Audi warranty denial....

[Gaygle]

OP definitely just needs to remove it from Audi and get it to an independent hybrid specialist to diagnose. These systems are so complicated and with Audi clearly having absolutely no idea how to diagnose this car, they want to just wash their hands of it ASAP.

This needs someone with proper knowledge to have a look at and diagnose. Like i said before - I'm assuming they've charged the 12v battery or at least swapped a good one in to check this?

 

[Scougar]

In my mind, if the Ghost installers said it won't affect warranty, then it's likely lawyer time as it's false advertising.

 

[Basher]

In my mind, if the Ghost installers said it won't affect warranty, then it's likely lawyer time as it's false advertising.

I don't think they did, though?

 

[gc123]

sorry to act devils advocate here but no one knows really what the problem is with the vehicle or what caused it. to start blaming the ghost or the installer for what could be a simple component breakdown on the vehicle is ridiculous .

pull it from the dealer , get it looked at by a qualified company , and go from there. as i said long ago it may be down to a couple of quid component or many thousands, but i can bet if left for audi to fault find it will become the latter.......lets change that....nope didnt cure it ....lets try this ...same reply until they may get lucky by which time they may have fitted a dozen items all charged to the customer plus labour.

the good old days of taking something apart and finding out if there is a fault has gone now its replace,replace ,replace...at someones cost.

find a good well respected auto electrical company or a decent audi/v/w specialist , you may get lucky and they may already have come accross this problem and know the answer. its times like this i wish i wasnt past my prime i used to live for jobs like this , everyone gives up can only get better

 

[Del Lardo]

I linked to this thread on another forum I frequent as a chap there was buying a new RS6 and planned to fit a Ghost. He collected it last night and Audi advised him to fit one and told him it would not invalidate the warranty. It's been suggested that he gets that in writing!!!

 

[turbo]

I linked to this thread on another forum I frequent as a chap there was buying a new RS6 and planned to fit a Ghost. He collected it last night and Audi advised him to fit one and told him it would not invalidate the warranty. It's been suggested that he gets that in writing!!!

See that's exactly the double standards I have come to realise exist over something like this. I can guarantee that's the salesman's viewpoint though. If he said that to his manager the response would probably be more corporate than helpful. However if you have a link to the forum that you have posted this on it would be interesting to see how that develops or a copy of the letter / email stating this would not invalidate his warranty if one ever materialises.

 

[adam cool dude]

See that's exactly the double standards I have come to realise exist over something like this. I can guarantee that's the salesman's viewpoint though. If he said that to his manager the response would probably be more corporate than helpful. However if you have a link to the forum that you have posted this on it would be interesting to see how that develops or a copy of the letter / email stating this would not invalidate his warranty if one ever materialises.

If that guy can get a letter from Audi confirming this might help you as you have evidence as a group that Audi will honour the warranty.

 

[Robbo]

If that guy can get a letter from Audi confirming this might help you as you have evidence as a group that Audi will honour the warranty.

Definitely, although I'd be very surprised if Audi agree to it. Salesmen will say pretty much anything without checking, I'm assuming it wasn't the dealer principal or Audi UK directly.

 

[Jono8]

Can the OP get ghost to write a letter for audi stating that there is no way their unit could have caused the damage?

Alternatively, does the ghost system itself have any warranty/cover with it (ie if the ghost system is determined to have damaged the car, are they liable).

The way I see it, either the manufacturer of the car or the manufacturer of the immobiliser or the immobiliser installer are responsible , depending on what the actual fault was.

So as suggested, the OP really needs to get an independent report of what the actual problem was, then he would be in a much better place to challenge either Audi or Autowatch or the installer.

The main problem right now is that no one knows what the actual issue was and what is was caused by and no party is willing to find out on their dime.

 

[jpaul]

Pistonheads ghost thread, adjacent to your audi one, is interesting -
The bmw replies say that in the lesser case of a dashcam install - it's fine to install one & warranty not invalidated, as long as it is not implicated.
that ops, ghost case, where cylinder problem claim refused, has conjecture that ghost immobiliser could work by cutting fuel pump, or injector enable, which could be responsible.

BMW Voiding Warranty due to Immobiliser - Page 5 - M Power ...
www.pistonheads.com › gassing › topic
3 Mar 2021 — If he uses non Star-marked tyres, is that a warranty-voiding modification? If he used OEM but not Genuine BMW brake discs, is that a warranty- ...

