Hit a pot hole, now bad vibration and very sluggish starting off in 1st!

[groundround]

Hit a nasty pot hole, immediately had a bad vibration feeling on the brake and clutch pedals. Little but not much on steering wheel, then I got to the gate at work where i had to come to a complete stop! went to drive off up a hill a little and from dead stop to go the car is struggling to take off, once it does it has ok pick up though and boost.

I am going on base first thing to luck under the car to see if anything is noticeable, any input on other idea would be helpful.

I'm gonna check the engine mounts, transmission mount and snub, CV, control arms, drive shaft etc... anything else you can think of that would cause these symptoms?

Thanks

[Schweini]

I'm going to say you threw your alignment out of whack. The same thing and symptoms happened to me not so long ago.

Hard to tell without looking at it personally, but that's my guess

[groundround]

and it made the acceleration on 1st gear almost seem like it was not going to make it?

[groundround]

it does not pull left to right though

[ignus99]

Shit that sucks man... hopefully you didn't damage your drive shaft...

Is there a limp mode for significant jarring of the vehicle? Try scanning it with VAG com? Could have thrown a fault to limp it without turning on the MIL.

[groundround]

Nah it's not in limp, it's got acceleration once it gets past the initial take off. I used a little hand help flasher no pending codes or codes at all.

Still gonna try to get to fedex in the mornign after i hit up the hobby shop on base to get under my car. The only thing is the base is only about 3 miles from my house and the fed ex not so close LOL

[k20actr]

bent rim?

[groundround]

nah looked fine, I looked around at what i could actually see with the car being low. Looked behind the wheels and down at the motor mounts from the engine bay. I really hope it's just an alignment like stated above but do not see how it can be so bad taking off in first from an alignment issue.

[A4-Wookie]

Shit that sucks man... hopefully you didn't damage your drive shaft....

Thats the only thing I could think of... (that or possibly bending or cracking something on the exhaust side from the sudden jolt). Not sure if that would even effect the initial take off though...


You'd kinda figure that if you hit hard enough to cause damage like that, that your rim would be bent and your tire would have been blown out. Im guessing your suspension is tweaked to the point where your car has to muscle through a bit to take off.....and thats why its fine after.

[groundround]

Thats the only thing I could think of... (that or possibly bending or cracking something on the exhaust side from the sudden jolt). Not sure if that would even effect the initial take off though...


You'd kinda figure that if you hit hard enough to cause damage like that, that your rim would be bent and your tire would have been blown out...

Yea it's sort of a strange pot hole, very smooth and round on the edges like it just melted into the hole LOL and hard as shit to see till your on it. You would think i would have trouble through all the gears though if it was the drive shaft, but i did some 2nd and 3rd gear pulls and boosted and picked up fine. Did not do many, they were just trouble shooting pulls LOL. I wanted to see if I heard anything new, or smelled anything new. But nothing really new in anyway.

[ignus99]

Yo if your car is damaged and you can't make the drive to fedex, I can wait a week!!

Take car of your car before sending out the MAF if shes damaged.
I would hate to have it break down on route to a silly place like FedEX!!

[groundround]

ok no prob thanks for understanding. If it is something major and nice out I can always take a bike ride.

[smarkle78]

I haven't looked into it to much, but isn't there a problem with these cars getting stuck in 2nd gear when taking off? I noticed it in mine...it kinda boggs and zippp there she goes. I was told to clear my TCM of any codes and it would clear up.....

[wildbill]

instead of speculating, go get a free alignment check at a reputable place, one that will give you a digital printout if they do come back and say its out. take the wheel off and give it a good look, there could be underlying cracks you won't see at first glance. if the pothole was that bad, i would give everything a look, as it could have caused multiple problems.

[DRAKLORE]

I'm going
Out on a limb and perhaps you damaged a
Wheel speed sensor? I'd imagine your light would flash, but you may have just cracked or split your tone
Ring which would
Only affect it at low speed.

Good luck

[CleverA4Name]

Sounds like a bent rim, or a thrown weight. Put the wheel on a balance machine and you will be able to tell.

