Audi Problems

You could have a problem anywhere in the wiring between the starter button and the starter motor. It could even be a problem with the starter motor itself. This function is computer controlled, too, so you may find the body computer is the root cause. An auto electrician will be able to check this out and diagnose the fault.

But there’s one thing you can check before that, and that is to remove and clean the contacts on the actual starter button. You will need to remove it from the dashboard (disconnect the car’s battery first) and carefully take the button apart and spray some terminal cleaner or contact cleaner on to the contacts. If you’re not confident to do this, the same auto electrician will be able to help you out.

These buttons (which are really switches) accumulate all sorts of grime and moisture from the air, the car’s interior and, of course, the fingers that operate the button.

While this version of the Audi Q5 uses a wet-clutch version of the dual-clutch transmission, failures and problems are not unknown. Generally, any shuddering or jerking in a DSG transmission suggest either worn clutch packs or a problem with the electronics that control the gearbox.

But it’s important to make sure that this is not an engine problem contributing to the jerking behaviour, so an electronic scan of the driveline is in order. This should help narrow down the potential causes and make diagnosis more accurate and repairs cheaper. The gearbox can be scanned, too, to check the operation of the clutch packs.

That’s a fair question, because the subject of towing limits is a pretty topical one right now as caravans get heavier and heavier and the police crack down harder on overloaded vehicles. That said, Audi makes no distinction between the towing capacity of its Q7 based on what accessories (including the moon-roof) are fitted.

But it definitely pays to remember that many vehicles, once hitched up to their heaviest legal towed load, can then be very close to their Gross Combination Mass (GCM) which is the mass of the trailer, the vehicle and everything in it including people, fuel, luggage and any aftermarket accessories fitted to it.

As an example, there’s one US-made ute on the market now that, when towing its maximum legal load, is so close to its GCM (has so little payload remaining) that it could only be legally operated by one small person with no luggage, nothing in the tray and no fuel in the tank.

From memory, that model Audi Q7 had the option of rear window sunshades which are a great addition and should really be standard on any car sold in Australia. In this model, the shades were manually operated so you need to grab a small tab and pull the blind upwards to fix it in place. If the tabs are missing, the shade may be broken or may have been removed by a previous owner, leaving just the empty slot in the door trim.

Some cars also had electronically-operated shades, so a check of the owner’s manual may reveal where the relevant button is located. If the shades are missing, you may be able to find an aftermarket replacement that uses the same factory mounting points. There are lots of aftermarket choices online.

Even though the Q7 is larger than the Q8 and shares much of the same technology, Audi justifies a considerably price hike on the Q8 due to its more sport-focused powertrain options which boost performance. The Q8 is available in V6, V8 or full-electric guises, with the choice of petrol, diesel, hybrid and battery electric powertrains. The Q7 is only offered in petrol or diesel, the majority of which are in V6 guises with one V8 option. The top-spec SQ8 shares much of its underpinnings with the Lamborghini Urus.

The Audi Q8 has five seats in a 2:3 configuration. Customers looking for a seven-seat option should look at larger Audi Q7.

For a start, don’t drive the vehicle any farther or even start the engine. The car is trying to tell you that it has insufficient oil pressure to properly protect the engine, and continuing to run it will quickly destroy it (if it hasn’t already).

There are many reasons for a car to suffer from low oil pressure, including a too-low oil level, the wrong grade or type of oil, a failed oil pump or a blocked oil filter. Even an overheated engine can cause the oil to become too thin for the oil pump to be able to supply the required oil pressure.

It’s also important not to confuse oil pressure with oil level. The amount of oil in the sump can be perfectly correct, but the engine may still lack oil pressure. Have the car towed to a workshop and have the problem properly diagnosed.

The best way forward here is to take the car to a workshop that knows Audis and have them pressure test the cooling system. Modern cars have sealed coolant systems, suggesting that they shouldn’t lose any coolant at all. The reality is a little different, and what may have happened is that your coolant level has been falling very slowly perhaps over a period of years until the level is low enough to trigger the warning message.

By pressure testing the system, any leak should become visible and can be fixed. Water pumps, radiators, heat exchangers and the network of coolant plumbing that makes up a modern car can all develop leaks. Sometimes the leak is so small, the coolant evaporates before it ever hits the ground which is why there’s no tell-tale puddle under the car each morning.

Don’t automatically jump to the conclusion that your car has a blown head gasket; there are lots of ways for coolant to escape, which is why it’s wise to keep an eye on the level on a weekly basis.

To stay within your budget, any A4 wagon you’re likely to find will be getting on for around 15 years old. A4s from this era weren’t bad cars (they were actually great to drive) but the old expression that there’s no such thing as a cheap, second-hand European car has its roots in the truth.

The fact is, an A4 of any sort will be more expensive to repair and maintain than many, say, Japanese or South Korean cars of a similar size. This isn’t Audi-bashing, it’s just a fact; the Audi is a more complex design and European car parts are just generally more expensive to buy (blame exchange rates).

None of this is to suggest that an A4 can’t be bought and run on a budget, but only to a certain extent. At which point, skipping vital maintenance might seem like a good financial decision but is most certainly not. A complex machine like the Audi is also probably not the best car on which to begin learning about maintenance, if that’s on your son’s agenda.