Coil failures due to engine bay cleaning?

[exSVT]

Last night, I had my car towed to a dealership due to the car won't start after I got back from a store.

I just got a call from a service rep at the dealership saying all coils shorted out and blew the ECU fuse at the same time. The service rep tolde me they are positive that coils failed because water got down to the coils. He asked me if I got my car detailed recently. I told him that I cleaned the engine bay a few weeks ago but there were no problems until last night. He told me that it takes a while to develop problem with the water in coil pack and I have to pay $350 for parts and labor since the failures are due to the water damage rather than part defect. My car still has warranty and I heard coil failures in B7 are quite common problem.

Do I have to believe the service rep and just pay the price? Any similar experience?? Any input would be appreciated...

[Tgr_Clw]

Change the fuse and the coilpack(s) yourself.

[exSVT]

The car is already at the dealer and I don't think I want to tow the car to home to get fixed.

[Tgr_Clw]

The car is already at the dealer and I don't think I want to tow the car to home to get fixed.

Meh. Change everything at the dealer's parking lot.
Takes 1 minute to change the fuse. Takes 1-2 minutes to change a coilpack.

Give them the finger and drive off.

[reggaemylitis]

Meh. Change everything at the dealer's parking lot.
Takes 1 minute to change the fuse. Takes 1-2 minutes to change a coilpack.

Give them the finger and drive off.

That visual made me giggle!

[exSVT]

Thanks for advice and feedbacks. I'll just let the dealer work on and consider this a learning lesson. Stay away from stealership!!

[EuroA4]

Meh. Change everything at the dealer's parking lot.
Takes 1 minute to change the fuse. Takes 1-2 minutes to change a coilpack.

Give them the finger and drive off.

Couldn't agree more! The coil is about $28...and fuse maybe $1...takes one click to open the coil wire loom, pop old one off, new one on and peace out!!

Please don't give them your money that easily!

[Sanjman]

Thanks for advice and feedbacks. I'll just let the dealer work on and consider this a learning lesson. Stay away from stealership!!

you're welcome... but use this forum as a learning lesson and stay away from the stealership... and save money... towing is covered under audi warranty anyways.... towing is free... no charge... order the parts there and pick it up and install it yourself.

[nick71692]

so then water couldnt get in there when it is raining, and if it did it wouldnt be covered under warranty. Kinda sounds like a line of bullshit

[Tgr_Clw]

so then water couldnt get in there when it is raining, and if it did it wouldnt be covered under warranty. Kinda sounds like a line of bullshit

There's no way water can get there when it's raining. Simply not possible.

[exSVT]

The reason service rep asked me the particular question of whether I had a detail done lately was to accuse me of using high pressure water or some sort. Honestly I have used my garden hose to hose it down but I've done so many times in the past on different cars and it was my first real problem from hosing down engine bay.

[Tgr_Clw]

The reason service rep asked me the particular question of whether I had a detail done lately was to accuse me of using high pressure water or some sort. Honestly I have used my garden hose to hose it down but I've done so many times in the past on different cars and it was my first real problem from hosing down engine bay.

Be more careful when washing these engines. I personally know a B5 S4 guy who had similar problems after washing his enigne bay.

[Vito Roma]

Damn Dealer

[gyroscope]

The reason service rep asked me the particular question of whether I had a detail done lately was to accuse me of using high pressure water or some sort. Honestly I have used my garden hose to hose it down but I've done so many times in the past on different cars and it was my first real problem from hosing down engine bay.

The reason he asked you that is so that AOA is not liable for the damage you caused. By you admitting guilt as to putting water into the engine bay, you basically negated any chance of having AOA or the dealer replace your coils under warranty. The service advisors record the phone conversations, and would have it on record if you ever decided to to pursue legal actions against them.

[exSVT]

I received a call from the dealer saying work has been done before I even can reach the service rep. I guess they figured that it is easy revenue generating service for them.. Well, obviously I have grown more of distaste from this dealership since I bought my car from them.. So much of hassle on any warranty related items but so quick and easy on services they generate huge profit.

[davis449]

I always cover ALL electronic components when I clean an engine bay. My rule of thumb is, if there's a wire going to it, it gets covered. I also wouldn't give the dealer $350 of money, I don't care what lesson there is to be learned. Change the stuff yourself.

[Cosworth]

Had it happen to me too! 1 coil and it blew almost 10days after getting water on the engine! Cost $280... Change your self word to the wise

[nick71692]

this sounds like bs to me. I mean regular maintenance on the car to me includes spraying down the engine with a garden hose every now and then, now i have to be careful doing that, kinda shitty, but whatever

[Bmeister]

It would seem entirely possible that extreme temperature changes in a humid environment would also enable significant moisture to condense around the coil packs and cause a short. The possibility is more likely for that to occur if a person drives shorter distances in a climate that can present wild swings in temperature on short notice. The engine would not heat up enough to thoroughly dry out the moist area.

Unless the seals at the coil are defective or a simple design flaw, my guess is that a) the dealer is feeding a line of BS b) you really did squirt some high pressure water in there or c) there are far more disabled Audis due to coil pack failures than we hear about. When I detailed my relatively new (to me) A4, I actually found moisture on my (cold) engine cover when the temperature rose quickly one morning on a humid day. Makes one wonder about the design.

[exSVT]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the matter.

Bottom line is "Be careful when you clean your engine bay with water." If you used any water or have any concern on condensation as Bmeister mentioned in above posting, it would be better to pull all coil packs out and dry the holes before you put the coils packs back in.

The way service rep at the dealer told me is that there are no chance of water damaged coil pack being covered under warranty. The same old BS story from some stealers. I found out that a few Audi owners in Auidworld forum have coil packs replaced under warranty after the coils failed due to water got in to coil pack area by some reason.

If I had a chance to have them stop work on my car this morning, I definitely would have done it by myself. But the service rep can't be reached for a while then I got a call saying that they finished the work on my car.

Well, another not so pleasant experience with my local dealer.

[pretarion]

I had two coilpacks blow on my GTI for the same reason. The dealership wanted around $500 for the repairs. I spent under $75 in parts and did it in the parking lot just like everyone else mentioned for you to do. I did get some negativity from the service advisor when I told them what I was going to do, but you know what, who gives a rats ass. I saved about $450.
Good luck.

[artinmoTTion]

Cars aren't like they used to be, and maybe it should be more explicitly stated when we buy these cars, but I've heard of many stories exactly like this one from our dealership. Just like you wouldn't spray out your computer to get rid of the dust, you can't spray down these electronics either. I know that home computers don't generally travel down the highway, but Audi designed that section of the engine bay not to get wet. Coil packs used in today's vehicles are simply vulnerable to water. Just like you wouldn't spray your distributor cap in your cars from the past, you can't spray your coil packs now. For exSVT, you can certainly take solace in that you're one of many who've made this mistake, and since the coil packs can fail in these cars, it would probably be best to change one out yourself anyway, and a fuse too, if not now since the car's at the dealer already, then soon.

[cab7a4]

my car is at the dealer as well for the same exact issue....i swear if they try to screw me i will order new coil packs from kmdtuning.com and install it in their parking lot!!