Not sure about the sluggish start. Have a shop scan for "soft" codes that won't show up as a cel or on the hand scanner.

[wildbill]

Sounds like a bent rim, or a thrown weight. Put the wheel on a balance machine and you will be able to tell.

Not sure about the sluggish start. Have a shop scan for "soft" codes that won't show up as a cel or on the hand scanner.

this

[groundround]

Went on base lifted and got under it and nothing out of the ordinary (dp might have been pushed up a little closer to the bracket the trany mount is in causing the rattle, cv has a rip in it but not the problem but does explain some clunking at full turn (looks fresh). Then went to audi and we got under the car (no charge) and surprised they let me go on the floor with them as I have not been to a dealer since car had about 30k on it and the more to look at it the better. After looking looking we think it is the dp rattle combined with the stearn mount rattle.

Gonna next week replace the shitty stearn mount and see what i can do with the dp when i go back on base and use the lift.

Wheels are fine, drive is still smooth, i think the obnoxious rattle makes me concentrate to much on that rather than driving like i normally do and take it easy. It is f-ing annoying

[CorneliusRox]

I'm going
Out on a limb and perhaps you damaged a
Wheel speed sensor? I'd imagine your light would flash, but you may have just cracked or split your tone
Ring which would
Only affect it at low speed.

Good luck

if that happened, his ABS would be messed up and the light would come on (I believe).


Maybe your exhaust got hit pretty good, crushed it a little, and now it takes longer to spool, and the vibration is probably something different, like a bent wheel or at least out of balance.

[DRAKLORE]

Yeah I figured, but occasionally the ring will snap, and stay on the CV. Then there is a slight gap in one of the hall effect readings as the difference is super minimal. Not enough to effect abs but for the computer at low speed to compensate.
At lower speeds the sensor is not as precise because there is less data to compute vehicle speed.

Another possibility could be the solid mounts causing his knock sensors to trigger at low RPMs/speed.
Most of this stuff would cause a code to pop, but of the difference is minimal and within parameters it won't..

Bent rim or broken belt perhaps [confused]
I'm sure he'll figure it out

[groundround]

thanks for the input guys will also check it all over can't hurt to do more than what I am expecting it could be.

I plan on getting an alignment this week for the shit of it, but sucks because I was waiting for a week or two for my grids to get back to lower it once i mount them and then get the alignment done. I guess I will guesstimate the height, alignment then the wheels.

Thanks also will try to get video so you guys can hear the sound LOL, P.S don't turn your volume up to high just incase it records the sound ok

[CorneliusRox]

I just got an alignment from Firestone for $170 after taxes for a lifetime alignment. I can now it get aligned whenever or wherever (nation wide) for free.

[BASARAB]

I just got an alignment from Firestone for $170 after taxes for a lifetime alignment. I can now it get aligned whenever or wherever (nation wide) for free.
lol at the alignment quality

[groundround]

lol at the alignment quality
I am sure they will get it right during one of the trips LOL. Sounds like a good deal

[CorneliusRox]

say what you will but a computer tells them what to do. All electronic readout with weight on the car so they have to be in the green for it to okay it. I cant see how that could be a bad thing. I do my own alignment on my truck but I would say they could definitely do it better.

[BASARAB]

Places like that dont even loosen tie rods to do the alighnment

[DRAKLORE]

^^^???
If he gets a readout from the machine and hes in the green, than his alignment is spot on.

How could you do an alignment without loosening the tie rods? Please elighten me...
[facepalm]
Honestly as long as the place is using a laser level or current machine, any body could perform the alignment. The machines walk you through it, tell you what to do and when, why would the tech get the heads on each wheel, raise the rack up and not actually adjust anything? It's literally 5 more minutes worth of work. The hardest part of an alignment nowadays is keeping the steering wheel centered.

Just because something is cheaper doesn't deem it bad. The same techs that work at Audi used to
Work at "places like that..."
If you know nothing about the industry, keep your stereotypical comments to yourself

[Ed Gein]

draklore, his old b6 had a hardwired radar detector; he obviously knows what hes taliking about.... [rolleyes]

[DRAKLORE]

I forgot about the osmosis alignment technique, I don't even show up for alignments anymore. I just pay them over the phone and they fax me the bill

[CorneliusRox]

Places like that dont even loosen tie rods to do the alighnment

? soooo the tie a frame puller to the wheels to get it right?