Audi warranty denial.... - Page 1 - Audi, VW, Seat & Skoda ...
www.pistonheads.com › gassing › topic
Audi warranty denial. ... I had a ghost immobiliser fitted by an approved installer virtually the day after ... I called the RAC who promptly took 5 hours to come.

interesting , suggesting use of ghost transport mode at garage

I decided to actually test service mode before a dealer visit

I noted the time when I hit 30mph, and did a bit of mixed driving, and regularly dropped below 30 (in theory resetting the timer). 15 mins after initially exceeding 30, I got all sorts of warnings going off. My iDrive screen flashed up with something about the protection system being disabled. I had a similar message in the dash, and the internal gong was banging away. It certainly made its presence known. I had to press the iDrive controller to acknowledge the warning, but the gong was still going off. Pressing the traction control button shut the gong down, but it may stop itself after a timeout period. I can imagine the dealer being thoroughly impressed with this

 

[turbo]

Ok so the finance company called me today and said that for any faults they are liable to step in for are those found within the first 6 months of my ownership. After this time any faults that occur with the vehicle are on my head and should (I think she said) be taken up with the retailer that you purchased the car from so I take that as use your warranty.

So they didn't say 'you need to pay for the car', etc, etc.

I have one final thing to do and that is to complain to the dealer principle about how this has all been handled.

- I've been told in the Audi report that an 'external' influence has damaged the car. Which was apparently or potentially a jump pack in this instance.

- Having contacted the RAC they have assured me via an investigation that they only have access to 12v jump packs and out of all the people to jump start cars, recovery guys should be more than 'qualified'. If jump starting a car was not safe why do jump poles exist on the car? This report also states that at the time of recovery the alternator was deemed as being the cause of the breakdown.

- Audi began working on the car fully knowing that the Ghost immobiliser was fitted and at no point was I informed before any work was undertaken or carried out during the diagnostic phase that this would present 'difficulties' with warranty payments. This included the master tech that was apparently trying to diagnose the faults on the car and fix it.

- I still have not been told why the car broke down or how they plan on fixing the car whether its via warranty or through me paying!
In the initial audi report the 48v battery is coming back as faulty? I realise that the car starts and runs on the 12v side but could this have spiked the car? Its showing an overload and we have blown fuses? Surely a battery can damage the car? We also have the query on the alternator from the RAC's initial assessment. The alternator works on the 12v side and almost certainly is capable of causing damage to the 12v side if it fails.

- I was advised by the service manager to look into making an 'insurance claim' against the vehicle for damage sustained to the vehicle. This is still damage that has not been properly investigated and it appeared to me to be pure guess work as to what has happened so far. For a breakdown why was this advised on a car that has covered 8000 miles and has been fault free up until now. I would also add that the vehicle has only ever been worked on at your dealership and the last service was just 300 miles ago.

Anything else you think I should add into this guys?

Thanks

 

[support_bae]

Ok so the finance company called me today and said that for any faults they are liable to step in for are those found within the first 6 months of my ownership. After this time any faults that occur with the vehicle are on my head and should (I think she said) be taken up with the retailer that you purchased the car from so I take that as use your warranty.

So they didn't say 'you need to pay for the car', etc, etc.

I have one final thing to do and that is to complain to the dealer principle about how this has all been handled.

- I've been told in the Audi report that an 'external' influence has damaged the car. Which was apparently or potentially a jump pack in this instance.

- Having contacted the RAC they have assured me via an investigation that they only have access to 12v jump packs and out of all the people to jump start cars, recovery guys should be more than 'qualified'. If jump starting a car was not safe why do jump poles exist on the car? This report also states that at the time of recovery the alternator was deemed as being the cause of the breakdown.

- Audi began working on the car fully knowing that the Ghost immobiliser was fitted and at no point was I informed before any work was undertaken or carried out during the diagnostic phase that this would present 'difficulties' with warranty payments.
This included the master tech that was apparently trying to diagnose the faults on the car and fix it.

- I still have not been told why the car broke down or how they plan on fixing the car whether its via warranty or through me paying!
In the initial audi report the 48v battery is coming back as faulty? I realise that the car starts and runs on the 12v side but could this have spiked the car? Its showing an overload and we have blown fuses? Surely a battery can damage the car?

- I was advised by the service manager to look into making an 'insurance claim' against the vehicle for damage sustained to the vehicle. This is still damage that has not been properly investigated and it appeared to me to be pure guess work as to what has happened so far. For a breakdown why was this advised on a car that has covered 8000 miles and has been fault free up until now. I would also add that the vehicle has only ever been worked on at your dealership and the last service was just 300 miles ago.

Anything else you think I should add into this guys?

Thanks

Wasting your time mate. Pay and get it fixed.

 

[dlockers]

Have you got a proposal to make everyone whole again?

I'd finish along the lines of, send a chap to remove the Ghost for avoidance of doubt, Audi proceed to do repair? If they knew the Ghost had been fitted and still went ahead and swapped the rack, I'd say this is the biggest gotcha for them.

I also wouldn't be surprised if they are reading this thread.

