Three Most Common Audi Problems

Many drivers choose Audi for the combination of design, performance, and reliability. However, the longevity of your Audi operating at peak performance relies on your Audi maintenance plan, which is especially important for those who own used, or older models.

With this in mind, we at JA Autowerks wanted to go over the three most common Audi problems that occur from lack of scheduled maintenance while providing insights to preventive care and costs.

1) Timing System Maintenance  - Most Expensive Repair

First up, we have the most expensive repair that a modern Audi driver can experience, a timing system failure.

Like all four-stroke gasoline and diesel fuel engines, your Audi requires the lower part and upper part of the engine synchronized or timed to be able to operate correctly. The two most common timing systems are timing belts and timing chains. Over the past thirty years, Audi has used both forms of timing systems in their models such as the Audi A4, A6, or Q7.

Here is a basic overview of what system your Audi may have and when you should think about servicing it:

Timing Belts

A lot of Audi models from the 1990s through the late 2000s use a timing belt to keep the engine synchronized and running smoothly. Failing to replace the timing belt at the proper service interval commonly results in costly repairs such as major cylinder head damage that can run you up to seven times the amount of the timing belt replacement service.

All Audi engines that use timing belts have a service life or replacement period based on time or mileage, whichever comes first - you can find this information by referring to your owner’s manual. If you are a new owner of the vehicle and have no service records showing the timing belt was replaced, our team of qualified technicians can perform a visual inspection to see the condition your timing belt, and work out a maintenance plan that will keep your Audi running like it was designed too.

Timing Chains

Audi began transitioning away from timing belts to timing chains with its 2003 TT 3.2 liter VR6 engine. By 2009, all Audi gasoline engine models transitioned to timing chains. These chain drive systems made the newer engines lighter, more compact and improved the required maintenance period.

While Audi's chain-drive systems are said to be maintenance free and are designed for lifetime services, our team has noticed that after a few years of service failures begin showing up on tow trucks.

After years of working on these chain drive systems, we recommend replacement of the chain tensioners every 80k to 100k miles, depending on the engine type.

Our team finds this recommended service keeps our customers' Audi reliable, on the road longer, and helps save money.

2) Transmission Maintenance - Second Most Expensive to Repair

You may be surprised you didn't see this in the number one spot, but the second most expensive repair on today's modern Audi is a transmission replacement.

The newer S-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission shifts as fast as a Formula 1 race car, and the ZF eight-speed Tiptronic transmission shifts so smoothly that standard transmission may be a thing of the past - if they are maintained correctly.

The number one cause of a transmission issue or a shift quality problem on an Audi is fluid quality. Transmission fluid is like any other petroleum based fluid, it breaks down over time. Once the process starts, internal transmission components start to break down and sludge begins to form in the small fluid passages inside the transmission case.

Audi recommends a fluid change on the S-Tronic or DSG transmission every 35k miles but says the ZF eight-speed has lifetime fluid. It's important to note that ZF does not make lifetime transmission fluid, so our team recommends ZF transmission services every 50k miles. We have also teamed up with AMSOIL to bring our customers the best synthetic transmission fluids on the market and lower overall cost of ownership.

The JA Autowerks' customer that commits to regular transmission fluid services sees their vehicle's transmission last three times as long as the customers who never change their transmission fluid.

3) Brake Maintenance - Third Most Expensive to Repair

One quality Audi owners love about their car is the confidence they get from the awesome stopping power of the brake system and its ability to operate when in wet, slippery conditions as well as those panic stop situations.

Routine brake system services include checking for worn brake pads and rotors, both of which are caused by normal use of your vehicle, and replacing them with the correct parts to ensure your brakes keep working like new.

Other brake components like brake fluid lines, wheel cylinders and calipers will last the life of the vehicle if the brake fluid is replaced when needed.

On most Audi's, our team will start to see brake caliper failures around the seven-year mark. The number one reason we see these failures is due to high water content in the brake fluid reservoir. All brake fluid is hygroscopic or has the tendency to absorb moisture from the air.  

Audi does recommend a brake fluid replacement every two years or unlimited mileage with DOT 4 brake fluid.  This service can save you thousands on repairs over the life of the vehicle.

