New member, some pics, and questions

[JaeBmang]

Here is some pictures of the car, pearl white 2001 A4 Quattro with sport suspension and tiptronic as it is my girlfriend's car... We love the car but unfortunately we already have had some problems and have had it in limp mode twice now within 3 days of the sale but I will get to the questions after the pics. sorry for the long post but I need help quick.




We ended up having to drive to phoenix from NM where we go to school to pick up this car. We finally found a car we wanted that was in our price range. We showed up and the car had a problem with the cam chain and it sounded horrible. The dealer said that he was going to send it back to the dealer auction where he bought the car but with us driving so far he would see what he could do. We talked to the dealer and started working out a price and it ended up with 5700 total with dealer fees and with their mechanic installing a new cam chain and tensioner! with 115k in mileage we were excited to get it for the price. After waiting probably 5-6 hours for the work to get down we returned back drove the checked it out and everything seemed to be golden so we finalized the deal. On the way back home we made it to tuscon when we stopped for food and a check engine light came on. We called the dealer he said that it was probably nothing major and that it will be fine to drive home. Next day I drove it to autozone to get the check engine light scanned but it stalled then wouldnt start and when it did I was not able to get it to move and had no throttle control so I am guessing limp mode. I got the code scanned and it was for a cam position sensor and I was lucky enough to be able to push it to a mechanic who would service it. He scanned it with vag com and came up with the same code and another. 2 days later I received the car back from the mechanic running perfectly fine he said the cam sensor wasnt fully plugged in and that another sensor (i forgot which) had a wire out but he was able to get a new one from a vw dealer and rewire it. So i left $200 dollars poorer but happy the car was running perfect. After a couple runs to make sure that everything is good the car was fine. Today the day after we go to start the car to drive it for pictures and the EPC light comes on back into limp mode. Turn the car off then had to crank it 5 times finally it starts with no EPC go for a small drive everything is fine. In two days I am driving back to Oregon from New Mexico, and need to be sure that the car will make it back. Here are my questions:
Should I take the car back to the dealer and demand my money back?
Do you guys think that the EPC problem will come back?
Will the car make it back to Oregon? if i decide to keep the car I plan on changing the timing belt and doing about $400 dollars of preventive maintenance. but i have no tools or garage here or help like I do back in Oregon. so it needs to make it back.
Thanks for the help sorry for the long first post.

[B7A4WD]

loooks clean, congrats =]

[biketsai]

Just wondering, what defines "limp mode" for you?

[JaeBmang]

Just wondering, what defines "limp mode" for you?

Im not sure if I am correct as I am new to the the Audi world. With it being drive by wire and not being able to rev or get the car in motion I assumed it is in limp mode with the ECU cutting the power off. It could be in a worse state then limp mode cause I believe limp mode just doesnt allow it to boost, whereas I have no control over the car at all.

[JaeBmang]

The car now has a check engine light and will only start and run for 15 seconds or less then dies. I plan on renting a tow dolley from uhaul or what not and just towing the 400 miles or so back to Phoenix, and just cut my losses, this car seems to be bad news I have never had this many problems so quick with my TDI jetta.

[Stampy]

Well someone went out of their way to paint the lowers in its previous life. I would assume that it has been messed with to a degree. Such a shame. It looks nice man.

[audiness]

that car was most likely owned by an enthusiast at some point... painted lowers and has an s4 grile... may already be chipped

[audiness]

i love white audi's by the way

[TQMB5]

nice white a4, there nice when kept clean.

[Seerlah]

Some things are not worth the headache. If the dealer will take it back with no loss (except your $200 loss) I say do it before that thing starts to rob your pockets. Keep looking in places like Autotrader and Craiglist. They usually have good deals. Nice car though, but if it is doing this to you already after 3 day ownership, I don't think it is worth it knowing what may lay ahead of you. Just my 2 cents.

But as for towing the car back, you can not tow a quattro unless on a flat bed. I would suggest maybe Uship.com. Just make sure to review whichever tower that bids feedback to make a prudent decision.

[biketsai]

Im not sure if I am correct as I am new to the the Audi world. With it being drive by wire and not being able to rev or get the car in motion I assumed it is in limp mode with the ECU cutting the power off. It could be in a worse state then limp mode cause I believe limp mode just doesnt allow it to boost, whereas I have no control over the car at all.

Limp mode is where your ECU allows you not to boost really. The car is still completely driveable, just with only a couple psi.

[JaeBmang]

But as for towing the car back, you can not tow a quattro unless on a flat bed. I would suggest maybe Uship.com. Just make sure to review whichever tower that bids feedback to make a prudent decision.

I knew that I couldnt do a tow dolley and need a trailer, but is this possible?
Online uhual says this:

Vehicle being towed

Your vehicle is incompatible with this equipment because drive shaft removal is too difficult.

When I went to the store the guy said it would be fine, but I doubt he understands awd or these cars.

[JaeBmang]

Limp mode is where your ECU allows you not to boost really. The car is still completely driveable, just with only a couple psi.

So what is it called when the ECU locks you out from everything?

[biketsai]

Can you clearly restate what is going on with the car?

