange for a rental car and I could
> come back in 3-4 days.........come on! It was obvious they had no clue.
>
> BTW, my mechanic is Greg Hyman of the famed AutoFirme. He is the BEST
> wrench
> around for German marques. He does have this mysterious knowledge of the V8
> that I have yet to see anyone else possess. He has recently moved his shop
> to
> Amenia, which is about 40 minutes from Poughkeepsie out Route 44 east. His
> telephone number is 914-373-0170.
>
> Greg is fair (not cheap) on hours and parts. I've never had to take my car
> back for a repair that was not right. If you decide to try him, tell him I
> sent you, but book him early because he really gets backed up and he gives
> priority to his regular customers.
>
> Good Luck here in the Hudson Valley with Big Blue!
>
> reidpm@us.ibm.com wrote:
>
> > James,
> >
> > Sorry to hear about your overheating problem.   I also hope that your
> > incident with the dealer hasn't sullied your opinion of my beloved
> > hometown.   Ofut of curiosity, which dealer did you go to?  I hope it
> > wasn't Sewickely or Day.   Three Rivers Audi isnt much better, but the
> > best of the three.   Growing up there I'd always take my car to Don
> Bindas
> > Motor's (where I bought it) on Rt 19 in Wexford - north of the city.
> Bill
> > Katz there is a intellegent mechanic who charges reasonable rates.  Just
> > in case you have problems there in the future, I just wanted to recommend
> > him (usual disclaimers here.....)   Finally, I also wanted to ask your
> > opinion
> > of shops in the Westchester/Putnam/Fairfield County area.   I saw that
> you
> > went to Autofirme.   Is this the esteemed gentleman in Pawling?   Any
> > advice
> > on good wrenches out here would be greatly appreciated.   I used
> Rennsport
> > in
> > June, but they were a bit pricy (very heavy on the labor hours.....).
> > Thanks
> > for your input and good luck with your V8.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Reid P. Meyer
> >
> > International Business Machines Corporation
> > Worldwide Consolidation Accounting
> > Phone: (914) 766-0813   Tie-Line 826-0813
> > Fax: (914)766-9066   E-Mail Address: reidpm@us.ibm.com
>


> Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 21:43:46 -0500
> From: "Craig D. Niederst"
> Subject: Why did I take my car to the dealer?
>
> Went to pick my '92 100S up from the dealer this evening (Day Audi in
> Pittsburgh). I took the car in for state inspection / emissions, an
> alignment (since my regular shop said the adjusters were frozen and they
> couldn't do it) and to diagnose three lingering problems that I had: (1)
> Severe shake from front end at highway speeds, (2) Coolant coming out from
> coolant cap even though the car does not overheat and (3) Tranny leak. Car
> passed inspection / emissions. But their answers to my other problems were
> a
> joke. They claimed they could not find a shake from the front end at
> highway
> speeds. But they did say I had a torn CV boot, and possibly a bad CV. They
> quoted me $208 to fix it, but as I found out when I picked it up the $208
> was to replace the ripped boot (they claim the CV was OK)! They pressure
> tested my coolant system, checked the fans, etc and found nothing wrong. I
> posted the conclusion about the tranny leak before, which they said was a
> leak through the casting. They claim it is nothing to worry about. I
> disagree, because enough fluid is leaking for it to drip onto my passenger
> side cat and cause a smell every time I drive the car for more than a short
> run. So on my ride home on the PA turnpike, within 5 minutes of leaving the
> dealer I have my severe high speed shake. Get off at my exit and when I
> stop
> to pay the toll, there's the burning tranny fluid smell. And to boot, when
> I
> go top get change from the ashtray to pay the toll, all of my change is
> gone
> (there was at least $10 in quarters in there when I dropped the car off
> last
> week). I hate to go into the garage right now fearing there will be coolant
> all over the floor. I figured I'd give another dealer a chance with my car
> (already had a bad experience with another dealer before). Big mistake. So
> I
> paid $358 for a state inspection, emissions, alignment and a CV boot
> (actually $368 if you count my stolen change). Can you say monkey lads with
> a capital M? Of course I'll call to complain tomorrow when the service
> manager and monkey lad mechanic are there, but I doubt I'll get any
> satisfaction. Rant mode off.
>
> Craig
> '92 100S (86k)
>


--
James M. Dean (JD)
Applied Energy Services
P.O. Box 60, Fishkill, NY 12524
Tel (914) 486-4134  Fax (914) 486-4701
Pager: (888) 274-7281
e-mail: aes@idsi.net
http://www1.idsi.net/~aes