[doublezero30]

say what you will but a computer tells them what to do. All electronic readout with weight on the car so they have to be in the green for it to okay it. I cant see how that could be a bad thing. I do my own alignment on my truck but I would say they could definitely do it better.

well, you just lowered your car...it is no longer within oem specs and anyplace like firestone, goodyear, or any tire store 99% of the time wont know how to compensate for this. they may beable to get it close, but youll probably still end up with a bit of uneven tire wear.

[wildbill]

well, you just lowered your car...it is no longer within oem specs and anyplace like firestone, goodyear, or any tire store 99% of the time wont know how to compensate for this. they may beable to get it close, but youll probably still end up with a bit of uneven tire wear.

a reputable shop WILL compensate this in the tie rods, the only thing they cannot is your camber, to an extent. 034 makes adjustable control arms for this

[CorneliusRox]

well, you just lowered your car...it is no longer within oem specs and anyplace like firestone, goodyear, or any tire store 99% of the time wont know how to compensate for this. they may beable to get it close, but youll probably still end up with a bit of uneven tire wear.

I think you have it wrong. An alignment isnt based on the car. They dont go off of a computer program per car. They actually just measure at the wheels and adjust anything that is adjustable from there. The computer might tell them where and how to adjust specific vehicles, but the adjustment goes into spec based off of standards for all vehicles.

I know they cant adjust front camber, and I dont think they can adjust caster.

Alright, that was a lot of off topic crap. Back to Mike's issue.
Any updates?

[doublezero30]

I think you have it wrong. An alignment isnt based on the car. They dont go off of a computer program per car. They actually just measure at the wheels and adjust anything that is adjustable from there. The computer might tell them where and how to adjust specific vehicles, but the adjustment goes into spec based off of standards for all vehicles.

I know they cant adjust front camber, and I dont think they can adjust caster.

Alright, that was a lot of off topic crap. Back to Mike's issue.
Any updates?

the computers have pre-programed factory specifiacations. the alignment tech has to select the year make and model and the computer loads the specs based on the input. lowering the car throws the OEM specs out the window. so what ive said is actually true. i dont just talk out my ass like a lot of people in the b7 forum...i actually know what im talking about when i post (or i either dont post or tell you im not 100% sure). i went to school and got an associates degree to be an auto tech, but almost 4 years into the real world...i changed my mind. for me, its a hobby not a profession. i now sell parts and dont wrench for a living anymore and am happy doing so. just an fyi....

but yea, back to mikes issue...wish i could help but i unfortionatly im not really sure what it might be. i would start with the easy things like wheel balancing and alignment check...then move on to checking out the driveshaft, axles, control arms, etc. shitty situation though. i love your car mike! hopefully shell be running right again soon. remember just because a wheel looks straight, doesnt mean it is. ive seen plenty of wheels that look straight, until put on a balancer and you can see it spinning ad watch the flatspot rotate.

[DRAKLORE]

You are right^ these machines are preprogrammed with the factory specs. But they are used as guidelines,
In reality Toe is toe, and any adjustment the tech makes to camber if at
All
Possible can only better his situation, though they will
Max out the stock adjusters before coming into green I suspect.
I have a guy who uses a machine without the specs loaded, he specializes in lowered cars and showed
Me a few new tricks. I'm due for an alignment and am thinking about the extra 20$ or so for a lifetime alignment... Hmm

[groundround]

but yea, back to mikes issue...wish i could help but i unfortionatly im not really sure what it might be. i would start with the easy things like wheel balancing and alignment check...then move on to checking out the driveshaft, axles, control arms, etc. shitty situation though. i love your car mike! hopefully shell be running right again soon. remember just because a wheel looks straight, doesnt mean it is. ive seen plenty of wheels that look straight, until put on a balancer and you can see it spinning ad watch the flatspot rotate.

