Variable Service Interval - too short

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pdchector

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My A2 1.4 SE had its first "long life" service last May at 2 years old with 11724 mile on the clock.

The service interval indicator had previously advised a service was required around 8000 miles. Guildford Audi reset it advising it had been "set incorrectly in the factory"[3]

I have covered 1300 further miles, mainly on short journeys to work around a mile each way plus the a twice weekly run to the airport around ten miles. The service indicator now says service required in 500 miles.

Has anyone else had very short service intervals come up on their cars?[30]

The local dealer in Aberdeen will investigate next week, I am supsecting the algorithms in the computer are very biased against frequent short journeys.[26]

Paul

A2 1.4 SE Silver, Climate, CD Changer, winter pack - April 01
 
You say you have only done 1300 miles since last May! Short journeys are bad for the engine and this is why your service interval is so short in mileage terms. Remember you don't have to have the variable service, if you are doing such low mileages opt for the fixed service intervals of 10,000 miles or two yearly - whichever comes first. Variable servicing is for cars which cover average to high mileages i.e. more than 12,000 miles per year.
 
Paul

The oil test sensor has been known to fail and give false reading to the service computer. I know of one other A2 owner who had this problem so there may be others, like you.

Ask the dealer for some advice on that matter.

I believe you can ask the dealer to set the service intervals to fixed (12,000 miles or whatever it is). I don't think you have to stick the the VSI. Again, ask the dealer.

Bottom line-if it is due to the short journeys you undertake then think twice about skipping on servicing. Short journeys take their toll on the oil (and therefore the rest of the engine).

Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit
 
Thanks for the quality advice Dave and Steve, I too was thinking I should skip the long life service and go for a standard 10000 mile and save on the oil costs. I am inclined to go for a service regardless as the short trips in cold Aberdeen are not kind to the engine. The dealer had suggested that for my circumstances to be fair.

I still have a few days on the warranty to go, so I will get them to look at the oil sensor too.
 
I bought my 1.4 petrol in January and it was 15 months old with 6000m on the clock / 12000m till service. I drove in Jan and March but the car spent Feb at the Dealer being fixed --- total of 1000m.
My service indicator is now down to 2800m!
Last week I did 180 m round trip on motorway and it came down from 4000 to 2800 in a day. The car is now 18 months old.
By the way, are fixed services any cheaper?
 
My 1.4 TDI claims it still doesn`t need a service untill another 6000 miles which means the first service will be at 32,000 miles
 
Our Petrol 1.4 is now due, 18 months old and around 12k, mainly 5-10 mile runs. Not too bad based on the way SWMBO drives it.

Only saving on going to fixed interval is the oil and the saving will probably only be £20 or so. We will stick to the variable since it is still a six month longer interval between services.

Ian

2002 1.4 Petrol SE, silver with climate control.
Why are NEARLY all the A2s in Lichfield silver ? ? ?
 
My first service came around @ Just under 32,000 miles.
My local dealer informed me that Audi would not honour your warranty if you travel further than 32,000 between servicing.
Regardless of your service indicator.
 
Well my car (Petrol 1.4) is giving me the same headache, I bought it last June, it had about 23k miles on it then. The dealer gave it a full service and the display said 15000 km (about 9400 miles) to the next service. I've now driven about 3000 miles since then, and now it says 625 miles to next service.
 
I should also say that I drive mainly shorter distances, occasionally up to 45 miles, but usually around 3-5 miles. I live in northern Sweden though which means starting in below zero temperatures quite often from November to April. Sometimes as cold as minus 25 degrees...
 
My A2 TDi is 18 months old and the service indicator has never registered any more than about 6000 miles and has been coming down fast. Two weeks ago during a 350 miles trip (in 1 day), the 'Service' message appeared. At the end of that journey, the total mileage covered is 2400 only. But the car has never done a short journey of less than say 8 miles, and 1700 -1800 of the total miles are accounted for by about 10 journeys of 100-350 miles, mostly in one day. Obviously I have another car. I am thinking that the car is set for a fixed miles service routine; the car was imported from Malta. I am not inclined to have an expensive service until 2 years and so plan to ignore 'Service' until later in the year. Any thoughts?
 
Puppes
A lot of small journeys will shorten the service intervals dramatically. Even more so if the climate is cold-the engine wear will be a lot higher doing what you are doing. But that is your lifestyle so you must accept that the car will need a bit more looking after!

Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit
 
My A2 TDI looks like it will last 30k miles between services. Great in terms of cost, but then again its just had to have a new water pump so overall I'm not that impressed.
 
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