Audi warranty denial....

Also if you absolutely have to jump start one do it the proper way + > +, - > earth point

Not - > - like pretty much everyone does :p

Sounds like a pretty pony situation to be in. I wouldn't be totally surprised to hear that disconnecting the 12V battery for a day, replacing the fuses and replacing with a fresh 12V battery solves the problem.

Quite a different car but our Punto used to go ballistic when the battery got low enough. Power steering was usually one of the first to go with a rather drastic warning message. Sometimes accompanied by an ABS warning for good measure. Good charge of the battery always solved it, until the alternator failed and was replaced. No more issues again after that.

It isn't just because it was a Fiat (although that probably didn't help) either. I'm not in the motor trade but some of our training products are full engine rigs that never really get run for long enough to charge the batteries. Seen some really random OBD codes that have been caused by low 12V over the years!
 
This doesn't seem right. The 48v system has over charged the 48v battery? that electrical circuit is separate to the 12v main electrical system used to start the car, run the lights etc. The 48v system is used for auxiliary motor power to help with fuel efficiency isn't it? Jump starting the 12v side couldn't cause it to over charge. The car didn't even really run after it was jump started anyway did it?

A lot of these faults seem typical of a main battery failure, the power steering rack is one of the first things the car will drop off the electrical system when load shedding. Dont know about the fuses blowing and stuff that is a bit odd though.

I would be surprised if you get anywhere though I had awful warranty experience with Audi UK on a 12 month old car a few years ago and ended up moving to a BMW.
 
had this time ans again with main dealers any fault and dealer blame not factory items, first port of call is make ghost company aware of problems , i assume they operate the same as others. we used to be cobra dealers and if a problem occured they would send a technician out from head office to check the install and the equipment, most if not all of these installs are done to fitting sheets provided by the main company cobra/scorpion/clifford etc so imagine ghost is the same.

if the fault is down to there product they will be insured, if not they can issue a report to help you proceed.

only had it twice in nearly 20 years once on a brand new golf gti electric window motor burned out , blamed the insurance approved alarm, and tried to disclaim all warranty, cobra proved motor fault and spoke to audi direct where they conceded they had to recall due to faulty window motors.

and ford where car refused to start one morning and that almost went to litergation before ford backed down, again main dealer being a pratt, wasnt privvy to all the details on that because my company was cleared early on and cobra took ford for defamation or the likes. at the time it was well known and there was paperwork circulating stating from ford head office to actively look for any not standard fitted items if faults occured and blame them.

strange thing was we ended up doing most of the main dealer security fitments for many local dealers.
 
the thing here is to be proactive get the rac involved they will have inspectors , get the immobiliser company involved and inspections done, get all your little ducks in a line then if audi still argue it you have fall back areas.

again rac like the aa have there own inspectors and insurance.
 
It really is pathetic that large companies will do their uptmost to avoid any sort of expensive. Even when it's detrimental to their customer base or image.
It's when their PR gets a hit they act.
 
Diagro said:
It really is pathetic that large companies will do their uptmost to avoid any sort of expensive. Even when it's detrimental to their customer base or image.
It's when their PR gets a hit they act.
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If only they said tampering with the wiring harness of the car was out of warranty, huh. :confused:
 
Diagro said:
It really is pathetic that large companies will do their uptmost to avoid any sort of expensive. Even when it's detrimental to their customer base or image.
It's when their PR gets a hit they act.
Click to expand...
It's pathetic people expect big companies to roll over like some sort of charity because they don't like the answer they get after messing with stuff they probably shouldn't.
 
dLockers said:
Ah I see. Makes sense. I would have stuck to a 5 quid RFID wallet but there you go.
Click to expand...

I've had these since I've had the car. At the end of the day I was doing everything in my power to save on it potentially being stolen. The Ghost seemed like the best option at the time. I've been burgled before for my E60 M5 nearly eight years ago now but it leaves a bad taste in your mouth and I didn't want to fall victim to vehicle theft if I could have done something about it.

Had I known that this sort of device would be a get out for Audi if I needed to use the warranty I would have certainly not had it installed. It would have been better for it to be stolen (if its possible to say that) than have to deal with what's being put in front of me now.

I spoke with Audi this morning and basically laid it out to them regarding the 'battery overload'. I wanted them to confirm for me before I went after the RAC that the boosting of the vehicle could be the 'overload' that they are seeing as being recorded. They said it could very possibly be the issue so with that in mind I contacted RAC's complaints department. When I was recovered they did not send a patrolman to me and the vehicle. I dare say the vehicle if it had been inspected before recovery was made the RAC could have formed there own report for me which could have then been used as an aid to identifying why I broke down. Instead they sent a recovery agent only who has jump started the car multiple times. Its then gone to a holding yard and its taken them nearly 24 hours to get it out of a holding yard and to Audi. I have no idea what has been done with the vehicle in-between it leaving me and getting to Audi. It has clearly been boosted (at minimum) a further three times, once to get it off the original truck, an additional time to reload it to another truck and then a third time to unload it at Audi.

I was promised that it was leaving me and going straight to Audi, which it did not.

The dealer after speaking with them this morning are clearly having a problem explaining what has caused the fuses to blow and other components that they can put to Audi. I suppose if they cannot explain how an item in the system has led to such a failure it will be rejected by Audi head office and any claims for costs also rejected. They have then picked up on the Ghost as a convenient scape goat out of the situation.

I cant explain how a car goes from driving on the road one minute to being at Audi the next with blown fuses and an overload in the battery system unless something has been done to cause this.

I was recovered with no battery power - not to much!
 
dLockers said:
Sounds like a real crap place to be! I feel for you.

This installer seems to explicitly state that it doesn't affect the warranty. Have Ghost been of any use of to you to corroborate that fact?

https://www.sasmobile.co.uk/tech-details/Autowatch-Ghost-FAQs#:~:text=Installing a Ghost will not,never voided a vehicles warranty.
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My installer basically laughed when I told them, and I understand why. This has not caused the issue. He said he would gladly talk with the main dealer but this wont mean anything will it?

They are a very well regarded garage in the area so not a mobile service, etc. They would possibly hold weight if it go pushed that far down the line? Failing that I could speak with Ghost to see what their point of view is as they must have come across this situation before...
 
That's true.

I re-read the email you copy pasted and they don't seem to explicitly call out the Ghost as a reason to void the warranty. It says it is 'not endorsed' but not explicitly a reason to void the warranty.

They then say it could suggest an issue has been caused due to external factors but they seem to be very careful with their language.

I guess they may be chancing you withdraw the vehicle from them and do some of the other ideas you have come up with.

I'd make clear you will leave it there until fixed and will be escalating to the group to push through the approval?
 
Just ask Audi to state a reason why they are not honouring the warranty as you want to give it to your solicitor. That email is just ifs buts and maybes.

You can't say the car is broken because it MAY have been messed about with. You need to prove it.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and I know you were only trying to do the right thing, but never install something on a car under warranty.
 
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