Thanks brotha! wait thats the hulkster LOL.

But your free to stop by and hear it take it for a spin, two heads are better than one. After driving today paying attention to even more things i also noticed turning to the left the vibrations and the loud ass vibration noise are far worse (hit the hole on drivers side front).

Yea plan on doing the alignment hopefully tues to start but firs tgoing to call the city of Lexington to let them know what happened and that I am going to file a claim through the insurance. Then the insurance then alignment, Also see what can be done but when I was under the car the DP was about 1/8 of an inch from the bracket that the transmission mount sits in and def causing a lot of vibration, most likely hit the floor when i nailed the pot hole and go from there.

PS. do no get the sterns motor mounts they vibrate like a mother! and if you do, do not get them from pure motor sports because you will not get your money back or exchange for one that might be defective that you did get.

[BASARAB]

^^^???
If he gets a readout from the machine and hes in the green, than his alignment is spot on.

How could you do an alignment without loosening the tie rods? Please elighten me...
[facepalm]
Honestly as long as the place is using a laser level or current machine, any body could perform the alignment. The machines walk you through it, tell you what to do and when, why would the tech get the heads on each wheel, raise the rack up and not actually adjust anything? It's literally 5 more minutes worth of work. The hardest part of an alignment nowadays is keeping the steering wheel centered.

Just because something is cheaper doesn't deem it bad. The same techs that work at Audi used to
Work at "places like that..."
If you know nothing about the industry, keep your stereotypical comments to yourself

why dont you keep your crap to yourself instead of telling me what to say. On A4's its hard to get tie rods loose,which becomes harder every year when these cars get older. Firestone and similar franchise shops dont even try hard enough to get them loose. They just put bullcrap numbers on the sheet and print it out to show you. The dont want to spend too much time on an alignment and they are afraid that customer will leave if they tell him that he needs to be charged extra. Yes, anybody can do an alignment with a computerized machine. But it also depends on the person who is doing it. And if you, dumb fuck, do not realize that in those kind of shops work another dumb fucks, who just want your money and dont give a crap about your car, then STFU and go learn smth in real autoshop business world.
In another words they say they did the right work for your car, when they actually did not.

[DRAKLORE]

^ill send you a Pm, I don't think you know who your talking to.
I'm the Original B7 hipster, I was the first to even do an alignment on a B7, Before it was cool to even do alignments. I was not loosening tie rods before that was even what they did at places like that.

I wave my wand...
Carry on thread.

[groundround]

^ill send you a Pm, I don't think you know who your talking to.
I'm the Original B7 hipster, I was the first to even do an alignment on a B7, Before it was cool to even do alignments. I was not loosening tie rods before that was even what they did at places like that.

I wave my wand...
Carry on thread.

you are an idiot.

[CorneliusRox]

the computers have pre-programed factory specifiacations. the alignment tech has to select the year make and model and the computer loads the specs based on the input. lowering the car throws the OEM specs out the window. so what ive said is actually true. i dont just talk out my ass like a lot of people in the b7 forum...i actually know what im talking about when i post (or i either dont post or tell you im not 100% sure). i went to school and got an associates degree to be an auto tech, but almost 4 years into the real world...i changed my mind. for me, its a hobby not a profession. i now sell parts and dont wrench for a living anymore and am happy doing so. just an fyi....

In that case, thank you for the input.



^ill send you a Pm, I don't think you know who your talking to.
I'm the Original B7 hipster, I was the first to even do an alignment on a B7, Before it was cool to even do alignments. I was not loosening tie rods before that was even what they did at places like that.

I wave my wand...
Carry on thread.

lol








This thread is getting out of hand

[beantown]

I knew this thread was bound to go sour...

[groundround]

Anyway on other topics besides DRAKLORE talking about waving his little fairy wand around.

Call the town hall this morning and told some guy what happened, I guess 5 min before that some lady called and they are out there fixing it now LOL. The guy said yea we wont cover your expenses!

Called Geico started a claim and I also have this limited collision thing on my plan that covers other than a collision for a $500 deductible. Then Geico will go through he city and if they recover anything from them they reimburse me my deductible :). Also the dealer I go through gives out the B8 S4 as a loaner LOL.

