2005 A6 3.2 Can I stop Audi from bleeding me for money?
 

Hi Everybody. Hope someone can help.
6 months ago - noticed fluid under passenger side matt. Brought to Audi - they did 3000$ of work in 3 weeks said that the whole cooling system was broken, and they replaced everything.
2 weeks later - noticed more fluid - Audi took the car in for another week and after multiple tests said - it is not coolant, we don't know what that is - observe for another week.

3 weeks ago engine light went on - they tested - said that the thermostat went out and needs replacement. I had no money to fix at that time - they said I should watch for overheating, otherwise will just go through more fuel.

A week ago heard a weird sound under the hood - brought in - they said that it's in the engine and will cost 1300-1500$ to diagnose what's going on, and not worth checking. I came to pick up the car hoping to sell it as is - they said they can't start it anymore - AND I HAVE TO TOW IT FROM AUDI ELSEWHERE TO FIX IT!

QUESTION 1. Could improperly fixed cooling system lead to thermostat disfunction?
QUESTION 2. Could engine light indicate something else rather than thermostat which they missed and now my 2005 A6 is a write off?

Re: 2005 A6 3.2 Can I stop Audi from bleeding me for money?
 

What was in the $3000 bill?
Whole cooling system broken?
Everything replaced but thermostat?
More fluid, but not coolant? Was it coolant the first time?

Re: 2005 A6 3.2 Can I stop Audi from bleeding me for money?
 

Thos were all the questions I asked!
1. the heater core broke only as they said first, but then they kept telling me that more and more looked bad and replaced everything! they had it for a month.
2. They never mentioned the thermostat. Do you think they should have replaced the thermostat as well?
3. Thats what I asked - was that the coolant to begin with? that they can't answer at this point.:(

They sound like a bunch of bumbling idiots who were happy to take your money. I'd love to see your bills and what work was actually done. $3000 sounds very steep for job NOT done. Heater core can be labour intensive, but hardly justifies the bill and the problems created from it.