VAG Automotive Garage

Eid Mubarak

This vehicle was recovered due to a non-start condition after it had cut out while being driven. Upon initial inspection, we confirmed that the engine was completely seized. We attempted to manually rotate the crankshaft with a spanner but found there was no movement at all.

When draining the engine oil, we discovered that it was contaminated with coolant. Based on this finding, we suspected that the engine would require replacement. However, it was critical to identify the root cause of the failure to prevent recurrence with the replacement engine.

Our diagnostic approach was to gain access to the crankshaft and remove the connecting rod caps sequentially, checking at each stage to see if the crankshaft could be rotated. After removing the lower oil sump, we determined that the upper sump could not be removed without first taking out the gearbox. However, gearbox removal requires rotating the engine to unbolt the torque converter from the flywheel — which was not possible due to the seized condition.

At this stage, we had to deviate from the workshop manual and carefully break through the upper sump to gain access to the crankshaft. This process was time-consuming, as the issue was ultimately traced to cylinder 4 — the last connecting rod to be unbolted.

Once access was gained, we confirmed that the big-end bearings on cylinder 4 were severely scored and had seized onto the crankshaft, which was preventing rotation. After disconnecting the connecting rod on cylinder 4, we were able to rotate the crankshaft and proceed with gearbox removal.

Further engine disassembly confirmed that the root cause of the failure was a failed oil cooler, which had allowed coolant to mix with the engine oil. This contamination led to lubrication failure and significant damage to the big-end bearings.

A replacement engine (supplied with a new oil cooler) was installed. All necessary calibrations and adaptations were carried out, and post-repair testing confirmed that all systems were operating as expected.

“If it ain’t Us, it ain’t Right.
From precision engineering to flawless repairs — we don’t just fix Audis, we restore them to their peak performance. 🔧✨
📸 Excellence, inside and out.



1. “From the heart of the engine to the last bolt tightened — perfection is our standard.”
2. “From deep inside the block to the roar on the road — we make every rev count.”
3. “From teardown to test drive — we deliver race-ready precision every time.”
4. “From the first spanner turn to the final polish — your Audi leaves stronger than it arrived.”

All your Audi & Volkswagen Service /Repairs/Maintenance stop workstation…

🎥 Watch Precision in Action!
Another DSG gearbox restored to perfection! Our expert technicians specialize in DSG gearbox and mechatronic unit repairs for all Volkswagen and Audi models. Whether it's shuddering, gear slipping, or fault codes—we fix it right the first time!

🛠️ At our workshop, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality workmanship, advanced diagnostics, and quick turnaround times. Trust us to get your vehicle back to top performance.

📍 Visit us at:
56 Victoria Street, Parow, Cape Town, 7546
📞 Contact us: +27 81 261 6413

One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone says "you only plug it in and it tells you what to replace" People that say this most likely have never been to a good garage and experienced what a good Technician does. They are just used to someone plugging it in and saying that, there is a fault with this so it's got to be that surely

I had a Audi Q8 in with a complaint with the steering wheel control lights flickering and also controls not working. I carried out a full function check and found the PSF electric seat not working and also a stale smell from inside the car. Ran gff and long behold no communication to the power steering control unit and several other communication events. Now I know without using the diagnostic machine I would have not got this information however, a diagnostic machine is there to help guide you and all I got from the test plan was locate the issue using wiring diagram or any fault finding methods. I gathered the event information stored and using the wiring diagram I found a common denominator, all my issues logged ran to four 17 pin plug connectors located at the fuse board.

Water had been running down and corroded the plug connectors along with earth, signal and live nodes in the main loom. So after confirming the customers complaint and figuring out how to rectify this issue, we must establish the cause to prevent this from happening again!

The Water leak had come from the sunroof, unfortunately customer didn't notice and it had been leaking that long corrosion had formed. so we rectified the water leak, carried out multiple wiring repairs de-pinning connectors and changed massive amounts of wire due to how far the corrosion had spread. This also saved the customer a lot of money instead of replacing the complete wiring loom. Please be aware the picture was not the completed repair and is just there to show you how much depth I had to go into to rectify this issue.