Audi Maintenance Tips

Maintenance Tips from the Austin Audi Repair Experts

Keeping your Audi running smooth starts with a great design and build, but without maintenance even the best-built cars will start to slack in the performance department. At German Auto Center we’re Audi maintenance Austin experts. We’ve been wrenching on German-made vehicles in Central Texas for 35 years, and maintenance is one of the things we know best.

Keep reading for the top maintenance tips used by Audi auto service center pros.

Audi Engine Maintenance Tips

• One Audi repair Austin owners don’t want to deal with is timing belt problems. When getting the timing belt serviced it’s best to change out other components while they are easy to access. A few examples include: snub mount, Loctite thread locking compounds, o-rings and seals.
• Use your VIN to find the engine code number or remove the engine block cover to find it listed on the driver’s side.
• Quickly determine if your water pump is leaking and from where by taking off the splash pan. If it is leaking you’ll typically see a coolant trail from the pump to the lowest spot on the engine.

Audi Brake System Maintenance Tips

• Find out the brake code by using the VIN number and inquiring with a deal or by removing the wheel and looking at the part number on the rotor.
• Brake fluids should be changed every 30,000 mile or 3 years – whichever comes first. To save yourself time, hassle and cost go ahead and change it out whenever the rotor or brake pads are being replaced.
• The Audi brake pad warning light will signify that the front brakes and/or rotors should be replaced within the next 3,000 miles. For the rear brakes there are no sensors, but if you hear a metal on metal sound or feel vibration when braking, it’s time to replace them.

Audi Steering and Suspension Maintenance Tips

• To determine if your wheel bearing needs to be replaced listen for humming sounds that change pitch at different speeds. When the wheel bearing has gone bad you’ll hear a low humming sound between 25-35mph, and it will turn into a high pitch sound the faster you go.
• In hot climates (a.k.a. Texas) power steering fluid should be flushed and changed every 30,000 miles. Despite what some may say changing your power steering fluid is an important maintenance step that prevents damage to other components and help solve hydraulic issues.
• Check your ball joints annually and anytime you are experiencing handling issues. This is a sign that the ball joint could be going and needs to be replaced ASAP.

Audi Transmission and Driveline Maintenance Tips

• Having trouble shifting? Replace the transmission fluid and filter first to see if that resolves the issue. The fluids should definitely be replaced every 30,000-60,000 miles.
• To determine your transmission code first locate the Vehicle Identification Label on the tire well of your spare or in the owner’s manual. You can also figure out the transmission code by using the VIN number.
• Instead of replacing the entire drive shaft you may be able to just replace the outer CV joints, which experience the most wear. The inner CV joints are harder to get to and typically don’t experience much wear.

If you want to hand your maintenance needs off to the professionals give German Auto Center a call at 512-452-6437. With some basic information we can help you put together an effective, affordable maintenance plan.