luluaudi

With just 6000 km on this car, so far it drives great except for the following annoying problems. I wonder if anyone can help me to resolve them as I am just about drown with frustration:

1. Passenger side windshield wiper can't clean properly; the windshield fluid can't seem to reach half way up the windshield when driving over 40 km/hr. Seemed to work fine while being tested indoor at the dealership. But never seem to work while on the road. Because the mechanic can't see the problem, the dealer cannot fix it. It is just very annoying since this can be a serious safety issue if not fixed. Personally, I think this looks like a design overkill issue making an otherwise very simple mechanism overly difficult to fix.

2. The driver side side mirror adjustment motors does not work as well as the passenger side side mirror. Looks like a manufacturing defect to me again. But again is an up hill battle to convince an Audi mechanic that German do make errors and this is a proof.

3. Can't seem to be able to bring the car to a smooth stop; the brake always seem to lock up at the last few inches before the car come to a full stop. The jerking feeling at the full stop is very annoying; it is strong enough to spill your coffee if you are holding the cup while the car come to a stop no matter how gently you apply the brake. Thinking that this may be a transmission issue, I tried putting the car in neutral while braking but the brakes still lock up. I complained to the dealership and I was told that the jerking motion is normal and that trying to bringing the car to a smooth stop is not what Audi is designed for. They said I was driving like a chauffeur and this is too much to ask for a Audi. However, they can't answer my question why every American and Japanese car can do that and a premium German engineered cannot do it.

Looks like I am getting a snow job from the dealer. I almost think that may be I have been too spoiled by the level of care that I have been getting from my old Lexus services.

WasGTIguy

Easy enough fix, just re aim the passenger jets.


Settle down there tiger. These things do happen. Probably a faulty switch. No vehicle with as many gadgets as the euro boxes go completely problem free.

I have driven numerous 09-10 and never noticed that. Could be user error. I go to Pffaf Motors in Vaughan. Just north of Toronto near Wonderland. They've been great to me, and helped with any issues I have had.


Remeber you do have a warranty and if you think you're dealer is screwing you, then go to another dealer to have it checked. Part of your problem might be your attitude. If you went into the dealer preaching defect this and defect that, then you can expect some throw back.

luluaudi

Thanks for the heads-up.

With respect to the windshield fluid jet, the spray reaches the top of the windshield when the dealer tested indoor and said there is nothing wrong with it. However, when driving 40km and over the spray can only reach the lower half of the wind shield. I am not sure whether there is just one pump driving both nozzles or two. There may be a blockage in the fluid line or something that caused imbalance in the water pressure between the jets; leading to one jet being normal and the other with insufficient pressure to overcome the windshield airflow pressure.

I will report back later with the side mirror issue.

With respect to the braking problem, I have been driving over 30 years and never had a similar problem or experienced this kind of brake issue before. Several drivers have complained to me about the same issue when driving my car. It just can't be an user issue. We had just picked up a new Benz 300 4matic this year and have never had this kind of problem even when we first pick up the new car.
What gets me was the attitude issue, you have raised. The supervisor of the dealer said the locking up of the brake is normal as his Audi over the past 20 years always locks up when braking. This is the strangest story I have heard all my life.

This reminds of the stubborn attitude of the Audi engineers from Germany whom I had the pleasure of working together on the engineering of a set of Audi body metal stamping dies. They would just never ever admit any error or mistake even if confronted with a clear evidence. I never thought I would run into the same on the consumer product level and in Canada.

I just wish they would learn to listen to their friends.

luluaudi

Thanks for the heads-up.

With respect to the windshield fluid jet, the spray reaches the top of the windshield when the dealer tested indoor and said there is nothing wrong with it. However, when driving 40km and over the spray can only reach the lower half of the wind shield. I am not sure whether there is just one pump driving both nozzles or two. There may be a blockage in the fluid line or something that caused imbalance in the water pressure between the jets; leading to one jet being normal and the other with insufficient pressure to overcome the windshield airflow pressure.

I will report back later with the side mirror issue.

With respect to the braking problem, I have been driving over 30 years and never had a similar problem or experienced this kind of brake issue before. Several drivers have complained to me about the same issue when driving my car. It just can't be an user issue. We had just picked up a new Benz 300 4matic this year and have never had this kind of problem even when we first pick up the new car.
What gets me was the attitude issue, you have raised. The supervisor of the dealer said the locking up of the brake is normal as his Audi over the past 20 years always locks up when braking. This is the strangest story I have heard all my life.

This reminds of the stubborn attitude of the Audi engineers from Germany whom I had the pleasure of working together on the engineering of a set of Audi body metal stamping dies. They would just never ever admit any error or mistake even if confronted with a clear evidence. I never thought I would run into the same on the consumer product level and in Canada.

I just wish they would learn to listen to their friends.

Ryan_T

I can relate to the braking issue. I wouldn't call it a lock-up. But it's very very difficult to make a smooth stop. It's do-able, but takes extreme effort. Makes me feel/look like a student driver. It's annoying, but you can learn to cope with it.

OH9EH4

I haven't noticed any breaking problems. In fact I'd say the breaks are some of the best I've tried. I do agree that at the end of a full stop it does feel a bit harsh but I've gotten so used to it that if i'm with passengers i've learned to ease off right at the end.

side mirrors haven't given me any problems. Took me about a week to figure out that the passenger side mirror turns down when in reverse.. cool feature (pretty standard now on most luxury cars)

as for windshield wipers... i don't i've EVER in my entire driving life seen or owned a car that has perfect wiper blades. Even on my stock wipers that I used 2 days after taking delivery were not the best. Probably because it was sitting on a ship for 3 months to get here.... and the rubber has hardened. but nonetheless my driver side wiper doesn't clean ALL that great as my passenger side. i'll wait till the winter to get them replaced...

among other things...

- had a piston ring replaced within the first 14K
- had a cam shaft actuator and rocker replaced
- had the ATF replaced
- had the transmission computer flashed twice
- had the wheels balanced at around 4K
- had the key fob flashed as it wouldn't open/lock remotely
- black spots developed on my hood which audi detailed out for me

all this and my car is only 8 months old. thank god for warranty. 35 days of driving a loaner later and 80 hrs labour @ $110 isn't cheap.

jose_416

wow.. why does audi have this issue.. like i love audi and i wanna buy a 2010 s4 but issues like this are holding me back.. i want to research more.. like if i am going to spend 70k on a car i expect things to be right ya know.. like heck if its german it best be right..