Coolant Leaking, warranty not honored, dealer: ROCK hit it the air charge cooler

[fusQer]

2013 A7 Prestige 43,000 miles (CPO), still in warranty.

Friday morning I get the warning light to check coolant level and turn the car off, after 1 minute of driving. Sure enough, the coolant reservoir is below the "low" line and there is a puddle of pink coolant on my garage floor.

The dealership says a rock hit the Air Charge Cooler which resulted in the pink fluid leaking, and so it is not covered by warranty because it is not a manufacturer defect. I am outraged. There is no rock penetration on the front grill, there is a engine cover on the bottom and a hood on top, all with no rock penetrations. I don't see how a rock could have possibly penetrate the exterior of the car and then hit the radiator (air charge cooler as the dealership calls it).

Anyone have any experience with this? I've never heard of such a thing. I obviously do not want to pay out of pocket for something that I believe is covered by warranty.

[mjfloyd1]

There was a TSB on this to put a rock guard over that part. I'd argue more than a little bit.

[agent47]

I had it happen to my 2013 A6. Exact same explanation to me. I was too naive at that time and paid for it when I should have fought.

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[///M Traitor]

It is possible for a pebble/ stone bouncing on the highway to travel between the slats in the front bumper grill, and impact the charge air cooler. Hence the TSB for installing the rock shield which was done on my car. FWIW, think the piece is near worthless however as the gaps in the shield would let a boulder through.

Anyway, if the shield is not there and it's a CPO car, you can argue that it should have been installed before you purchased the car, and it would have then prevented the issue. Other than that, technically road hazards are not covered by warranty... Right?

[14S4GWM]

Happened to quite a few on the B8 S4 side. Some got help with it and some didn't. Most did not, definitely put the rock guard on. Some are installing screens behind the grill to prevent it.

[ENV²]

Call Audi of America and open a claim. They will refund most of the money back. Same thing happened on my S4 before the TSB and the dealership charged me $530.00 AoA refunded me about $375.

[zcd2.7t]

...I am outraged...Anyone have any experience with this? I've never heard of such a thing. I obviously do not want to pay out of pocket for something that I believe is covered by warranty.

You can be outraged all you want, but damage caused by flying road debris is an INSURANCE issue, not a warranty issue. Would you ask Audi to pay for a broken windshield caused by an errant rock?

Same thing happened to me, BTW, and it was covered by my zero-deductible comprehensive automotive insurance policy.

[fusQer]

You can be outraged all you want, but damage caused by flying road debris is an INSURANCE issue, not a warranty issue. Would you ask Audi to pay for a broken windshield caused by an errant rock?

Same thing happened to me, BTW, and it was covered by my zero-deductible comprehensive automotive insurance policy.

I disagree because this is a design issue and obviously a subsequent TSB and design change in 2014 acknowledges it.

[fusQer]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I'm definitely going to argue that it should have been installed when I purchased it CPO during the inspection like ///M traitor points out. And will resort to AoA if dealer wants to decline.

[zcd2.7t]

I disagree because this is a design issue and obviously a subsequent TSB and design change in 2014 acknowledges it.

Good luck - you're gonna need it. BTDT.

As others have said, the updated guard isn't much help - a DIY steel mesh screen is about all you can add that would provide better protection.

[fusQer]

Thanks, zcd. I was planning on having the dealership install the updated guard even if I have to pay for it. Do you recommend doing that AND doing the DIY or just doing the DIY? Is there a thread on the DIY? I will search too..

Here is the DIY:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...oling-radiator

[fusQer]

When looking at a radiator that is supposedly hit by a rock, is it very obvious that a rock hit it and that its malfunction isn't caused by internal malfunction?

[///M Traitor]

When looking at a radiator that is supposedly hit by a rock, is it very obvious that a rock hit it and that its malfunction isn't caused by internal malfunction?

Absolutely..

[SunDevil]

OP: let us know the outcome. Seems like the TSB should have been done regardless of it's effectiveness on a CPO car.

[PKmode]

Better question. Where can the rest of us get said "rock guard"?

[gk1]

Better question. Where can the rest of us get said "rock guard"?

ECS carries it.
https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-C7_A6...3.0T/ES451372/

There are additional clips too, but as my old 2012 S4 did not come with the grill standard I added it and the clips are really not needed...the grille stays in place very well without them.
https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-C7_A6...3.0T/ES451894/

[fusQer]

Good news! The dealership agreed with me that since there is a TSB, I don't have to pay anything and they are covering it all. New radiator and new "rock guard". I said why didn't it come up at CPO time or any other time. He said TSBs are on a need basis, its not a recall. I said but you guys perform TSBs automatically without asking me all the time (for example the power steering sensitivity adjust, the transmission timing adjust or whatever). He indicated this wasn't important enough as those to rise to that level... I didn't pursue it since I am not out of pocket.

I would suggest you guys that don't have the grill to ask for it per the TSB.

[///M Traitor]

Good news! The dealership agreed with me that since there is a TSB, I don't have to pay anything and they are covering it all. New radiator and new "rock guard."

👍 Perfect outcome

[fusQer]

Thanks to you all :) Long live audizine!

[zcd2.7t]

Good news! The dealership agreed with me that since there is a TSB, I don't have to pay anything and they are covering it all...

That's great - congrats!

As others have said, the mesh is the best option for preventing this from happening again, though it only happened to me once over 95K miles....

[JimmyBones]

Good news! The dealership agreed with me that since there is a TSB, I don't have to pay anything and they are covering it all. New radiator and new "rock guard". I said why didn't it come up at CPO time or any other time. He said TSBs are on a need basis, its not a recall. I said but you guys perform TSBs automatically without asking me all the time (for example the power steering sensitivity adjust, the transmission timing adjust or whatever). He indicated this wasn't important enough as those to rise to that level... I didn't pursue it since I am not out of pocket.

I would suggest you guys that don't have the grill to ask for it per the TSB.

Good news that they covered it.

However just to correct you on one thing. A dealership will do a recall or RVU/Required Vehicle Update if it shows up in the system for your VIN number. A Recall is usually issued to address a safety, emissions, or other really big issue that Audi has probably been sued over. A RVU/Required Vehicle Update is a proactive update to address an issue that Audi has been seeing on multiple vehicles and they would prefer to handle potential problems with RVU/Required Vehicle Updates rather than a Recall. Finally a TSB is a Technical Service Bulletin to address potential issues as needed. A TSB is like a helpful memo that is available for techs to look at. So many people get those three things mixed up.

[yeuchau]

Any picture of what the shield should look like?

[wwhan]

Any picture of what the shield should look like?

.

Post 109

Linkhttp://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post7835779

[Ensoniq]

Good news that they covered it.

However just to correct you on one thing. A dealership will do a recall or RVU/Required Vehicle Update if it shows up in the system for your VIN number. A Recall is usually issued to address a safety, emissions, or other really big issue that Audi has probably been sued over. A RVU/Required Vehicle Update is a proactive update to address an issue that Audi has been seeing on multiple vehicles and they would prefer to handle potential problems with RVU/Required Vehicle Updates rather than a Recall. Finally a TSB is a Technical Service Bulletin to address potential issues as needed. A TSB is like a helpful memo that is available for techs to look at. So many people get those three things mixed up.

Is there a way for the consumer to find out about TSB or RVU via the net?

[wwhan]

Is there a way for the consumer to find out about TSB or RVU via the net?

Edmunds Technical Service Bulletins

[charleypartanna]

Hi all! I realize this is an old thread, but I'm wondering if anyone can please tell me the TSB number for this. I can't find it online. I have a 2012 A7.

THANK YOU!

Charley