So hopefully i can get a call back soon and drop my car off and let audi tally up the cost on them.

[wildbill]

fight it anyway. i had a friend who hit a pothole and eventually got the city to cover his 1k rim. everything can be achieved with persistence. insurance companies don't make money by saying yes right away

[groundround]

right the insurance is going to cover it and them turn and fight the city. If they get anything from the city they will reimburse me my $500 deductible.

[DRAKLORE]

Whys it got to be a fairy wand lol
[up] YAFA



Good to hear your insurance covered this, did you at least take a picture of
The pot hole before they cover it up?

[beantown]

Anyway on other topics besides DRAKLORE talking about waving his little fairy wand around.

Call the town hall this morning and told some guy what happened, I guess 5 min before that some lady called and they are out there fixing it now LOL. The guy said yea we wont cover your expenses!

Called Geico started a claim and I also have this limited collision thing on my plan that covers other than a collision for a $500 deductible. Then Geico will go through he city and if they recover anything from them they reimburse me my deductible :). Also the dealer I go through gives out the B8 S4 as a loaner LOL.

So hopefully i can get a call back soon and drop my car off and let audi tally up the cost on them.

You're getting an S4 for a loaner?? Siick. You need to let me drive that

[groundround]

dont know now the insurance company is brinbging up me not taking a picture in 09 after i thought was cleared up and gave them the shops name i did take the pic with!

pissed

[DRAKLORE]

Lmao!

[BASARAB]

^ill send you a Pm, I don't think you know who your talking to.
I'm the Original B7 hipster, I was the first to even do an alignment on a B7, Before it was cool to even do alignments. I was not loosening tie rods before that was even what they did at places like that.

I wave my wand...
Carry on thread.

Got your PM, thanks for letting me know who you are, I'll make sure I wont get into debates with you next time:)

Anyways, back to the alignment thing. I hate places like Firestone not only because of alignment they do, but of any kind of work they do. I would not even trust a franchise shop to change spark plugs on my Audi. Few years ago when I took my Jeep for a lifetime alignment check up, they told me that my car needs $1200 in suspension repairs before they proceed with alignment. I took car to a different shop, which changed one bad tie rod (part cost $30 labor $60) and did the alignment for another$100. Jeep was perfectly fine for another 3 years.

Another time I took my first b6 to Belletire (Michigan franchise, not sure if it exists in other states). The car was pulling to the right before and after alignment, nothing has changed after they did the work while it looked perfectly on the paper they gave me. I took the car to an indy shop, they showed me that Belletire did not even touch that tie rods. They were so rusted on the 6 year old car, that they had to cut one side, simply because it was not possible to loosen it.
Since that, after owning another Audi for a couple of years, I learned some more about quality of the work they do at franchise shops and I hate them with a passion, probably the same as stealerships (well at least stealerships know what they are doing). Now I just always take my cars to specialized indy shops where I can watch the repair process myself.

[CorneliusRox]

Got your PM, thanks for letting me know who you are, I'll make sure I wont get into debates with you next time:)

Anyways, back to the alignment thing. I hate places like Firestone not only because of alignment they do, but of any kind of work they do. I would not even trust a franchise shop to change spark plugs on my Audi. Few years ago when I took my Jeep for a lifetime alignment check up, they told me that my car needs $1200 in suspension repairs before they proceed with alignment. I took car to a different shop, which changed one bad tie rod (part cost $30 labor $60) and did the alignment for another$100. Jeep was perfectly fine for another 3 years.

