TCU fried by rain entry due to improper windshield Instalation

[Aronis]

Topic says it all.

Parked outside in heavy rain. Few hours later car is in limp mode. Went right down street to Audi dealer. Confirmed water entry and damage confirmed today.

Allstate AutoGlass dept involved.

Need "new TCU" but dealer looking for used. $800 or so.

New cannot be found!

Oh well!!

Mike

[dmross]

Damn! Sorry man, I swear all Audis are jinxed.

[MaxRS6]

Ooof- Why can't vendors just do their job normally?? It seems like obtaining professional services in a competent manner is a rarer and rarer treat.

[lswing]

Got a TCU sitting right here.....PM me, got it for $400 shipped from SteveK (thanks!), yours for the same price...Scary that new cannot be found. I bought two used ones a few months back. My original broken one is at Hoppen, I need to get that back just in case one day, I'm sure some soldering genius could fix it up.

[Aronis]

It was a combination of poorly seated seal and the why the car was parked slightly down hill.

Repair should be covered by the windshield co. We shall see.

Many people have things worse off considering our flood last week so I don't mean to whine!

Mike

(but I'd like electricity and cable back on. Lol. Day 6 on generator )

[MaxRS6]

^That's keeping things in perspective..

[bmlee007]

OT - I'm driving through Binghamton tomorrow on my way to Cooperstown, how is everything up that way? I was in that same area after Irene, and the customer I'm visiting was without power for 5 days after that one.

[Aronis]

Things are close to normal.

Still quite a few houses in standing water. Many people lost everything. It's quite sad.

Our power back came on an hour ago. So for us back to normal.

Mike

[TozoM8]

Gravity is a bitch. The TCU should not be on the floor.

[bmlee007]

I had a similar experience a couple months ago with my A6, parked downhill and during a nasty rain. Fortunately it's a 6-speed, so no fried TCU, but central locking was buggy for a couple weeks til everything dried out.

[Aronis]

New A8 puts the unit on the back deck between the rear seat and the trunk! takes up Golf Club space!

Mike


Gravity is a bitch. The TCU should not be on the floor.

[Aronis]

Thanks to lswing, TCU replacement is on the way!

I was at the dealership today. We are waiting on the insurance adjuster from Allstate to inspect the windshield issue. The mechanic partially removed the lower molding which was not seated properly. I hope this did not destroy 'evidence'.

The carpets are all out LOL (I hope he did not dislodge my ice-link ipod wires, that would be a pain in the &$$.

I did not have a chance to call the service department (crazy office hours today) so I'm not sure on the parts situation, thus the purchase from lswing.

I'm not sure on the diff seals or the central or rear diff service issues, still waiting. He suspected something to do with "clutch" packs in the rear diff as the cause of the strange sensation I feel when doing a turn under high load.

Holding off on replacing the intercooler, perhaps after this other stuff is sorted out.

Picked up a 2008 A4 cabrio as my backup/share with wife/14 year old soon driving/ car.

Anyone know how to get the GD bluetooth to pair with an Iphone or how to get SOUND from the Ipod integration? LOL...LOTS OF LINKS to that topic but NO solutions! D'ooh.

Mike

[kismetcapitan]

the problem you describe does sound like the clutch plates in a limited slip diff...except that our cars don't have an LSD!

[Aronis]

Hopefully he will find something easily repairable since I clearly feel the strange sensation and I don't want to ignore it until something really bad happens.

Mike


PS Bluetooth in the A4 works fine, just have to link the phone immediately after starting the car, works great, downloaded all my contacts, use the left stearing wheel thumb wheel to scroll through names, then press the thumb wheel to dial the number. Sounds great, people on the other end can hear me well even with the top down.

:)

[JSRS6]

That's right mike, you have to pair it within two minutes of startup. I think it's in the owners manual :lovl:

[lswing]

Thanks to lswing, TCU replacement is on the way!

Mike

Glad to pass along the TCU Mike. Should be there today, sent the tracking info to both accounts. Thanks to SteveK for swapping to a 6 speed manual and selling me the TCU for a good price too!

