Just joined this forum to say thx as I found this thread really helpfull.
Here's my situation in case it helps someone else.
Bought a 2016 (MY17) second hand S3 convertible in early 2020. Took it in for a service straight after buying it and the techs at Audi identified a waterpump leak which they replaced under warranty. Car had 15000 kms on the odometer when I bought it.
Last year I had a major service and this week I took it in for a minor service at 35,000kms where they identified a leak in the thermostat. Car is now out of warranty and quoted cost was $2,000 AUD. Car had no puddles and no warning lights had come up, the only things to give it away were the fact that I was low on coolant (but not low enough to trigger the warning) and that visual inspection showed traces of fluid leakage so the leak so far must be minor. That should all sound pretty familiar so far...
Where my story differs is that I kicked up a storm and said they should have replaced the thermostat at the same time as the waterpump.
One day and a call from the dealership to the national rep later and low and behold, it's getting replaced under warranty despite the car being out of warranty!!!
Couldn't be happier!!!
From reading here, it looks like the typical excuse that parts that don't exhibit issues don't need to get replaced, even when the work to replace them is just as invasive and they know you'll run into this issue sooner rather than later, has not been used on this occasion, fortunately for me. I guess they considered it warranty on the original replacement of the waterpump even thought that's already been carried out two years ago. Maybe the limited kms I've put on the car due to Covid restrictions has helped out in this regard or maybe it's because Australian general warranty definitions are a lot more elaborate compared to manufacturer warranty, I don't know, but I'll take it! Hope this helps someone plead their case to their dealer when (not if) it happens.
Of course, another storyline could be the following, if you permit me to be a bit of a conspiracy theorist:
- No warning triggered
- I didn't check my coolant fluid level prior to taking it in for service, so it could have actually been fine
- The traces of coolant from the visual inspection (see picture they sent me attached) were still there from when the waterpump was leaking
- Very quick turnaround and approval from the claimed call with their national rep
Conclusion: there is no problem with the thermostat and they thought I wouldn't kick up a storm and/or not remember that the waterpump had already been replaced and/or that I knew the thermostat is connected at the hip with the waterpump so they thought they would just try to earn some extra $$$.
Now that it's become more difficult for them than expected, they now just say it's going to get done under warranty but really they'll just sit on my car for a day and then give it back as-is
Any way I can verify that they've actually replaced the thermostat when I get it back?
Whatever the scenario, still happy that I won't have to worry about this for the immediate future though. Even if my second scenario would be true and they don't actually replace anything, I'll have another stick to beat them with if the thermostat does go off in the next year or so
I'm also starting a thread on wheel alignment so if anyone can have a look there and cast your eyes on a wheel alignment report I got back, that would be great thx
Hi all, I just had some new front tyres put on my 2016 (MY17) S3. The existing ones had been wearing out very unevenly as the previous owner for whatever reason had put positive camber on the fronts... Car understeered like crazy and I didn't like it at all but given that the uneven wear...
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