1027 mi. I just became a statistic, need new engine....
10-18-2003, 07:09 AM
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1027 mi. I just became a statistic, need new engine....
Yesterday was probably the saddest day of my life...
I was cruising at about 60mph on the freeway when my oil light came on and all of a sudden my engine died. Fortunately, I was near the shoulder so I was able to pullover right away. Onstar responded with a flatbed and towed me to Rector Audi in Burlingame. They were pretty busy and had no open appointments but when they found out that my S4 was just two weeks old, they immediately ran some tests. After a few hours, they determined that it needs a new engine. I will find out Monday when I can get a new engine. They gave me a relatively brand new A4 (400 miles) to drive until I get my car back.
I loved this car up to this point and driving the A4 just makes me miss it more. I followed the manual to the book including all you guys suggesting proper break in and warm up procedures. Nobody knows what went wrong.
Depending on how long the car will be away, my salesperson will also find out if Audi will pay for my monthly payments until I get my car back. Everybody (sales and service) I've talked to assured me that Audi will stand behind their car and "make it right" for me. By the way, while I was there, there was also another S4 being serviced which I think is also in trouble but not sure exactly what. I was just told that it stopped for no reason too. (If you're here, let me know)
This was one of my major concerns with buying the S4, having had 3 Lexus cars, and still own one. I know about first year production issues also. But you know what, this car is so awesome that I don't think I regret my decision. I loved it when I had it and I'm sure I'll love it again when I get it back.
Given I've only had the car for 2 weeks and 1027 miles, what are my "reasonable" options guys?
Especially those with similar experiences, please update me on your status, i.e. what happened and what did audi do?
I was cruising at about 60mph on the freeway when my oil light came on and all of a sudden my engine died. Fortunately, I was near the shoulder so I was able to pullover right away. Onstar responded with a flatbed and towed me to Rector Audi in Burlingame. They were pretty busy and had no open appointments but when they found out that my S4 was just two weeks old, they immediately ran some tests. After a few hours, they determined that it needs a new engine. I will find out Monday when I can get a new engine. They gave me a relatively brand new A4 (400 miles) to drive until I get my car back.
I loved this car up to this point and driving the A4 just makes me miss it more. I followed the manual to the book including all you guys suggesting proper break in and warm up procedures. Nobody knows what went wrong.
Depending on how long the car will be away, my salesperson will also find out if Audi will pay for my monthly payments until I get my car back. Everybody (sales and service) I've talked to assured me that Audi will stand behind their car and "make it right" for me. By the way, while I was there, there was also another S4 being serviced which I think is also in trouble but not sure exactly what. I was just told that it stopped for no reason too. (If you're here, let me know)
This was one of my major concerns with buying the S4, having had 3 Lexus cars, and still own one. I know about first year production issues also. But you know what, this car is so awesome that I don't think I regret my decision. I loved it when I had it and I'm sure I'll love it again when I get it back.
Given I've only had the car for 2 weeks and 1027 miles, what are my "reasonable" options guys?
Especially those with similar experiences, please update me on your status, i.e. what happened and what did audi do?
10-18-2003, 07:33 AM
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These are all good questions...
I think we should try and find out build dates for all failures etc. to see if there is anything that points to a certain build week etc. This is starting to look bad as more get announced on cars with over 1000 miles on them.
10-18-2003, 07:34 AM
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Any prior indication of trouble? Oil consumption ? Noise ?
<center><img src="http://images2.fotki.com/v22/photos/4/47296/190949/Beatingheart-vi.gif?1051889674"></center><p>I feel so bad for you -- My heart goes out to you --
Mine (Otto) just turned 2000 miles in just 1 Month.. It is running just fine but I'm getting a little nervous. I take day trips that can be 300 -400 miles in to the Mts (Big Hills)
Do you think not being silver has anything to do with your problem ?
I feel sooo bad for you.. any initial indications as to what area the trouble it might be in ?
Mine (Otto) just turned 2000 miles in just 1 Month.. It is running just fine but I'm getting a little nervous. I take day trips that can be 300 -400 miles in to the Mts (Big Hills)
Do you think not being silver has anything to do with your problem ?
I feel sooo bad for you.. any initial indications as to what area the trouble it might be in ?
10-18-2003, 07:48 AM
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Thanks Ron, no negative indications until the engine just died...
They checked the oil right away and the level was good. I love this car and it was perfect until the engine died. Note, I did not abuse it whatsoever. Never thought it would happen to me but it did. Right now I'm just focused on finding solutions and getting what's fair and reasonable, nothing more.
For all you folks with similar problems, please let me know my options. Thanks.
For all you folks with similar problems, please let me know my options. Thanks.
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10-18-2003, 08:47 AM
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Re: your car dropped a valve, Ben what does this actually mean ?
We all know what the engine looks like inside but I just don't understand what could have happened Did the valve stem bend or fracture ? - did the valve hit the top of the piston ? - the camshaft do something ?
Without really over revving the engine, which we know didn't happen, I just don't understand. If the oil pump failed it would take a little for the engine to stop. It sounds so strange on an engine that has been run for a while -1000 miles -- there are probably no loose parts floating around. The oil light coming on and the engine immediately stopping is really funny ( not ha ha ).
Any speculations any one?
Without really over revving the engine, which we know didn't happen, I just don't understand. If the oil pump failed it would take a little for the engine to stop. It sounds so strange on an engine that has been run for a while -1000 miles -- there are probably no loose parts floating around. The oil light coming on and the engine immediately stopping is really funny ( not ha ha ).
Any speculations any one?
10-18-2003, 09:56 AM
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okay...
Since the valves are sodium filled, they (the head and the stem) need to be spin welded together after they're filled with sodium, which is a process done by friction. Well, at that spin weld the valves are breaking in this new engine (the shortened V8) and allowing the valve to drop into the cylinder, putting a hole in the piston usually and destroying everything in it's wake.
It's a small problem, but it's leading to catastrophic failures. I think the issue could be impurities in the metal in the valve manufacturing process that is causing the weld to fail, or something was messed up in the spin welding process, who knows.
It's a small problem, but it's leading to catastrophic failures. I think the issue could be impurities in the metal in the valve manufacturing process that is causing the weld to fail, or something was messed up in the spin welding process, who knows.
10-18-2003, 10:32 AM
#10
What you say makes sense, but it's odd that all the valve failures thus far seem to be highly
concentrated in cylinder # 7 or 8. Why would all the valve failures be in these specific cylinders? The valves should be interchangeable, I would think. Is it installation or related hardware to these cylinders that is causing the failures? If a fairly large number of the sodium filled valves are subject to this specific type of failure, I smell recall...BTW; sodium metal is some nasty stuff. Makes for a very violent reaction with other metals and moisture in the air.