 

[booyaka]

I still think your going to find it hard to get Audi to move from the original status of not a warranty fix....

You need to find a rock solid reason why it should be them (warranty) footing the bill and not you. They will fall back on the warranty is void as you fitted the Ghost which could cause problems. Not saying it has or did, but they have the get out right there.

At the moment - your grasping at straws. Finance company said - get it fixed, RAC said "not us", Audi saying, "you voided warranty". So unless you can prove someone is wrong, your going nowhere.

It's been nearly 4 weeks now and nothing has changed, You've not got any independent evidence to prove anything either

 

[Maccapacca]

I’d say buy some lube.

Wasting your time mate. Pay and get it fixed.

Nothing had changed then?

 

[gc123]

[

- I was advised by the service manager to look into making an 'insurance claim' against the vehicle for damage sustained to the vehicle. This is still damage that has not been properly investigated and it appeared to me to be pure guess work as to what has happened so far. For a breakdown why was this advised on a car that has covered 8000 miles and has been fault free up until now. I would also add that the vehicle has only ever been worked on at your dealership and the last service was just 300 miles ago.

Anything else you think I should add into this guys?

Thanks[/QUOTE]

so again now audi are trying to palm it off on the insurance, i did say originally this may be a route but it still needs audi or someone to tell them what is actually wrong with the vehicle.

i would imagine this car is now becoming a very hot potato that they are all trying to avoid with no one accepting fault ... even if the insurance accepted the claim without a clear reason for the fault or even a estimate to repair it they would either have to walk away or make it a total loss, there not going to write a blank cheque... audi have to give you more info as to what has gone wrong, its not a couple of hundred pound car the can just say oh well about. someone has to accept fault or you have to get it repair as ive said multiple times then seek refunds and damages against parties found responsible.

 

[gc123]

ok last bit if you do speak to insurance company maybe you have legal cover to perhaps help, however the longer this drags out the less likely the insurance will want to get involved in the dispute.

 

[Dandle]

so again now audi are trying to palm it off on the insurance, i did say originally this may be a route but it still needs audi or someone to tell them what is actually wrong with the vehicle.

i would imagine this car is now becoming a very hot potato that they are all trying to avoid with no one accepting fault ... even if the insurance accepted the claim without a clear reason for the fault or even a estimate to repair it they would either have to walk away or make it a total loss, there not going to write a blank cheque... audi have to give you more info as to what has gone wrong, its not a couple of hundred pound car the can just say oh well about. someone has to accept fault or you have to get it repair as ive said multiple times then seek refunds and damages against parties found responsible.

This isn't a hot potato at all. Audi will not be bothered its parked at the dealership, they don't see it as their problem and the only looser in this situation is the owner. As far as Audi are concerned you could still be arguing about this in six months time. The best I think that can be salvaged out of this is Audi may offer you a percentage of goodwill against the cost of repair.

The onus here is to prove that the Ghost/RAC haven't caused the issues and that would be very hard to prove.

 

[gc123]

This isn't a hot potato at all. Audi will not be bothered its parked at the dealership, they don't see it as their problem and the only looser in this situation is the owner. As far as Audi are concerned you could still be arguing about this in six months time. The best I think that can be salvaged out of this is Audi may offer you a percentage of goodwill against the cost of repair.

The onus here is to prove that the Ghost/RAC haven't caused the issues and that would be very hard to prove.

which again is impossible with it stood at audi..................hence they and the rac plus autowatch have for the time being washed there hands of it . i would think the next straw will be when audi start to want storage for it or interest on the costs of there replacement rack.

you need to pull it from them as quick as possible or at least have a company set up ready to collect it the moment your talks with the dealer cease or you will get extra charges.

and as for audi argueing 6 months down the line ..they arnt they have washed there hands of it.

would not surprise me to see it parked in a compound around the back outside , often had this at dealers when repairs went into dispute.

 

[HoneyBadger]

But did you tell the finance company that a seemingly non-approved device was added to the car?

At this point, you need to take pro-action yourself. You’re getting no-where.

If it were me:

1) Contact the company that fitted the ghost, tell them to remove it, preferably at Audi.
2) Ask the dealer why they swapped the rack without your authorisation and carried out any work on the car with the ghost fitted, ask them if it’s conceivable that further damage could have occurred with the work they have carried out to date. You’re not blaming them, just asking them if it’s possible
3) State you want reasons for work carried out on the car, further reasons from Audi to explain why these fuses have blown
4) State that you will be seeking an expert, independent party report to all these failures and what could/what did cause them and why
5) Talk to the dealer regarding costs of repair, so with ghost removed, the car as it stands, how much will it cost to get it back on the road and what ever they say, try to negotiate/stretch good will
6) Seek legal advise as a backup
7) Unless anything is discovered in a third party report to implicate them, drop the RAC blaming