Another time I took my first b6 to Belletire (Michigan franchise, not sure if it exists in other states). The car was pulling to the right before and after alignment, nothing has changed after they did the work while it looked perfectly on the paper they gave me. I took the car to an indy shop, they showed me that Belletire did not even touch that tie rods. They were so rusted on the 6 year old car, that they had to cut one side, simply because it was not possible to loosen it.
Since that, after owning another Audi for a couple of years, I learned some more about quality of the work they do at franchise shops and I hate them with a passion, probably the same as stealerships (well at least stealerships know what they are doing). Now I just always take my cars to specialized indy shops where I can watch the repair process myself.

well... I see where you are coming from but lets assume you had a wrangler. Lets assume it was a YJ. It's got a Dana 35 (I think some even had a D30) on the front. You have to take into consideration ball joints (most shops charge $300 per side), track bar (usually another $300), control arms (pretty bullet proof so forget about them), and then all the steering linkage (possibly another $300-500 depending on the place. If any of these have any play, it is not possible to get a completely correct alignment. They can get it close but that joint leaning one way or another will change it. My huge heim on my truck for my track bar has play right now and it causes slop so I know this first hand (and I'll change it soon). So yeah I can see where they got that number, also you can align it pretty close even with all this going, but with a big shop like that, I am sure it is policy not too since they could be held liable for it if something severe happened.

And I know for a fact that they actually adjusted my junk because a) I looked, b) my steering wheels is straight and I have no drag one way or another.

[Charles.waite]

I'm not sure what most of you guys are talking about. I've heard NOTHING but terrible things about Firestone. Aligning an Audi is much more complicated that most other cars, and for that reason taking your car to any old Firestone for the "lifetime" free alignment means they'll glance at the tie rods, print up some fake numbers and tell you you need $XX in repairs as well, and by the way would you like us to do that while you're waiting?! $$$$

Its the same reason you don't take your car to Jiffy lube to change the oil. It should be so easy a retard can do it right? Apparently not.

My point is, ANYTIME someone has to loosen bolts, ESPECIALLY, on suspension parts, never trust a place that hires any dude with a face a two hands that owned a car a a few wrenches at one point in his life. Those don't qualify you to align a car, much less an Audi with a multi-link suspension....

It sounds like a great deal, but its really not, because 99% of the Firestones out there are populated by morons, and I'll wager most also don't have some lazer guided alignment rig. Maybe the good shops, but not your average firestone.

[groundround]

well car is at audi getting an alignment and then will take the damage from there.

and just sent an email to the engineering department of the city.

[CorneliusRox]

well car is at audi getting an alignment and then will take the damage from there.

Good curious to hear the outcome


Aligning an Audi is much more complicated that most other cars

Please elaborate on this. I dont see how it is different from any other IFS car.

[wildbill]

audis aren't that special.. ball joints are ball joints, tie rods are tie rods. yes design CAN complicate things slightly. but its not an f'n opel. they arent that rare. i can't believe this thread has made this a complicated issue

[Charles.waite]

Please elaborate on this. I dont see how it is different from any other IFS car.

I've heard from a lot of people that most shops arent equipped to correctly align Audis (probably German cars in general). I know its not rocket science, but most people at national chain shops simply don't give a shit. And when they aren't properly equipped, then corners get cut, plain and simple.

The fact is Audi's ARE different than domestic cars and most Japanese cars. I've just heard plenty of terrible experiences from people taking their car to Firestone repeatedly and them being unable (unwilling) to fix an issue that on trip to the dealer or an Audi specialist got fixed immediately.

Whether Audis are TRULY that different, I have no idea, but they are pretty different visually, and to the eye of the average National Chain grunt, its probablt too much effort to figure out and thus they throw in the towel and make shit up.

[Charles.waite]

audis aren't that special.. ball joints are ball joints, tie rods are tie rods. yes design CAN complicate things slightly. but its not an f'n opel. they arent that rare. i can't believe this thread has made this a complicated issue

Its not that Audi's are special, they're just different, which is often enough to stump the morons working at national chain tire/alignment shops. When you factor in how little they care about your car, then that just compounds the issue.

My advice is you just make your own alignment Jig from some wood and tape measures and do it yourself. As you said, its really not that hard eh?? [rolleyes]

Proof:http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/456668-DIY-front-toe-settings

[CorneliusRox]

I dont know, I have worked in a shop, and I have worked on Many vehicles. The big difference between German and not are torx and triple squares.

German engineering doesnt mean anything now. Maybe it did back in the day before the internet.

