A4 warning lights

[Gwilo]

I bought the A4 a week ago....everything has been fine until the weekend when i noticed the temp gauge doesn't budge, from around 50deg, even on a 2 hour run at motorway speeds. It occassionaly has moved up, but from searching the forum, I found it was a suggested temp sensor (G62), so I've dutifull booked it into the garage to be done under warranty next week.

Last night, I get an ESP and ABS light as soon as I touch the brakes, which doesn't go away till I shut down the car. Of course, it comes back the next time i use the brakes.
Again, a careful search on here suggests this is the brake light switch - checking the lights with a friend last night would seem to agree - they don't come on when I press the brake pedal, but the dash lights do. Contacted the garage AGAIN to add this to the fault list.

Then this morning.....the glow plug light starts to flash at me continuously. More searching on here suggest this is related to the brake light switch fault as well - though a scan would confirm/deny any other possible causes.
So, I need to ring the garage yet again.
3 faults, in three days.

Have I a bought a lemon? Do I give the dealer a chance to rectify? How many attempts to fix before I have the option to reject the vehicle? Using public transport to get to/from work is stupidly expensive, so every day off the road costs me double the cost of running the car.

And more to the point, is the car mechanically sound to drive till I can get to the garage? I'm stuck at work, 60 miles away from the dealership, the garage and my home. I have places to be tomorrow too that involve a 140 mile trek, and if I need to make alternative arrangements, I need to know now.

[zollaf]

it doesn't sound like you have bought a lemon, just that a couple of faults have occured that need rectifying. this could happen to any vehicle.
as to driving it, you have no brake lights. this is bad. i wouldn't go for a drive knowing i have no brake lights, but then i'm a mechanic so would just bang a new switch in there and be done with it.
tricky one for you. get done by old bill for a dangerous car. cause a crash when someone slams into you ?? what to do ?
i would call the garage and tell them its undriveable and push them to arrange collection and deliver a courtesy car at the same time for you to use until you can drive over to collect yours.

[Gwilo]

Thanks for the reply zollaf. the moral and legal arguments are one that have played over and over in my mind.
It does appear to be a "no-win" situation on the brake light front, I know.
I'd be happy to go buy a brake light switch and break out the tool box myself, but as it's under warranty, there is a principle involved.
I'll make a plan, as I'm not happy about driving it without operational brake lights either, and the traffic cops/highway agency patrols are fairly intense on my commute.
Unfortunately, when you have a new fault each day, you do start to feel a tad cursed by the automotive gods .

[Boat_face]

Temp gauge on my car was sticky too only a few weeks after I bought it so you're not alone on this one. Could be temp sensor or thermostat not opening. Both inexpensive jobs and very doable at home.

Sometimes you just get hit with faults left right and centre. Like Zollaf says I don't think you've got a lemon. Just a few minor squeaks.

Def get a push/tow to garage and possibly ask them to do a full scan to check for anything else whilst it's under warranty. I'd expect they'll do that anyway but no harm in reminding.

[Gwilo]

No word of a lie, not a peep of the dash lights tonight en route to garage.
Typical.
Still left it with them for it to be checked out though. Fingers crossed!

[zollaf]

any lights that come on should log a fault code so a garage with a diagnostic computer should be able to find them.
its typical though, especially from audi's. they have a fault, owner brings it to garage, mechanic test drives it and finds nothing wrong. owner drives away in disgust and fault comes back. happens to me all the time. they must be female ...

[Gwilo]

Got the car back, with a replaced thermostat and brake light switch.
It was fine yesterday around town.
Today started well enough, but ten minutes into my commute, the temp gauge dropped at some point from 90 back down to 50.
I do not believe even an Audi cooling system is that efficient, so it's back to the garage.
I do wonder why they replaced the thermostat and not simply the temp sensor......maybe it was the easier job.....

[pauldazzle]

It'll be the temp sensor at fault. Make sure they fit a genuine VAG part as aftermarket are notorious for failing. 10 min job to do, & easier than replacing the thermostat.

[Gwilo]

It'll be the temp sensor at fault.

Which is what, armed with research on here, I explicitly told them the first time, and left a printed sheet in the car detailing all this......but they went and changed the thermostat anyway....... I suppose it helps them pad out their warranty work claims.
I'm about to call the garage to see if they've even bothered to look at it yet - It's spent 1/3 of the two weeks I've had it with them so far

[Gwilo]

the garage are now saying it needs a new water pump?!?