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Audi A8 Repair and Maintenance

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Audi A8 Questions and Answers

rtgerdes, 1999 Audi A8, Sarasota, FL

The dealer says the timing belt is weather cracked.

rtgerdes, 1999 Audi A8, Sarasota, FL

The dealer says the speed sensor needs to be replaced. The engine stalled out once. The check engine light comes on. Is it the torque converter?

lmoody, 1999 Audi A8, Cleveland, OH

their is a large shock when changing from park to drive, what could this be

rtgerdes, 1999 Audi A8, Sarasota, FL

I havd the speed sensor replaced but I still have the problem of surging with the transmission shifting up and down. I guess it is the torque converter. Would it be detrimental to use the manual ...

Anonymous, 1999 Audi A8, 3.7L V8, San Francisco, CA

Hi
The front right head lamp of my 2000 Audi A8 does not get voltage. Apparently I am told there are two parts to delivering voltage to the light.
1. The base
2. The balast

One or both are out. H...

Audi A8 Car Reviews (1)

1999 Audi A8, rtgerdes, Sarasota, FL, April 17, 2009 10:54

I purchased my 1999 Audi A-8 from a Chevrolet dealership in Minnesota in October, 2007. The car had 68,000 miles on it and now has 85,000 miles. The car is total luxury with the paint still in show room condition. The interior leather and all emenities are competive with a Lexus, Mercedes, Jaguar and BMW. It is superior to a Cadilac and Lincoln. The car originally came from Florida and I purchased it in Minnesota. It has endured one winter in Minnesota and performed on ice and snow better than all SUV's I have owned. There are is no rust or corosian anywhere. A tribute to the all aluminum body. The car has been in Florida near the ocean and in Minnesota with salted roads. The brakes have been checked by a dealer on 5 occasions and no repairs were needed. There is a problem with the torque converter or speed sensor. When driving in the city I have found it necessary to use the manual shift on the automatic transmission. This places the car in the correct gear without the surging back and forth. The "idiot light" for checking the engine is on most of the time now. A dealer that I do not trust told me the car needs $2,200 in repairs. They wanted to change the pan gaskets, valve cover gaskets and several seals along with changing the timing belt and speed sensor. I would like to know what my best and worst case senarios are on this repair. Everything else on the car is perfect, in show room quality.

Audi A8 Problems

Engine
  • Oil leaks can develop in the crankcase ventilation hoses, in between the cylinder banks.
  • Oil leaks in the valve cover gaskets are common.
Suspension & Steering Various bushings—located around the subframe, suspension, and steering—deteriorate with age. A clunking noise when driving over bumps, accelerating, or stopping may be a sign of worn bushings.
Drive Train

Audi A8 Recalls and TSBs

Audi A8 Recalls (Recent)

Body, Interior & Misc.: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Campaign Number: 97V175000
Dates Manufactured: 07/1994 to 09/1996
Number of Vehicles Affected: 39,300
Model Years Affected: 1997
Date Owner Notified: 10/1997

Defect Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Consequence Summary: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Corrective Summary: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

Recall Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 13, 1997.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Suspension & Steering: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
Campaign Number: 99V248000
Dates Manufactured: 01/1998 to 07/1998
Number of Vehicles Affected: 51,900
Model Years Affected: 1998, 1999
Date Owner Notified: 10/1999

Defect Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.

Consequence Summary: IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Corrective Summary: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.

Recall Notes: VW RECALL NO. UL/AUDI RECALL NO. KW. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Suspension & Steering: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
Campaign Number: 00V414000
Dates Manufactured: 08/1998 to 04/1999
Number of Vehicles Affected: 83,000
Model Years Affected: 1999
Date Owner Notified: 02/2001

Defect Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.

Consequence Summary: IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Corrective Summary: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.

Recall Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 5, 2001.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Audi A8 Technical Service Bulletins (Recent)

Body, Interior & Misc.: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Service Bulletin Number: 9803
NHTSA Number: 603330
Model Years Affected: 1998
Date of Bulletin: 02/1999

Bulletin Summary: SUBJECT ON FOLDING KEY (KEYLESS REMOTE TRANSMITTER ), INCREASING DISTANCE RANGE.

Body, Interior & Misc.: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Service Bulletin Number: 9801
NHTSA Number: 603332
Model Years Affected: 1998
Date of Bulletin: 02/1999

Bulletin Summary: SUBJECT ON FLOOR MAT FASTENER VARIATIONS.