[hahnmgh63]

As Kismetcapitan said:

The RS6 was only available with Audi's Torsen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsen)-based quattro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quattro_(four_wheel_drive_system)) permanent four-wheel drive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-wheel_drive), utilising the Torsen T-2 dynamic 'automatic torque biasing' (ATB) centre differential (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_(mechanics)) (diff), a modified unit which was being used in the 6.0 litre W12 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W12_engine)-powered Audi D2 A8 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_A8#D2). The torque from the engine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_combustion_engine) is first routed from the gearbox output shaft to the Torsen centre diff, and then automatically divided and apportioned between the front and rear axles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axle).
The front and rear axle differentials (ratio: 3.197) are a conventional "open" type, but utilise an "Electronic Differential Lock" (EDL). EDL is an integrated additional function of the Bosch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bosch_GmbH) Electronic Stability Programme (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_stability_control) (ESP) system, and works by monitoring and comparing the individual roadwheel speeds across an axle, and braking an individual wheel which is sensed to have lost traction (spinning), thus transferring torque across the axle to the wheel/tyre which does have grip. "Anti-Slip Regulation" (ASR), more commonly known as traction control system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traction_control_system)<SUP id=cite_ref-3 class=reference>[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_RS6#cite_note-3)</SUP> completes the Bosch ESP-related driver aids.

And a Torsen is an all gear differential with worm gears that cause the differential to act somewhat like a limited slip but causing the slipping side to have less Torque and the traction side to have more Torque rather than more equal like a limited slip when locked up. By the way, the Torsen Gleason differential was invented by American Vernon Gleason and patented in 1958. Audi was one of the first big customers for the Torsen as well as the real Humvee H1, not the GM wannabe named H2 (Chevy Tahoe) & H3 (Chevy Colorado) chasis trucks.

[Aronis]

Thanks for the info!

Mike

[Aronis]

Still waiting on Windshield 'inspection'.

The Insurance company Glass Installation Warrantee department is taking their sweat time getting a Windshield installer to look at my car to varify the finger-o-blame.

I may just tell them to fix the car on my dime....then find a different Auto insurance company.

Mike

[DHall1]

F'em. Turn in a comp claim. Water damage from storm.




Still waiting on Windshield 'inspection'.

The Insurance company Glass Installation Warrantee department is taking their sweat time getting a Windshield installer to look at my car to varify the finger-o-blame.

I may just tell them to fix the car on my dime....then find a different Auto insurance company.

Mike

[Aronis]

So, the Glass Department is saying that since the windshield itself is not leaking, the problem must be the 'plugged' drains! BS...the bottom molding was not properly re-installed after the windshield was put in. An the point of entry is right under that molding on the passenger side.

So it's now a different claim but should be covered, assuming they ever get the adjuster there to look at the car.

Trying to get a BRAND NEW TCU from Germany.

DOT law requires a manufacture of a car sold in the US to provide parts for 10 years after the model year, so they have to find one, make one, what ever.

So insurance should be covering the water damage.

Also decided to have the gas tank recall work done, and my leaking intercooler replaced, and the hoses too... That won't be cheap. (no more warranty)

Mike

[DHall1]

Turning in a comp claim? right

Keep us informed on the TCU situation. We are getting to a point where we want product support for this car. As other members have stated...BMW claims up to 50 years parts support for some of its special cars. 10years and no more parts? I hope not.


So, the Glass Department is saying that since the windshield itself is not leaking, the problem must be the 'plugged' drains! BS...the bottom molding was not properly re-installed after the windshield was put in. An the point of entry is right under that molding on the passenger side.

So it's now a different claim but should be covered, assuming they ever get the adjuster there to look at the car.

Trying to get a BRAND NEW TCU from Germany.

DOT law requires a manufacture of a car sold in the US to provide parts for 10 years after the model year, so they have to find one, make one, what ever.

So insurance should be covering the water damage.

Also decided to have the gas tank recall work done, and my leaking intercooler replaced, and the hoses too... That won't be cheap. (no more warranty)

Mike

[lswing]

You've got a perfect TCU from me for $400, why the new one? Went out of my way to get it to you, want to sell it back? Just wondering...

[Aronis]

I bought yours because I suspect they will not be able to get one for a long time. They thought a month or more!

So I'll be using yours but they are going to get me another one on the insurance company's dime.

Then I'll have a spare. If you need one at some point it will be safely in the USA.

The goal would be to install the brand new one and remove the backup "spare". That way I can be sure they both work.

You did the TCU chip upgrade on the one you now have on your car correct? I'd like to do the same.

So I'd end up with a third swap out! Perhaps I'll leave the carpet pulled up.

Mike

[lswing]

Mike, thanks for clarifying. With so few of those out there, and living up here in the NorthWet, figured it's good to have. I would certainly send that down to Hoppen and get it chipped, that's what I did with my current one, love it! Higher shift points, crisper, more sensible around down. Hope you get your beast on the road soon!

[Aronis]

Allstate is paying for claim:)...

Mike