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All cars require maintenance. Many decades ago, that maintenance could be done at home and revolved around oil changes, tire rotations, and brake pads. The modern vehicle comes with a few more bells and whistles, though, and sometimes these bells and whistles break down as well.
Residents of California, and especially those of Los Angeles County, CA, drive modern cars to stay cool, stay connected, and to safely get where they are going around Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, and the San Fernando Valley. Many of them drive European model cars, such as Audis, as well. If you drive an Audi or other European model cars, what kind of electrical maintenance can you expect your car to need?
One of the most common electrical problems in Audis is the power window motor burning out. Usually, the driver’s side front window is the first to quit because it is the one used the most often. It is not a difficult repair, but it involves removing the door panel and replacing the motor. If your power windows are failing, call Euro Plus Automotive for a quick repair.
Another breakdown point in the electrical system of your Audi is in the LCD screen. The entire screen does not usually fail at once, but there are often areas of the screen which burn out. The result is that it makes it difficult to read the information on the screen. Unfortunately, this is not an item which is repairable, one part of the screen at a time. Usually, to restore the function and readability of the screen, the entire LCD unit needs to be replaced.
Audis occasionally suffer from a unique problem of stuck brake lights, when the brake light switch fails, and the lights will not turn off. It usually requires a professional Audi repair mechanic, but the part is easy to acquire, and the service usually takes less than 30 minutes. If your brake lights are beginning to stay on, be sure to get them checked out and repaired today to help keep you safe on the road.
One engineering mishap of some Audis is that their MMI unit is located directly under the cupholders. This unit controls the navigation system, radio, entertainment, and dashboard of the vehicle. While it is not essential for merely driving, it controls all of the extra electronic perks you get in your car.
The problem of this placement, as you may guess, is that any spilled liquid has the chance of seeping into this electrical system and ruining it. Liquid damage is not a cheap fix. The best way of dealing with this is to prevent any leaks from occurring in the first place by keeping lids on your drinks and not leaving them in the car over long periods of time. If you do suffer a significant spill, bring it into Euro Plus Automotive for a quick inspection.
Many electrical issues result from improper battery changes, poor terminal connections, and reconnection. Some of these cars (like the A6) do not have circuit protection. Once you have altered the traces on one of the control chips you are likely to notice strange, ongoing, electrical occurrences in your car. Do not take the risk of having an untrained person change out your battery or doing it yourself. Be sure to get yourself a professional.
These issues will also occur if you try to jump start your car or use a low-end charger on it. Again, if you suspect any problems with your battery, contact Euro Plus Automotive and have it checked out by the professionals today!
* Audi R8 image credit goes to: DarthArt.
You may be facing a catch-22 with your BMW clutch. Many BMW parts are plastic or thin metal to save on car weight. It does indeed make it lighter and rust-proof, but plastic does not withstand pressure and friction as well as metal does.
You may be able to repair just part of the clutch, but if the damage is too extensive, you may need to replace the entire kit. If you choose to do these repairs yourself, be sure to be prepared and keep plenty of spare parts, especially new aluminum bolts on hand. If you have any questions, please call the experts at Euro Plus Automotive.
An excellent example of this catch-22 is the shift fork pivot pin. This plastic pin breaks easily, leaving you with an inoperable clutch. The logical solution to this is to replace it with a brass AGA pin. Even with this replacement, you need to be careful because the housing unit this pin fits into is fragile. If you tap the brass pin in with a hammer, you may crack the housing around it, leaving you with a significantly more expensive replacement.
If you cannot merely repair parts, you will have to replace the entire clutch. Make sure you have a new clutch kit ready and new transmission bolts before beginning. Aluminum bolts will always need to be replaced.
1. After lowering the transmission from the engine, remove the six 6mm Allen bolts from the pressure plate in an alternating pattern. Do not let the plate fall when removing it.
2. Remove the flywheel by removing the six T60 Torx bolts from the flywheel in an alternating pattern. If the flywheel surface is in good shape, you can leave it installed. Otherwise, you must replace it.
3. Remove and replace the pilot bearing. Use a bearing driver to install the new bearing.
4. Install and center the clutch disc using the alignment tool. (Your clutch kit should come with one.) Remove the center bolt from alignment tool.
5. Next, install the pressure plate on the alignment dowels. This requires six new Allen fasteners. Tighten the fasteners until pressure plate is flush with the flywheel.
6. Double check to ensure that the pressure plate is flush with the flywheel, and then remove the SAC lock. Most come out by rotating counterclockwise using a 14mm Allen. If the SAC moves and ratchets, you need additional special tools to reset the SAC feature of the pressure plate.
7. Next, torque six new Allen fasteners. Check your vehicle specifications for to confirm torque details. Then remove the clutch disc alignment tool from the clutch disc.
8. To service the bell housing, first remove the throwout bearing, sliding it off the transmission output shaft. Then release the spring retaining clip and remove the clutch fork from the bell housing.
9. Next, replace the throwout guide bushing by removing the four 10mm fasteners, then remove guide bushing from the transmission. Install the new guide bushing, then install and tighten the fasteners. Install a new clutch fork if you are replacing it, or reinstall the old one. Then slide the new throwout bearing over the guide bushing and put it in alignment with the clutch fork.
10. Finally, it is time to reinstall the transmission. Your clutch kit should come with spine grease, which you need to apply to the spines on the transmission output shaft. Jack the transmission into its proper place, then slide the transmission shaft into the clutch. Once engaged, slide the transmission forward until the bell housing is lined up flush with the engine. Install and tighten the bell housing fasteners and make sure to replace all the aluminum bolts. Once you tighten the transmission bolts, you may install the transmission mount and secure the transmission in place.
As you can see, repairing and replacing the clutch in a BMW is not a simple task. You need the correct tools and know-how, or you can find someone else to help you. If are in the San Fernando Valley or Los Angeles County, CA, near Canoga Park or Woodland Hills, be sure to check in with Euro Plus Automotive for your BMW clutch repair needs. We have years of experience working on European vehicles, so our service technicians can provide you the expert assistance to make sure it gets done, and it gets done right.
Euro Plus Automotive specializes in maintenance, services, & repairs with certified technicians and cutting-edge tools & equipment for European vehicles including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, & more as well as Japanese cars like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, & more.
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