Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 15:30
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - A6man

I’m hoping someone can provide some advice. I’ll try not to ramble too much!

I own a 66 Audi A6 Avant (2.0 Diesel TDI Ultra), bought used circa 4 years ago. Although it passed it’s MOT we’ve been having sporadic issues with the turbo, where it loses power and goes into limp mode. As I have a 5 month old baby and another young child, this is a safety concern, especially when my wife experiences the issue when it the fast lane on the motorway. Dropping to 40mph and struggling to get to the hard shoulder is not ideal!

I brought the car into my local Audi dealer. The master mechanic failed to produce the fault, but recommended I replace the boost pressure sensor for £180, which I did along with paying for the diagnostic. As soon as I took the car back the issue appeared again. I told them I thought it may be related to heat, they took the car back (for a week!), after which they said the turbo needs to be entirely replaced. The quote is £4,500! This is a car with 70K miles I might add.

I checked vehicle recalls via gov.co.uk and there’s nothing outstanding against my vehicle, BUT I see there’s been recalls in 2022 for turbo related issues in the U.S for certain models, but also here in the UK (see below).

I feel like we’re being held to ransom for something that looks like a manufacturing error.

Any recommendations on what we can do?

S/RS recall: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=86&t=1985493&i=0

U.S recall: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-recalls-defects/audi-sedan-recall-for-stalling-problem-a1115980261/#:~:text=Audi%20is%20recalling%20some%20A8,without%20warning%20while%20in%20motion.

GOVUK A6 recalls: https://www.check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk/recall-type/vehicle/make/AUDI/model/A6/year/2017/recalls

Edited by A6man on 06/10/2024 at 16:15

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 17:25
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - craig-pd130

From the US report, the recalls for turbo problems only apply to petrol-engined models, not diesels, so I don't think you'll have any joy pursuing that avenue.

As your car is 7 years old I'd suggest trying to find a good independent garage that can:

a) give you a proper diagnosis of the problem, as just saying 'the turbo needs to be replaced' is suspiciously vague. Why does it need to be replaced? Lubrication problem? Sticking VNT mechanism? Broken turbine vanes? Main dealers are notoriously bad at diagnosing mechanical issues, and will just throw parts at the problem in the vague hope of fixing the issue (while charging you the Earth).

b) a more competitive quote if the turbo actually does need replacing. It will certainly be cheaper than £4,500 at a good indie.

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 19:01
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - elekie&a/c doctor
Typical main dealer response. Quote for the dearest part possible to cover their backs . The fault may be turbo related, but not necessarily be the turbo at fault. I’d be looking at possibly an air leak on the induction system that could cause insufficient air flow to the engine. Has the fuel filter been replaced recently?
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Sun 6 Oct 2024 23:17
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - A6man

The fuel filter was replaced around this time last year, by my local garage as part of the service before the MOT. Interestingly we had this underpowered issue previously, which originally started early summer 2023. We brought it to an Audi dealer at the time who gave us a diagnosis. The recommendation was to change the charge pressure control solenoid valve, which we had my local garage do. It fixed the issue (for 12 months).

After the problem started again and I brought it in to my local garage (for service and MOT), the recommendation was to take it back to Audi again for inspection as despite a similar ‘limp mode’ outcome, they felt the cause was different (and it wasn’t generating the necessary codes). My local garage are decent chaps, who’ve done some good work over the years, so I do trust them.

It’s all quite messy.

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 23:08
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - A6man

Thanks for the reply. I was told “the main impeller in the turbo is partly seized and is slowing down at sporadic moments causing the lack of power intermittently - turbo needs replacing”. EXMANTURBO is the main invoice item at £1.5k + labour and other ridiculous itemised costs (inc a bolt for 86p!).

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Mon 7 Oct 2024 07:35
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - elekie&a/c doctor
Well that’s the most incredible description of a failing turbo I’ve ever heard. Complete nonsense. Where in the world are you ? Has the turbo actuator been tested ? These are a common failure.

Edited by elekie&a/c doctor on 07/10/2024 at 07:38

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Mon 7 Oct 2024 09:25
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - A6man

I’m based in the UK. Specifically Cambridgeshire.

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Mon 7 Oct 2024 09:41
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - craig-pd130

Thanks for the reply. I was told “the main impeller in the turbo is partly seized and is slowing down at sporadic moments causing the lack of power intermittently - turbo needs replacing”. EXMANTURBO is the main invoice item at £1.5k + labour and other ridiculous itemised costs (inc a bolt for 86p!).

What utter bullmud from the Audi dealer. The turbo shaft is either seized, or it isn't. As it has to rotate at speeds of over 100,000rpm under boost, the shaft will not 'slow down at sporadic moments'.

As the elekiedoc said, I would suspect the VNT actuator as that does a lot of work in very harsh conditions, and if it starts sticking it will cause the symptoms you've been having.

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Mon 7 Oct 2024 10:12
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - A6man

Having just spoken to the point of contact at the Audi dealer, they’re doubling down on the “partially seized” theory. I’m told it will eventually fail and that any turbo impeller should spin freely. But ours is not.

I’m also told the impeller alone cannot be changed - “they haven’t done that work for 20 years” he says. I’m not an expert myself on the matter so hard to contest.

Another strange thing is, it doesn’t generate any codes at all! You’d think a fault that bad would generate a code at least.

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Mon 7 Oct 2024 10:27
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - craig-pd130

Having just spoken to the point of contact at the Audi dealer, they’re doubling down on the “partially seized” theory. I’m told it will eventually fail and that any turbo impeller should spin freely. But ours is not.

I’m also told the impeller alone cannot be changed - “they haven’t done that work for 20 years” he says. I’m not an expert myself on the matter so hard to contest.

Another strange thing is, it doesn’t generate any codes at all! You’d think a fault that bad would generate a code at least.

They will double down on their diagnosis, they want you to spend £4,500 with them. They are not interested in proper fault-finding, it's not profitable business for them. They rely on bamboozling owners into agreeing to throw expensive new parts at the problem.

Turbos can easily be rebuilt by specialists, but an Audi main dealer is not going to subcontract that work for you. They'll just fit a new part and take the healthy profit.

If the turbo is not producing the boost that the car's ECU expects to see for whatever reason, it will produce a code along the lines of 'charge pressure insufficient' or 'charge pressure threshold not met'.

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Mon 7 Oct 2024 12:26
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - elekie&a/c doctor
Turbo failure is very often the result of some other issue . Usually oil supply problems. Is that something the dealer has checked? No point in replacing the turbo if there’s insufficient oil to keep it lubricated .
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Mon 7 Oct 2024 18:23
Audi UK - chance of A6 recall? Turbo issue - Halmerend
I had the same car and same issue. It was the exhaust gas recirculation valve that was blocked on mine. Basically a diesel was the wrong car for me because of the type of driving and mileage I was undertaking. I’ve moved to petrol now.
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