Jevon1

Ckleaning my MAF made no difference at all.....and can't be sure changing thermostat will sort out the high mpg either as I too get nice warm air from the vents when needed.

I currently use SAAB official bars & cycle carrier on my A6....

Thanks for that - off to Halfords tomorrow lunchtime then. I agree the MPG is attrocious - you can even smell the fumes on frosty days when the car is standing still.

My A6 temp gauges stay at almost zero until sat in traffic - then temp goes to 90 degrees. Drops straight back to zero within 5 mins of getting moving again. MPG is down to 17MPG - reset 5 times at each new tank full. Heater blows warm though. p.s. whats the MAF please - sort of understand you up to that point.

What bright at Audi decided to put the thermostat underneath the cambelt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It means to replace the thermostat is the same job as replacing the cambelt!!! (mine causing the engine to run cold mode all the time - not good for MPG) So the job on my old Mini, Ford Escort, Mazda 626, and even Lexus that took about 15 minutes and a spanner will now take 5 hours and cost £300 approx from local friendly garage..... not impressed.

I have exact same problem on my 1996 A6 Quattro. I have to lower the window - reach outside and operate the external handle. Going to local friendly garage to replace thermostat on Friday - they are looking at the door then - will post the result on here (please do likewise if you solve yours first?)

The fast flash normally means one bulb is broken (or missing).

So how do I find someone with the VAG software hook up system local to me? Huntingdon, Cambridge, Peterborough? Sounds like I will be better off getting the Diagnostics report and getting my reliable local garage to sort it out.

Does this sound reasonable? Audi A6 Avant - 2.8 Quattro. 109,000 miles. Local Audi garage wants £425 for a service. This is a basic? service - including spark plugs, oil, filter, washer fluid!!!! & full inspection of vehicle. I know main dealer stamps cost a bit more but that much more? really? £40 of oil, £10 filter & 6x £3 spark plugs with 2 hours labour (their guess-timate) - £425! Do they hire Pegasus himself to lick the leather clean?

Might be relevant - but if the EGR valve you are talking about is the same as you find on Japanese imported diesel cars (Shogun/Pajero etc...) then UK owners frequently BLOCK the valve altogether to prevent re-circulation of exhaust gases - improves power but arguably raises emmissions a bit.

Can anyone recommend a supplier of replacement tailgate gas struts? Or a servicer of them? Preferably in Cambridgeshire?

Just installed a new head Unit (with USB & SD sockets!!). Problem is that when I remove the key the unit forgets the radio stations I have programmed in? However, it does remember the place the CD had reached and continues from the same place - bit weird? Which wires do i need to sort out to get full memory working? The previous stereo was not the original unit either but did have full memory function and used 2 ISO blocks which meant the new stereo was a straight swap (or so I thought) One block has all the speakers, the other I presume is power.

I recently found a 2.8 Quattro for £2750 (with part-ex got it down to £2000) - it only had 108000 on the clock - so may be worth keeping looking?

My 1996 model had a faulty driver-side mirror. It turned out to be the dashboard switch/control pad was sticky - sorted that and pressed a little harder - came back to life.

Yes it is the A6 2.8 Quattro (1996) I fill the tank as soon as fuel light illuminates - and fill to first click of pump. ("The engine revs seem to get to normal VERY normal in this weather. But, yes, plenty of cloud vapour. My A8 4.2 had this too, but only at idle. No petrol fume smells though.") - I used to own a Lexus 3.0litre with twin exhausts that took AGES to get to temperature and that produced vapours in cold weather almost constantly so I wasn't too concerned? ("I presume you have reset the trip comp?") - yes 3 times now (each tank filling). As a new owner and last service 8,000 miles ago I am planning to visit the local AUDI dealer soon anyway as I think they need to reset a few electrical niggles with alarm/windows and door locks - hope to get them to give it a tune up (not sure what that really entails on a modern engine).