Automotive

My friend Bela brought his pristine, low-mileage 2015 Audi A8 V6 over a few weeks ago - several trouble codes were indicated. 

Since I have a diagnostic tool I pulled the codes which indicated no warm-up air injection to the catalysts. On both banks of the engine. That indicated a common cause.

I found a Technical Service bulletin for those two codes indicating a warranty fix requiring 6 hours of time to pull the manifold and water blast the exhaust manifold ports and replace EGR pipes, etc. About $2000 labor.

Then I raised the hood and found nibbling on lots of rubber, and a few nests of stuff in the crevices around the engine compartment. Mice perhaps?

Yesterday, post-holiday season, he took it in - the little buggers had eaten the hoses that route air to the catalysts warm-up system, which run in the valley under the manifold. Along with a few wires, etc etc. Removing manifold, installing new hoses & wires and so forth is $1500.

I suggested he try his homeowner’s insurance and surprisingly they agreed to pay the excess over his deductible. 

Moral of the story - drive car more often, clean out garage, and/or get a cat.

Applicable to us all, I guess.

Cazalea

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