Engine problem ends road trip to Canada and Moutcha Bay

My wife and I took a week off to visit her relatives in Vancouver, BC and to hook up with Zeelander and Polepole later in the week at Moutcha Bay for the salmon derby.

About two hours into our long road trip, the engine oil pressure warning light comes on in my wife's Audi.  I immediately called Tin "vwtech329", a good firend and the best euro car mechanic on the planet.  Tin feared that the low oil pressure might be related to an "oil sludge" problem affecting some Audi and VW cars with 1.8 turbo engines like ours.   He mentioned Audi issued a service bulletin letter to warn about the problem and provide extended warranty to owners.

The problem was serious and Tin advised us to take the next exit and head back, so we did just that.  Just as we hit the off ramp the engine started lugging and making noises, so I asked my wife to pull into the nearest parking lot.  As soon as we get there, the car stalls and won't start up again.  GAME OVER.

Here we were, stranded in a Walmart parking in Willows just off of I-5 about 140 miles from home.  Luckily, our auto insurance covers towing and we were able to find a local towing service willing to drive the distance to Tin's shop in San Francisco.

That sucks, my friend.     I'm sorry you missed a good trip, but you'll get it back in Karma - just keep your chin up and look for the Half Full part.   

Bummer! 

Better now than in the middle of Vancouver Island I suppose.

That's a bummer Chuck.

Better now than in the middle of Vancouver Island I suppose.

Would defiantly be a hassle but not a bad place to be stuck.

Chuck,

I can sympathize. My Audi A6 started having those issues last year. It was a 2004 Bi turbo, just a kick to drive but when one thing after another started happening, I traded it in. Bought a new Sonata LX with the 240HP V6, its also a kick to drive, and haven't had a single issue with it..Just got back from driving to Denver from Santa Cruz, 90mph most of the time.

Saw Jethro Tull at Red Rocks!!!

Hope you get a new engine on Audi's dime!!

Rich

DOH!!! Bummer Chuck, was looking forward to fishing w/ you in the Great White North. Glad you got home w/o too much issues. I've been stranded in the middle of bum-F Egypt and it's not too fun. We will miss you up there.

Z

Dood!....good it happened in town(not yours) but at least Aki&Wifie didn't suffer too bad.
That plainly BLOWS.....hope Audi stands behind their product.

Dood!....good it happened in town(not yours) but at least Aki&Wifie didn't suffer too bad.
That plainly BLOWS.....hope Audi stands behind their product.

I feel your pain Chuck.
I was once driving back from Bellingham, WA and my Chevy Luv ( Yea that long ago ) broke down 'round midnight, 27 miles north of Eugene, OR.
Do you have any idea what was 27 mile north of Eugene, OR in 1989 around midnight Sunday/Monday??? Not a damned thing!!! Cell phone>> What's that??
FINALLY got help. When when it was discovered I was from CALIFORNIA I should have made my way to the nearest store for an extra large jar of Vasoline 'cuz the way I was gettin' reamed I sure could have used it!!!

Sorry to hear about your bad fortune.  I think Abking has it right though, you'll be gettin yours sometime soon.  Probably doesn't help how you feel now, but when it does come, you'll be a happy man.

Michael

That's a bummer, Chuck.  I feel your pain...about 5 years ago I was visiting my mom down near Palm Springs and the tranny on my '93 Eldorado went out.  3 months and $4K later I got the car back to Norcal...fortunately I had a second vehicle.  The feeling of being so far from home with a broken-down vehicle totally sucked though...hopefully your loss will turn into some good karma. 

That sucks...but it looks cool on the flat bed wrecker! 

Glad you made it back without too much trouble Chuck!

Darn automobiles. I once drove up the Alcan, 4000mi through AK, and back. When I crossed into WA the timing gear stripped. No more go.
I got the treatment Tote alluded to when I had it repaired in Mt Vernon. I had to have a new gear installed after 10k miles due to the sloppy work. Turned out the Mt Vernon "mechanic" charged me for a set of gears but only used one (they come balanced in a set for a REASON). When I tried to sick the SBA on 'em they had already folded up, apparently due to "customer complaints" 

I've been plagued by auto problems all this season. Timing belt & waterpump on the mazda, plugs & gaskets on the bronco, steering on the mazda, and then carb issues on the bronco, in that order.

But, sometimes you gotta have a car to haul the yak. Must paddle at all costs.

When when it was discovered I was from CALIFORNIA I should have made my way to the nearest store for an extra large jar of Vasoline 'cuz the way I was gettin' reamed I sure could have used it!!!

Try it in a phychedellic painted '65 Dodge schoolbus full of hippies sometime... 

"You a bunch of 'viromentallists???"  Slightly uncomfortable feeling...

Sorry about the problems, Chuck and Sean!

When when it was discovered I was from CALIFORNIA I should have made my way to the nearest store for an extra large jar of Vasoline 'cuz the way I was gettin' reamed I sure could have used it!!!

Try it in a phychedellic painted '65 Dodge schoolbus full of hippies sometime... 

"You a bunch of 'viromentallists???"  Slightly uncomfortable feeling...

Sorry about the problems, Chuck and Sean!

Totally. Happened to a friend in college. In Texas yet.

When when it was discovered I was from CALIFORNIA I should have made my way to the nearest store for an extra large jar of Vasoline 'cuz the way I was gettin' reamed I sure could have used it!!!

A tub of Crisco would've worked! 

Try it in a phychedellic painted '65 Dodge schoolbus full of hippies sometime... 

"You a bunch of 'viromentallists???"  Slightly uncomfortable feeling...

Sorry about the problems, Chuck and Sean!

Totally. Happened to a friend in college. In Texas yet.

I forgot about some of this stuff but I used drive around in a '66 VW camper bus & had some similar experiences... It's all coming back to me now!