Random Car Chat

[TaLoN]

Audi replaced my tire for free instead of patching it. can't recall how many miles i had on them but it was less than a season and i didn't have to deal with the mfctr warranty process. why no replace? they're practically new right?

Generally replacement happens if the damage is to the sidewall of a tire, as any puncture there isn't considered repairable, as it weakens the tire.

If the puncture isn't in the sidewall, the tire isn't at all compromised, thus are likely to repair instead.

I've faced both scenarios over the years, and have gotten free tire replacements and repairs based on where the tire was damaged.

 

[rynryn]

Generally replacement happens if the damage is to the sidewall of a tire, as any puncture there isn't considered repairable, as it weakens the tire.

If the puncture isn't in the sidewall, the tire isn't at all compromised, thus are likely to repair instead.

I've faced both scenarios over the years, and have gotten free tire replacements and repairs based on where the tire was damaged.

yeah, i should have mentioned it wasn't in the sidewall, either, which was why i was surprised.
all the other punctures i've had have been too far past warranty to bother.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

@rynryn I went out walking with my kid when I hear someone mobbing down the street at probably 7000 rpm. Turn to my right and it's a f***ing 992 GT3 in GT Silver Metallic. My preschooler then turns to me and says, I shit you not, "I feel the need...the need for speed."

 

[rynryn]

@rynryn I went out walking with my kid when I hear someone mobbing down the street at probably 7000 rpm. Turn to my right and it's a f***ing 992 GT3 in GT Silver Metallic. My preschooler then turns to me and says, I shit you not, "I feel the need...the need for speed."

that's a proud moment in parenthood, knowing you've instilled the correct urges and pop culture references into your progeny.

 

[HansonBro]

Had the tint done on that Rav4 today. Front windows to match the rears and a 6" strip on the windshield.

Guys did an amazing job. Absolutely nothing to complain about. 10/10. All this from an "Ultimate Car Audio" shop. Who knew!

Almost forgot to mention, going back tomorrow to get a dash cam installed

 

[TheGreenTBer]

My daughter is throwing a fit because I won't let her take her yellow Lamborghini Huracan toy to bed right now. "I WANT MY YAMBORGEENEE!!!"

I know I'm supposed to be a good parent but you know what? I WANT MY LAMBORGHINI* TOO!



* said Lamborghini may or may not actually exist

 

[HansonBro]

My daughter is throwing a fit because I won't let her take her yellow Lamborghini Huracan toy to bed right now. "I WANT MY YAMBORGEENEE!!!"

I know I'm supposed to be a good parent but you know what? I WANT MY LAMBORGHINI* TOO!



* said Lamborghini may or may not actually exist

Wouldn't that make it a whaaamborghini?

 

[TD Charlie]

Preparing the Sorento hybrid for the Boston to Orlando journey on Saturday. Just changed the oil over the weekend, checked fluids and tires. I'm trying to to the air cleaner and cabin air filter, but can't find any parts. I'm only at 16k miles though, in 14 months of ownership, so it's probably fine. I just like to change the air cleaner out if it's remotely close before I make a long trip.

Will be cleaning out and vacuuming this week as well. I should probably also grab some better wipers.

I'm a little nervous about the car to be honest. It has a vibration that will usually last a few seconds anywhere between 40-60mph. It's infrequent enough that I can't tell if it's a transmission shudder, a shitty injector, the gas engine and battery fighting over who's carrying the load, or even just the shit stock tires hitting a little rough patch in the road. I have no codes, and the shifts are still smooth, so I've tried to ignore it. I would think if it was a bad injector I'd have more persistent and serious issues, and probably a trouble code

 

[HansonBro]

Preparing the Sorento hybrid for the Boston to Orlando journey on Saturday. Just changed the oil over the weekend, checked fluids and tires. I'm trying to to the air cleaner and cabin air filter, but can't find any parts. I'm only at 16k miles though, in 14 months of ownership, so it's probably fine. I just like to change the air cleaner out if it's remotely close before I make a long trip.

Will be cleaning out and vacuuming this week as well. I should probably also grab some better wipers.