Body, Interior & Misc.: VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Service Bulletin Number: 9810
NHTSA Number: 603133
Model Years Affected: 1998, 1999
Date of Bulletin: 02/1999

Bulletin Summary: INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS ON CELLULAR TELEPHONE.

Drive Train: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Service Bulletin Number: 9802
NHTSA Number: 603328
Model Years Affected: 1997, 1998
Date of Bulletin: 02/1999

Bulletin Summary: CONDITIONS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, DELAYED DOWNSHIFT ON VEHICLES WITH 4.2L AND 01L TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLES WITH 4.2L AND 01L TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLES WITH 4.2L AND 01L TRANSMISSION.

Drive Train: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Service Bulletin Number: 42804
NHTSA Number: 10007130
Model Years Affected: 1997, 1998, 1999
Date of Bulletin: 05/2004

Bulletin Summary: SERVICE ACTION TO INSPECT LOWER CONTROL ARM SEALS.

Electrical & Lights: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Service Bulletin Number: 9903
NHTSA Number: 610271
Model Years Affected: 1997, 1998, 1999
Date of Bulletin: 04/2000

Bulletin Summary: INFORMATION ON DEACTIVATING / ACTIVATING THE REAR SIDE AIRBAGS.

Electrical & Lights: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Service Bulletin Number: 9803
NHTSA Number: 603134
Model Years Affected: 1997, 1998, 1999
Date of Bulletin: 02/1999

Bulletin Summary: CONDITION WITH INSUFFICIENT VEHICLE GROUND AT GROUND LOCATION 43.

Electrical & Lights: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Service Bulletin Number: 715
NHTSA Number: 10023948
Model Years Affected: 1997, 1998, 1999
Date of Bulletin: 02/2008

Bulletin Summary: EXTERIOR LIGHTS, MOISTURE ACCUMULATION.

Electrical & Lights: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Service Bulletin Number: 20056243
NHTSA Number: 10022141
Model Years Affected: 1997, 1998, 1999
Date of Bulletin: 07/2007

Bulletin Summary: HEADLIGHT AIMING, USING HELLA UNIVERSAL BEAMSETTER.

Electrical & Lights: VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Service Bulletin Number: 9809
NHTSA Number: 604017
Model Years Affected: 1997
Date of Bulletin: 03/1999

Bulletin Summary: SUBJECT ON CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM, FUNCTION OPTIONS.

Engine: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Service Bulletin Number: 1
NHTSA Number: 610574
Model Years Affected: 1997
Date of Bulletin: 05/2000

Bulletin Summary: INFORMATION ON REPLACING DAMAGE FASTENERS WHEN A CONDITION EXIST WHERE THE REAR LICENSE PLATE FASTENERS MAY BE BROKEN, LOOSE OR FALLEN BEHIND THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER / LENS ASSEMBLY.

Engine: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Service Bulletin Number: LT
NHTSA Number: 10006797
Model Years Affected: 1999
Date of Bulletin: 05/2004

Bulletin Summary: EMISSION RECALL LT. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HOUSING COULD BECOME DISTORTED UNDER CERTAIN CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, FUEL VAPORS COULD ESCAPE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. A VAPOR LEAK ALSO ILLUMINATES THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD MALFUNCTI

Suspension & Steering: SUSPENSION:FRONT
Service Bulletin Number: 9802
NHTSA Number: 603329
Model Years Affected: 1997
Date of Bulletin: 02/1999

Bulletin Summary: CLUNKING OR RATTLING NOISE FROM ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROADS.

Suspension & Steering: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Service Bulletin Number: JE
NHTSA Number: 10011699
Model Years Affected: 1997, 1998, 1999
Date of Bulletin: 01/2005

Bulletin Summary: CHECK/REPLACE REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS.

Suspension & Steering: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Service Bulletin Number: 11242004
NHTSA Number: 10016418
Model Years Affected: 1997, 1998, 1999
Date of Bulletin: 09/2005

Bulletin Summary: SERVICE ACTION JE CAMPAIGN-CHECK/REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. AUDI HAS FOUND THAT IN RARE CASES, ONE OR BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES CAN EXHIBIT WEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER BO

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Most Common Audi Repair Estimates

$725 - $1023