[Charles.waite]

I dont know, I have worked in a shop, and I have worked on Many vehicles. The big difference between German and not are torx and triple squares.

German engineering doesnt mean anything now. Maybe it did back in the day before the internet.

This is probably true nowadays. However you seem smarter than the average (Firestone) bear.

Personally I trust very few people to work on my car. Thats just me though and I'm probably sorta paranoid!

[CorneliusRox]

This is probably true nowadays. However you seem smarter than the average (Firestone) bear.

Personally I trust very few people to work on my car. Thats just me though and I'm probably sorta paranoid!

I hear you. I do 99% of my own work. However I like taking my car in for oil changes and alignments because it is so simple and mindless it is almost impossible to mess up. I will give you some credit about them not caring though. I got an oil change the week before I went to do my alignment and when I pulled the belly pan when it was on the hoist I realized they didnt tighten the oil filter enough and oil had gotten all over... Got out the digital torque wrench, got it perfect to specs, and sprayed it off. good to go.

I'll still take it in for oil changes though. I dont like getting rid of my own oil :-)

[Exanimas]

Gotta watch those potholes, Macho Man

[Charles.waite]

I hear you. I do 99% of my own work. However I like taking my car in for oil changes and alignments because it is so simple and mindless it is almost impossible to mess up. I will give you some credit about them not caring though. I got an oil change the week before I went to do my alignment and when I pulled the belly pan when it was on the hoist I realized they didnt tighten the oil filter enough and oil had gotten all over... Got out the digital torque wrench, got it perfect to specs, and sprayed it off. good to go.

I'll still take it in for oil changes though. I dont like getting rid of my own oil :-)

I feel you on not getting rid of the oil. Its a huge PITA for me since I use Rotella which only comes in gallon jugs (around me at least). So when I use a jug and a 1/4 I don't have enough extra container to put the extra quart that comes out. And its not like I save plastic cartons for this job, though I might start having to. Its just a needless hassle having to find my own container since Autozone/O-reillys wont recycle the oil unless its in a sealed container.

My brother took his Saab to a Jiffy Lube near me and they completely F-ed up. Spilled oil ALL OVER THE ENGINE, didn't tighten the drain plug all the way and thus there was a drip that completely covered the underbody almost all the way to the middle of the car. Needless to say I told him he should never go there again. Its like they just sprayed the oil filler with a firehose and hoped for the best. God knows how much oil was in there by the time I noticed. I'm pretty sure it was way below min...

He's oblivious though when it comes to car maintenance though, so whatever. His loss...

[groundround]

Gotta watch those potholes, Macho Man

tell me about it! it's were the repairs they made to the road after digging it up. Just sunk into the road and could not see it till you were in it. My car is in rough shape right now, i feel like leg droppin somebody of the top rope Ohhhhhh YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

[Exanimas]

While you do that, you should sell me your Grids. CAN YOU DIG IT BROTHER!?!

[groundround]

haha they should be back to me in a week or so ready to mount up 5x 112 style!

[CorneliusRox]

I feel you on not getting rid of the oil. Its a huge PITA for me since I use Rotella which only comes in gallon jugs (around me at least). So when I use a jug and a 1/4 I don't have enough extra container to put the extra quart that comes out. And its not like I save plastic cartons for this job, though I might start having to. Its just a needless hassle having to find my own container since Autozone/O-reillys wont recycle the oil unless its in a sealed container.

My brother took his Saab to a Jiffy Lube near me and they completely F-ed up. Spilled oil ALL OVER THE ENGINE, didn't tighten the drain plug all the way and thus there was a drip that completely covered the underbody almost all the way to the middle of the car. Needless to say I told him he should never go there again. Its like they just sprayed the oil filler with a firehose and hoped for the best. God knows how much oil was in there by the time I noticed. I'm pretty sure it was way below min...

He's oblivious though when it comes to car maintenance though, so whatever. His loss...

Yup. Basically the same here. I use rotella in my truck (originally what it was meant for), my audi (meant for it now), and my crotch rocket (15500rpms and it still loves it). It's definitely good stuff. I go to Jiffy just because they are the only ones that have it on stock around here. I could buy it and bring it myself (like I used to do), but idk. I might. barely any oil got out so I am still good.



haha they should be back to me in a week or so ready to mount up 5x 112 style!