I'm a little nervous about the car to be honest. It has a vibration that will usually last a few seconds anywhere between 40-60mph. It's infrequent enough that I can't tell if it's a transmission shudder, a shitty injector, the gas engine and battery fighting over who's carrying the load, or even just the shit stock tires hitting a little rough patch in the road. I have no codes, and the shifts are still smooth, so I've tried to ignore it. I would think if it was a bad injector I'd have more persistent and serious issues, and probably a trouble code

Check the stupid stuff, like somebody accidentally put it in "sand mode" or disabled over drive. I'd rule out the injector though, cause like you said it would def throw out a misfire code

 

[TD Charlie]

Check the stupid stuff, like somebody accidentally put it in "sand mode" or disabled over drive. I'd rule out the injector though, cause like you said it would def throw out a misfire code

Not sure I have any other options other than Eco/Smart/Sport. It defaults to eco and that's what I always drive in. I should make a few pulls in sports mode to see if I get the same hesitation.

The shifts are all super smooth, and the transitions from gas to battery butter, and that's the only reason I'm not super concerned.

 

[rynryn]

Alright I haven't run into a power problem for like 15 years so please excuse the dumb question. Scenario:

Car has been running great. Recently serviced with all green checks. Car starts in the morning as usual, drive cat to the vet 3 miles away. 10 minutes later try to start the car, a bunch of system failure messages flip rapidly through the display (automatic headlights, Audi pre-sense, etc) while the mirrors aren't folding back into position like normal. windows don't go up. i shut it off (wasn't on but hit the button again so it's just in accessory mode). no dash lights. window goes down half an inch then runs out of power. screen says "very low battery, system will shut down soon" and then shuts itself off in like 20 seconds where it usually stays on for 10 minutes. So yeah, battery is dead.

call wife, she comes and jumps me (seemed to take a little long but then again i haven't had a power issue for years and years) . let it run a couple minutes, drive the three miles back home. Turn it off. Try to turn it on again, met with same problem. okay maybe the alternator?

Jump it again, let it run, rev it up for a few minutes, drive it around a couple blocks. Come back and this time it has retained a little energy. keyless works, no warning messages turning accessory power on. try to start it and it starts with one push but almost doesn't. no warning lights, no battery light. rev it up, drive it around the block a couple times.

Same as above when i tried after letting it sit an hour (but keyless entry wouldn't work--the fob did though). rough start after one push. drove it around the block again.

Same as above when i tried after letting it sit two hours.

So what is it? Audi can't see it for almost two weeks. The first trip back didn't seem to charge the battery at all but after the jump at home it retained a little at least. didn't even check the battery..just assumed that was part of the annual service. looks brand new. didn't want to unscrew anything to lift it out of the encasement.

 

[HansonBro]

Alright I haven't run into a power problem for like 15 years so please excuse the dumb question. Scenario:

Car has been running great. Recently serviced with all green checks. Car starts in the morning as usual, drive cat to the vet 3 miles away. 10 minutes later try to start the car, a bunch of system failure messages flip rapidly through the display (automatic headlights, Audi pre-sense, etc) while the mirrors aren't folding back into position like normal. windows don't go up. i shut it off (wasn't on but hit the button again so it's just in accessory mode). no dash lights. window goes down half an inch then runs out of power. screen says "very low battery, system will shut down soon" and then shuts itself off in like 20 seconds where it usually stays on for 10 minutes. So yeah, battery is dead.

call wife, she comes and jumps me (seemed to take a little long but then again i haven't had a power issue for years and years) . let it run a couple minutes, drive the three miles back home. Turn it off. Try to turn it on again, met with same problem. okay maybe the alternator?

Jump it again, let it run, rev it up for a few minutes, drive it around a couple blocks. Come back and this time it has retained a little energy. keyless works, no warning messages turning accessory power on. try to start it and it starts with one push but almost doesn't. no warning lights, no battery light. rev it up, drive it around the block a couple times.

Same as above when i tried after letting it sit an hour (but keyless entry wouldn't work--the fob did though). rough start after one push. drove it around the block again.