The JA Autowerks team checks the moisture level in the reservoir with every visit. This quick check saves our customers thousands of dollars, and keeps their Audis braking like new!

Looking to establish a routine maintenance plan for your Audi? Contact our reliable and experienced team at JA Autowerks to schedule a thorough check-up on your Audi today!

Two Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint on the Road

In honor of Earth Day, we at JA Autowerks wanted to share some helpful tips on how to limit your carbon footprint on the road, without driving a hybrid. Not only will these tips help the environment, but they will ensure that your European ride is running at optimal performance. 

Here’s how: 

Tip #1: Keep that CEL (Check Engine Light) off! 

Did you know that your Check Engine Light not only causes a rough running car, but it also has a negative effect on the environment? While our cars naturally produce emission gases, which are a by-product of gasoline engine combustion, our vehicles will produce more of these harmful gasses when your CEL is on. Of the many molecules and compounds coming out of the tail pipe, here are the three primary emissions you should know of: 

• Hydrocarbons (HC): This is un-burnt fuel caused by misfires. HC's smell like raw gas out the tailpipe. Excessive exposure to HC’s usually cause eye and respiratory irritations and help with the creation of smog.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO): A normal byproduct of combustion, high CO is usually indicated by a strong rotten egg smell. High exposer can lead to negative health effects and possible death.  CO occurs when the atmosphere reacts with hydroxyl radical and forms the stronger greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
• Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx): This is an odorless gas that is also a normal byproduct of combustion, but high NOx’s react to form smog, acid rain and fine particles (PM) and ground ozone, with can cause adverse health effects. 

CEL On? Can you smell that smell? Call us today to speak with one our of qualified automotive repair professionals to schedule an appointment. We’ll get that light off and get you driving back on the road with a greener running car! 

Tip #2: Keep it Cool & Environmentally Cautious. 

As the weather warms up, we want our cars to cool down, but it’s only cool if your air conditioning is working correctly. Commonly, when we experience weak air conditioning its due to a freon leak, which is really not cool for our environment. While we have made some great progress in the automotive world to improve the way we keep our vehicles at a comfortable temp, it’s important to understand how refrigerants can negatively impact our natural world and why we need to keep them in the car. 

Here are the most commonly used refrigerants in the automotive Industry:

• R12, aka Freon-12: This was used in most vehicles up to year 1995.   R12 or Freon was made with a mixture of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon, aka (CFC), which contributes to ozone depletion.  When R12 leaks out of an A/C system, it is bad for the environment! Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, effective in 1989, most CFCs that depleted the Ozone Layer were phased out by the late 1990’s, including R12.  Most vehicles originally equipped with Freon have been retrofitted with R134a refrigerant.
• R134a: The automotive replacement for R12 was R134a refrigerant. Auto manufacturers began using R134a in the mid 1990’s and it is still used today by most manufacturers.  R134a is made with a mixture of hydrogen, fluorine and carbon, aka HFC, which does not deplete the ozone but is found to be a “Super Greenhouse Gas”; when R134a is leaked into the atmosphere it has 1500 times more greenhouse potential than carbon dioxide (CO2).
• HFO: The future of automotive refrigerants will be HFO, unsaturated organic compounds of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon and maybe in the far future CO2, carbon dioxide.  The current HFO refrigerants the auto industry is using is 1234YF .  Beginning in 2013, auto manufacturers began using 1234YF in some of their fleets and will continue to phase out R134a in years to come.  The reason is 1234yf ’s greenhouse potential is only four times higher than carbon dioxide, compared to R134a at 1500 time higher. 1234YF also has zero ozone depletion potential.  The only issue with these HFO refrigerants is the cost.  To service and recharge an HFO system cost 5 to 6 times more than the R134a systems.

Is your A/C blowing warm? Call us today to receive our Air Condition Service Special.  Offer expires 05/19/2017

Not only does our team want you to reduce your carbon footprint, but we are taking action as well. This month JA Autowerks will be donating 2% of all repair sales made by April 30th 2017 to EarthDay.org, because we need a beautiful world to experience behind the wheel!