BONE SAW READDDDY

[groundround]

well they are keeping it over night to soak the tie rod so see if they can salvage instead of replacing, the the Q5 is mine for the night.

[CorneliusRox]

well they are keeping it over night to soak the tie rod so see if they can salvage instead of replacing, the the Q5 is mine for the night.

a Q5 is no B8 S4...

actually, let me know how you like it. my buddy is on the fence about one.

[groundround]

they drive really nice i like it.

[DRAKLORE]

Good to hear the dealerships treating you right Randy ;-)

Corey- the few times I've replaced Ball Joints on a dodge, the new one had crazy slop to begin with! Lol the specs on the dodge BJs was rediculous like .060-.090 lol

Out the many Alignments I've done the only time I ran into a
Problem was on a BMW and on a Volvo. And it had to do with electronic steering, which you have to program the computer so it knows where dead center of the SW is, iirc

[CorneliusRox]

Good to hear the dealerships treating you right Randy ;-)

Corey- the few times I've replaced Ball Joints on a dodge, the new one had crazy slop to begin with! Lol the specs on the dodge BJs was rediculous like .060-.090 lol

Out the many Alignments I've done the only time I ran into a
Problem was on a BMW and on a Volvo. And it had to do with electronic steering, which you have to program the computer so it knows where dead center of the SW is, iirc

I know... it is terrible. I have done a LOT trying to get my steering tighter in the dodge. I have brand new ball joints, home made track bar, control arms, and brand new EVERYthing steering. I am going to pick up a bracket that doesnt let the steering box flex the frame (clears up a lot of slop in big tires), and I need to replace that huge heim on the axle side of the track bar. Then a proper alignment (.02 toe-in), and I'll be happy!

[doublezero30]

You are right^ these machines are preprogrammed with the factory specs. But they are used as guidelines,
In reality Toe is toe, and any adjustment the tech makes to camber if at
All
Possible can only better his situation, though they will
Max out the stock adjusters before coming into green I suspect.
I have a guy who uses a machine without the specs loaded, he specializes in lowered cars and showed
Me a few new tricks. I'm due for an alignment and am thinking about the extra 20$ or so for a lifetime alignment... Hmm

yes, specialty shops will beable to do this. firestone is NOT a specialty shop BRAH. firestone is a "set the toe and let it go" kind of shop.

[wildbill]

Its not that Audi's are special, they're just different, which is often enough to stump the morons working at national chain tire/alignment shops. When you factor in how little they care about your car, then that just compounds the issue.

My advice is you just make your own alignment Jig from some wood and tape measures and do it yourself. As you said, its really not that hard eh?? [rolleyes]

Proof:http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/456668-DIY-front-toe-settings
i agree 100% the service industry for vehicles is a (F%$K em, they won't notice) mentality. once i went to get my steering wheel straightened after a 110 dollar alignment and they left the inner tie rod boot twisted twice over. those assholes don't care. i won't let a retard touch my fiancees saturn ion which is a turd bucket. do your own work. know your alignment man. you will regret it if you don't

[DRAKLORE]

Thanks compadre, [up] GFYB

[Exanimas]

Thanks compadre, [up] GFYB

Go finger your butt?

[DRAKLORE]

Haha pretty much

[groundround]

So picked my car up fr om Audi yesterday after alignment and they tried to give me the car back even though it did not fix shit LOL. I gave them the car back and took back the Q5 till they find out what if going on.

Other news contacted BBB and filed a complaint about Geico not covering because of a picture they never received in "09" from the place i got my photos taken at.

On a good note talked to lead engineer of the city and he gave me the certificate of insurance from the construction company that performed the road work and just emailed them a description of the everything that happened and looks like they are gonna take care of it :). Now to tell audi to not take it easy on my pockets LOL

[your daddy]

what was the outcome? i forgot to ask today.

[ignus99]

what was the outcome? i forgot to ask today.

x2