Same as above when i tried after letting it sit two hours.

So what is it? Audi can't see it for almost two weeks. The first trip back didn't seem to charge the battery at all but after the jump at home it retained a little at least. didn't even check the battery..just assumed that was part of the annual service. looks brand new. didn't want to unscrew anything to lift it out of the encasement.

My gut would say alternator. But first I'm visually inspecting the battery terminals and wires for corrosion and firmly giving the wires a twist to confirm good contact.

If your battery is 5 years or older, you might just as well change that too. If you decide to change the alternator yourself, don't forget to unhook the negegtive battery terminal first.

 

[rynryn]

My gut would say alternator. But first I'm visually inspecting the battery terminals and wires for corrosion and firmly giving the wires a twist to confirm good contact.

If your battery is 5 years or older, you might just as well change that too. If you decide to change the alternator yourself, don't forget to unhook the negegtive battery terminal first.

It's absolutely pristine and there's no loose anything around the battery. Is it possible a wire is chewed/corroded/loose off the alternator and it's something that wouldn't take an entire alternator swap? Like hit a bump and it transfers energy until the next bump knocks it the other way?

Sat overnight, no charging or jumping and it started the next morning. Again, reluctantly.

 

[HansonBro]

It's absolutely pristine and there's no loose anything around the battery. Is it possible a wire is chewed/corroded/loose off the alternator and it's something that wouldn't take an entire alternator swap? Like hit a bump and it transfers energy until the next bump knocks it the other way?

Sat overnight, no charging or jumping and it started the next morning. Again, reluctantly.

I mean sure it's possible, but highly unlikely with battery cables.

Did you take off the rubber guard on the alternator cable and inspect that connection?

Anyways dont be too frazzled over it. Alternators are notorious to fail in any vehicle. Even in a big rig like mine, I still avoid water puddles as best I can....unless I'm on the track. Water exposure is the worst for alternators and starters

I don't even know what you're driving. An Audi? Sorry I've forgotten over time. But either way it's the alternator or battery, so best to do just both

 

[rynryn]

I mean sure it's possible, but highly unlikely with battery cables.

Did you take off the rubber guard on the alternator cable and inspect that connection?

Anyways dont be too frazzled over it. Alternators are notorious to fail in any vehicle. Even in a big rig like mine, I still avoid water puddles as best I can....unless I'm on the track. Water exposure is the worst for alternators and starters

I don't even know what you're driving. An Audi? Sorry I've forgotten over time. But either way it's the alternator or battery, so best to do just both

yes, Audi. They have a light for everything else, i don't know why there isn't one for the alternator. At the very least you'd think there would be a dash light on after i started it...something to let me know shit isn't charging properly.

got an appt tmrw at a local euro garage. hopefully it's something they can look at and be like "yup" without a full diagnostic.

 

[HansonBro]

yes, Audi. They have a light for everything else, i don't know why there isn't one for the alternator. At the very least you'd think there would be a dash light on after i started it...something to let me know shit isn't charging properly.

got an appt tmrw at a local euro garage. hopefully it's something they can look at and be like "yup" without a full diagnostic.

Well you know the saying, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

What year and model is it? I'm curious how much an Audi alternator is. $200-300? $400? Plus I'd expect 2 hours labor even though it probably takes under an hour.

 

[TaLoN]

Preparing the Sorento hybrid for the Boston to Orlando journey on Saturday. Just changed the oil over the weekend, checked fluids and tires. I'm trying to to the air cleaner and cabin air filter, but can't find any parts. I'm only at 16k miles though, in 14 months of ownership, so it's probably fine. I just like to change the air cleaner out if it's remotely close before I make a long trip.

Will be cleaning out and vacuuming this week as well. I should probably also grab some better wipers.

