My A2 - can't part with it....

L

Leyla

Member
After lots of thoughts on reliability etc. - i have decided to
hold onto my lovely 52 reg grey A2. Getting 4 new tyres today.
Anybody have any advice on Engine management light coming
on randomly ? + now the same with ABS ? started after i was
in 2 hour traffic jam..now off - but has been on for short time since.
Audi explained that display is after all electric...so 'may' not be
accurate ! As for the small amount of oil supposedly leaked out
of gearbox...the Audi reply : normal.
Since i joined and read so many fab things about this car - i also realized
that i have aircon, electric windows, top audio system, adjustable steer-
ing wheel etc. - so can't be bad - i thought they all had it.
Though i am tempted by the Diesel - let me know if anyone is selling a
2-3 year old one.
Leyla
 
Leyla said:
After lots of thoughts on reliability etc. - i have decided to
hold onto my lovely 52 reg grey A2. Getting 4 new tyres today.
Anybody have any advice on Engine management light coming
on randomly ? + now the same with ABS ? started after i was
in 2 hour traffic jam..now off - but has been on for short time since.
Audi explained that display is after all electric...so 'may' not be
accurate ! As for the small amount of oil supposedly leaked out
of gearbox...the Audi reply : normal.
Since i joined and read so many fab things about this car - i also realized
that i have aircon, electric windows, top audio system, adjustable steer-
ing wheel etc. - so can't be bad - i thought they all had it.
Though i am tempted by the Diesel - let me know if anyone is selling a
2-3 year old one.
Leyla
Click to expand...
You've definitely made a good decision Layla and if you're ever in the Manchester area, I'll do you a full diagnostic scan to settle you fears.

Dubbsy is contemplating selling his TDi, so if you are intent on a diesel, you could do a lot worse than get his fully body-kitted car.

Cheers,

Mike
 
From my experience of A2 ownership it would not be normal for there to be no warning lights on or miscellaneous component failures.

In many ways the A2 is a great car - but it is also unreliable and under developed.

Enjoy the good times!
 
So - please tell me - that having found a friendly Audi dealership
who put it on their diagnostic as both ABS and Engine management
were on again - reset it as there was no apparent fault + ABS came
on again ! Drive around with it on ? or throw money at it + possibly
still not find out ? Whats the worst that could be wrong ?
I'm getting used to the 3 loud beeps - after several close heart attacks !
Thanks for reminding me of the good times ! I drove behind another A2
for a while today whose number plate was one letter out at the end from
mine. His face was amazed when i pulled up next to him and said that we
must be related - BIG smile as he was west indian ! Flashed at me when i
passed + he saw my plate ! That's London for you.
 
Leyla said:
So - please tell me - that having found a friendly Audi dealership
who put it on their diagnostic as both ABS and Engine management
were on again - reset it as there was no apparent fault + ABS came
on again ! Drive around with it on ? or throw money at it + possibly
still not find out ? Whats the worst that could be wrong ?
I'm getting used to the 3 loud beeps - after several close heart attacks !
Thanks for reminding me of the good times ! I drove behind another A2
for a while today whose number plate was one letter out at the end from
mine. His face was amazed when i pulled up next to him and said that we
must be related - BIG smile as he was west indian ! Flashed at me when i
passed + he saw my plate ! That's London for you.
Click to expand...
Have you got 17" wheels by any chance?

If so, the cause of the ABS fault is probably a worn sensor cable and this should be fixed free of charge by Audi, as it is the subject of a Technical Bulletin.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Thanks again Mike - just the original wheels for a 52 reg 1.4. Not very
knowledgeable on these details yet . But if i stay on this Forum i might
just be on Mastermind - Specialist Subject Audi A2 !
 
They might be 17" wheels, but probably not. Look at the numbers on the tyres for details, the number after the letter 'R' - either 15, 16 or 17 - that is the wheel diameter.

Your ABS light could be caused by a number of things - first on my list would be the steering angle sender, daft as it sounds and not the ABS controller.

Reasons being that: a) I had one replaced on my first A2 for the same reasons and b) I've never heard of an A2 ABS controller failing, especially one from a relatively recent car such as yours.

What you ideally need to do is get a VAG-COM scan and make a note of any fault code numbers it throws up. These can then be cross checked against a database and hopefully, your problem solved.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Adrenaline said:
is it as unreliable as say a Renault or peugeot?
Click to expand...

Mine is.

Currently has a MAF sensor problem; the anti roll bar has gone walkies (bad design); and the EGR valve is making that annoying noise that is apparently the result of it being mounted on the bulkhead.

The Open Sky is still working though so I am one up on some owners.

And of course mine cut through the abs sensor wires on both sides due to another design fault so I know all about those '3 beeps' and annoying flashing brake warning symbol.

Indicators are now working again following replacement of the flasher unit.

I have owned about 20 VW's / Audis / Seats / Skodas - the A2 is the most....................................

What I really liked best though was sourcing some genuine rear mudflaps for the car. Who designed 5 inch wide pieces if plastic to cut down the spray from 7 inch wheels - the teaboy or the factory cleaner?
 
My wifes A2 had the same random problem of ABS and engine management lights coming on, we found out it was happening after a hard press of the brake pedal. After that the garage diagnosed it as a faulty brake pressure switch and fitting a new one, the problem has stopped now:)
 
mjs4x4 said:
What I really liked best though was sourcing some genuine rear mudflaps for the car. Who designed 5 inch wide pieces if plastic to cut down the spray from 7 inch wheels - the teaboy or the factory cleaner?
Click to expand...

Ha ha yeah tell me about it.
 
ABS warning lights

Its at the Stealerships as i write and i'm about to find out ! or not...
The light never came on yesterday at all - not even as i braked
heavily in pouring rain ! Engine management has stayed off since
kind Audi garage reset it for free. Might have been dirty petrol as
it was a bit juddery. Its happy now that we are giving it better petrol.
 
So this is the problem ?

Sooo - have just heard from Audi - problems -:
1. Reverse light switch leaking oil
2. Gearbox sealant leaking
3. Engine oil fuel tube leaking
Apparently 1. is most probably causing ABS warning
light to come on. Electric circuit..?

I told them while still under warranty that reverse gear was
sticky. Anybody got an idea if these are big jobs ?
Thanks !
 
Hi Leyla
I have no first hand experience on any of these problems but struggle to understand why the reverse light switch would affect the ABS system. I've not read anything which indicates the wheel sensors are smart enough to know if the car is moving forward or backward so a conflicting signal from the 'iffy' reverse light switch which may think the car is still in reverse is unlikely to trigger the ABS lamp. Still, it needs fixing and its in warranty so its a bonus if it solves the ABS fault as well
Jobs 1 and 3 (likely to be the oil filler tube) sound easy but 2 could be a biggie if its anything more than a cover plate which needs re-sealing.

Let us know how you get, particularly if the garage gives you a better explaination of the reverse switch/ABS fix

Cheers Spike
 
Adrenaline said:
is it as unreliable as say a Renault or peugeot?
Click to expand...

Mine wasn't. June 2005 Tdi bought new, sold a month ago. It was my day-to-day London commuting car so had a moderately hard life.

Absolutely nothing went wrong, and (20,000 miles later) it had never visited the dealer - first service still 5000 miles away. Of my recent cars (inc TT, A4 cabriolet, BMW M3) only the A2 and another Audi (an RS4 - great great car) got through their warranty period with no claims whatsoever.

Cheers, Richard.
 
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