[JaeBmang]

Can you clearly restate what is going on with the car?

Ok so if I go out and try and start the car it will take 3-5 tries. When it starts it will run for about 15 seconds or less and idle iratic and then it will die. If I get on the gas nothing will happen. If it is in drive it wont move. the EPC light came on one time and killed it, then it ran fine after restarting it for a short drive, but now it has a CEL and will not move. I ordered a vag-com cable but do not have it, and it has to be in the autozone parking lot to get a free scan. a vag scan is $60 from the mechanic I have gone through for this car. So I dont know if I will be able to get the code as I plan on just towing it, as a 400mile drive even if I get it started and running again seems to risky.

[Seerlah]

I read on this forum before that Autozone let's you take the Vag Com home as long as you leave some type of callateral there for them. Might want to try that out and see what is the minimum object you have to leave with them if they do such services.

And as for the tow trailer, that would do perfectly.

I am surprised many have not chimmied in and shed some light on your situation. I think I know. They get so used to the same "look at my pics", "new wheels", ""check out my new drop", etc threads that they did not know you have a real dilema with your vehicle. You should maybe post in the Tech forum to see if you get any other help there. And I would suggest to make a different thread with a headline stating your problem. It will draw more attention from individuals whom could more than likely diagnose your problem, yet did not even touch the link to your thread because they were expecting the rhetoric questions like "which chip to go with", "exhaust" etc. The title was screaming it.

[JaeBmang]

I read on this forum before that Autozone let's you take the Vag Com home as long as you leave some type of callateral there for them. Might want to try that out and see what is the minimum object you have to leave with them if they do such services.

And as for the tow trailer, that would do perfectly.

I am surprised many have not chimmied in and shed some light on your situation. I think I know. They get so used to the same "look at my pics", "new wheels", ""check out my new drop", etc threads that they did not know you have a real dilema with your vehicle. You should maybe post in the Tech forum to see if you get any other help there. And I would suggest to make a different thread with a headline stating your problem. It will draw more attention from individuals whom could more than likely diagnose your problem, yet did not even touch the link to your thread because they were expecting the rhetoric questions like "which chip to go with", "exhaust" etc. The title was screaming it.

I went down to autozone and put down my credit card and ID to borrow the scanner, I had the exact same thought. It read p0010, cam position sensor. It already read this and I had it fixed, the mechanic said that the sensor had to have a tab bent and pushed back in. They changed the cam chain at the dealership so I recon that it has to be there fault. but it still should be running even with a bad cam chain sensor from what I have been told. I am just planing on trying to find a truck as my roomate said I cant borrow his f150 which is insanely lame. I may post in the tech section but I think im over it and just want to give the car back at all costs. thanks for the help I figured that the pics would actual help with responses but I see what you are saying

[fred2ka4]

Did the place where you bought the car from have it fixed at an Audi dealer or a local mechanic's shop? The reason I ask is because I would call the place where you bought the car from and tell them to take care of it. If it was repaired at an Audi dealer, you might be able to take it to a dealer near you so you won't have to pay to have it towed or shipped.

If it was repaired at a local mechanic, I would have them arrange to have it fixed local to you or tell them you want your money back and that you will also expect to be reimbursed for the tow as well. Do not mention that you took it to another shop to have it worked on because that will void any of the work that was done before you purchased it and it would give the place where you bought the car a way to get out of repairing the car as they may say the other shop messed it up.

[JaeBmang]

Did the place where you bought the car from have it fixed at an Audi dealer or a local mechanic's shop? The reason I ask is because I would call the place where you bought the car from and tell them to take care of it. If it was repaired at an Audi dealer, you might be able to take it to a dealer near you so you won't have to pay to have it towed or shipped.

If it was repaired at a local mechanic, I would have them arrange to have it fixed local to you or tell them you want your money back and that you will also expect to be reimbursed for the tow as well. Do not mention that you took it to another shop to have it worked on because that will void any of the work that was done before you purchased it and it would give the place where you bought the car a way to get out of repairing the car as they may say the other shop messed it up.

It was the shops mechanic. They said if problems arose I would have to take it back to the dealer to use their mechanic to have it fixed. I already mentioned that it was worked on, I am losing it looks like $1000 dollars with towing it back but I just dont feel that fixing this car is worth it as the likely hood it would break down in the 1000 miles to Oregon would be to expensive. They are refusing to pay for the towing and we had to pay for the work that was done before we bought it($500) just to be able to take it back. With the loss I dont think I will be able to get another audi and will have to settle for something cheap and more reliable

[fred2ka4]

Was the car purchased with any kind of warranty from the dealer or was it as is? Even if it is as is, I would check the local lemon laws from where you bought the car and demand that they repair the car or you will report them to BBB. Did you pay with cash, check, money order, or CC?

[nyca4tq]

Sounds like you should quit while you're ahead. Call them, tell come get their shit or you will call an attorney. If they give you grief, do some research on the lemon law. Sorry about your problems. Hope it works out in your favor, you might have to sacrifice a few bucks but its better than all your bucks....my .02

[Seerlah]

I was going to say something about the lemon law, but I am not sure how the law works. I was lead to believe they differ from state to state.