I'm a little nervous about the car to be honest. It has a vibration that will usually last a few seconds anywhere between 40-60mph. It's infrequent enough that I can't tell if it's a transmission shudder, a shitty injector, the gas engine and battery fighting over who's carrying the load, or even just the shit stock tires hitting a little rough patch in the road. I have no codes, and the shifts are still smooth, so I've tried to ignore it. I would think if it was a bad injector I'd have more persistent and serious issues, and probably a trouble code

A vibration between 40-60mph, if you feel it in thr steering wheel, it's likely just a wheel ot of balance.

 

[TD Charlie]

A vibration between 40-60mph, if you feel it in thr steering wheel, it's likely just a wheel ot of balance.

Oddly enough, i think it only reared its head after i had the dealership service it and rotate tires

 

[TaLoN]

yes, Audi. They have a light for everything else, i don't know why there isn't one for the alternator. At the very least you'd think there would be a dash light on after i started it...something to let me know shit isn't charging properly.

got an appt tmrw at a local euro garage. hopefully it's something they can look at and be like "yup" without a full diagnostic.

If the battery was getting old, when you had it serviced, they'd have gotten errors in your service check from the computer. Audi computers like to trip batteries early (mine has been tripping their system for 2 years, i keep telling them to leave it, will be getting it swapped myself here before this winter though), so i wouldn't be too concerned there, it's likely the alternator or a connector for the alternator.

Oddly enough, i think it only reared its head after i had the dealership service it and rotate tires

That'd be my guess then, or maybe a loose wheel/ lug nut

Bring it back to where you did the rotation and let them know.

 

[HansonBro]

If the battery was getting old, when you had it serviced, they'd have gotten errors in your service check from the computer. Audi computers like to trip batteries early (mine has been tripping their system for 2 years, i keep telling them to leave it, will be getting it swapped myself here before this winter though), so i wouldn't be too concerned there, it's likely the alternator or a connector for the alternator.


That'd be my guess then, or maybe a loose wheel/ lug nut

Bring it back to where you did the rotation and let them know.

You think a shop ever does a loose lugnut? Lol

 

[TaLoN]

You think a shop ever does a loose lugnut? Lol

Yup. Often times they have some punk kid doing he lugnuts and they don't tighten them down in the proper pattern.

 

[HansonBro]

Yup. Often times they have some punk kid doing he lugnuts and they don't tighten them down in the proper pattern.

View attachment 577882

Lol i was referring to them usually just blasting them on way too tight

 

[HansonBro]

I installed those black plastic window guards/shields on the the Rav4 today. Was nice to spend an hour with my pops and have a beer. The fit could have been a bit better, as there was no way to avoid exposing a bit of chrome on both the front doors. May have to tape off and paint black. So I give this job an 8/10

But either way it's neat to see my dad modding a car. He's 70 years old with Parkinson's and never gave a f*** about cars in his life

 

[rynryn]

It was just a dead cell in the battery thank christ. i still have no idea why there wasn't a warning light. drove around and noticed things like the auto windows not auto-ing. not one time has the battery tripped anything or shown the slightest hesitation in starts even in the -20F weeks. I don't know. just zero degradation until a cell went bad. Guy was surprised it even started by itself. He told me very lucky it wasn't an alternator as it's a PITA on that car. Diagnostics came up roses on everything else so happy there was no cascade effect where other shit was frying. Kind of figured it was going to be "well, your alternator misbehaved and then this happened and then this happened"

thanks for the ideas!

edit: oh the diagnostic was $160 and the Bat replacement was $330. evidently there's a $94 charge for the battery handling and coding.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

It was just a dead cell in the battery thank christ. i still have no idea why there wasn't a warning light. drove around and noticed things like the auto windows not auto-ing. not one time has the battery tripped anything or shown the slightest hesitation in starts even in the -20F weeks. I don't know. just zero degradation until a cell went bad. Guy was surprised it even started by itself. He told me very lucky it wasn't an alternator as it's a PITA on that car. Diagnostics came up roses on everything else so happy there was no cascade effect where other shit was frying. Kind of figured it was going to be "well, your alternator misbehaved and then this happened and then this happened"

thanks for the ideas!

edit: oh the diagnostic was $160 and the Bat replacement was $330. evidently there's a $94 charge for the battery handling and coding.

Yeah this confuses me as well.