Mechanic help ?? service invoice interpret

[bear]

I have an old 1997 A-4 Audi...It's my wifes car to drive to work and its in mint condition. She has put 15,000 miles on it in the last 3 years and it is now apparent that it needs a Cat converter...The clogged symptoms are step on gas and go nowhere. It will idle and drive Very slowly.
Question Is...How would you interpret a service invoice from 3 years ago that says...

R&R Cat Converter Test and Inspected 02 Sensors and Check Wires and Repair Connector...Found Hoses For Turbo Cracked And Leaking Vacuum Replaced Hoses... Note recall 2007 Wa94 Was Completed By Audi

My mechanic remembers the warranty work (Said he thought it included a Cat Conv) that was done by the dealer when the car nearly self-destructed 3 days after I bought it. I had the car for 1 week out of the first 2 months I owned it. ( I don't remember all of what was done..I remember the turbo charger was replaced ).Anyway My regular mechanic who has been outstanding over the years checked the car Monday and told me that it was the Cat Conv again...and he sent me back to the dealer. He said that the Cat is an 8yr 80 thou warranty here by law. So I find the service invoice and take it to the dealer and have the car towed. Service Mgr from 3 yrs ago is long gone and after 3 days waiting they tell me that they don't think its the CC, don't know or have the equipment to definitively know. Do I want it towed to Audi dealer AND that they Never Replaced the CC 3 yrs ago and can't help me.. .."the R&R means that they removed it, checked it, and replaced it."??? no record of buying a Cat converter to replace old one....Of course I interpret that the Cat Conv was removed and replaced with a new one.. It's ongoing but HOW would you interpret that service invoice??? (I hate this stuff)

bear

 

[bubbas1]

Tell the idiot dealer that if he has a hand he can check the CC. Sounds like a piece of the cone is broke off. (Had it happen to me before) Tell him to put his hand at the end of the tailpipe and he will be able to tell if there is exhaust coming out. It will be either the muffler (unlikely) or the CC thats clogged. Then shove a piece of wire thru the exhust and you will be able to tell exactly which is clogged.

Call up Audi to ask them how long CC is covered for. I take it the dealership and Audi are not one in the same.

Ask the dealership what they think R&R means on your invoice.


One more thing..you will probably have to have the vehicle tuned up again because of all the back pressure from a clogged CC or muffler.

 

[fatdaddycool]

I have an old 1997 A-4 Audi...It's my wifes car to drive to work and its in mint condition. She has put 15,000 miles on it in the last 3 years and it is now apparent that it needs a Cat converter...The clogged symptoms are step on gas and go nowhere. It will idle and drive Very slowly.
Question Is...How would you interpret a service invoice from 3 years ago that says...

R&R Cat Converter Test and Inspected 02 Sensors and Check Wires and Repair Connector...Found Hoses For Turbo Cracked And Leaking Vacuum Replaced Hoses... Note recall 2007 Wa94 Was Completed By Audi

My mechanic remembers the warranty work (Said he thought it included a Cat Conv) that was done by the dealer when the car nearly self-destructed 3 days after I bought it. I had the car for 1 week out of the first 2 months I owned it. ( I don't remember all of what was done..I remember the turbo charger was replaced ).Anyway My regular mechanic who has been outstanding over the years checked the car Monday and told me that it was the Cat Conv again...and he sent me back to the dealer. He said that the Cat is an 8yr 80 thou warranty here by law. So I find the service invoice and take it to the dealer and have the car towed. Service Mgr from 3 yrs ago is long gone and after 3 days waiting they tell me that they don't think its the CC, don't know or have the equipment to definitively know. Do I want it towed to Audi dealer AND that they Never Replaced the CC 3 yrs ago and can't help me.. .."the R&R means that they removed it, checked it, and replaced it."??? no record of buying a Cat converter to replace old one....Of course I interpret that the Cat Conv was removed and replaced with a new one.. It's ongoing but HOW would you interpret that service invoice??? (I hate this stuff)

bear

Bear,
They removed and replaced the CC and tested the O2 sensors which is pretty standard when reporting the problems you did, also found some problems with your turbo.

I would hazard to say that your problems are not limited to the CC, moreover that the CC is suffering as a result of deeper problems that could be from your turbo operating improperly or some other deep seated exhaust issue. However, I am not sure of the warranty on such an item as the 8 yr is generally to cover the drive train and not necessarily the exhaust. I would definitely find out what the recall entailed and go directly to the dealer you bought the car from and let them know in no uncertain terms that you expect the vehicle to be fixed

 

[bear]

Good Advice ..thanks guys!

bear

 

[Simply In The Red]

Bear,
They removed and replaced the CC and tested the O2 sensors which is pretty standard when reporting the problems you did, also found some problems with your turbo.

That is exactly what that invoice means except that the converter is not replaced but reinstalled. If you are not taking it to an Audi dealership, you should or at least find an Audi specialist. It might seem like the cost is higher, but in the long run, their knowledge will pay off. You might also do some research on a site like Audiworld.com to find out if other owners are having similiar situations.

A site that has other owners might help you find someone in your area that can help you. A lot of the time, when a catalytic converter goes out, it is the result of other running issues.

 

[KJNY2]

I agree with what Simply said... when a dealer or mechanic replaces something they typically try to make it clear that they fully replaced it, which will justify high charges for it, so if you see R&R on an invoice chances are it wasn't replaced, just reinstalled. Furthermore, Catalytic converter problems don't typically result in a loss of power like that. It's possible that you have some sort of vacuum leak or turbo issue, I'd lean more toward the latter. The only way to have that figured out for sure is to go to a VW/Audi specialist.

On a side note, I'd recommend against people purchasing newer volkswagons or audis. They're good cars to lease, but as far as their newer engines (2.0 Liter 4 cyl. esp.) are concerned they're garbage. I'm in the automotive industry, and I can't say how many of these cars I've seen come in, with 30k miles on it, 3k miles after the last oil change missing 1.5 qts of oil or more. My gf has a leased jetta that she can't wait to get rid of.

oh, and the skid plates on passat's blow