Everything You Need to Know About the Audi A6 I - Fault Guide

More common are the Audi 100 A6, with the four-door sedan body, and less often, the five-door Avant station wagons. The strength of the body of the new Audi 100 was improved in torsion, and in the expensive versions of these cars, the pro-con and integrated passive safety system were used. This system includes a steering column that folds in case of an accident, like a telescopic fishing rod, an airbag, and seat belt pretensioners. The anti-corrosion treatment is reliable, and the car body is completely galvanized. The interior of the car is comfortable and spacious, easily accommodating three passengers in the rear seats, and thanks to the wide range of adjustments of the driver's seat, people of any height and physique will be able to sit comfortably behind the wheel. All seats are comfortable, and even the rear ones are equipped with headrests, though they slightly impair visibility.

There are no complaints about the quality of plastic parts and finishing materials, even on cars of the first years of production. They look pretty decent. In a sedan, you cannot increase the volume of the trunk beyond 510 liters, but in the station wagon, you can expand it from 390 to 1310 liters.

Engines in the Audi 100 A6 were aggregated with a wide range of gasoline and diesel engines. Cars with gasoline engines are more common, and according to the employees of the branded service station, during normal operation and timely maintenance, the motor resource of all power units ranges from 250,000 to 500,000 kilometers, depending on their type. In six-cylinder versions with a volume of 2.6 and 2.8 liters, when replacing the timing belt every 100,000 kilometers, it is advisable to change the water pump along with the tension and bypass rollers. On these engines, after 200,000 kilometers, oil may leak from under the valve cover gasket of the cylinder block and the cylinder head gasket. A breakdown of the engine hydraulic mount is also likely, and on a 2.6-liter engine, the temperature sensor often malfunctions. In a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, after a mileage of 200,000 kilometers, the valve cover gasket may leak, and the airflow meter or throttle potentiometer may fail. In five-cylinder gasoline engines with a volume of 2.3 liters, specialists who advised us recalled problems with the fuel distributor and idle speed controller.

The transmission of the Audi 100 A6 is robust, and the all-wheel-drive versions with Quattro have proven to be reliable during operation. In addition, the Quattro transmission has a force rear and turban differential lock, which is activated using a special button in the cabin and allows the car to easily get out of a little dirt. When operating such versions, it is necessary to change the oil in the rear gearbox every seventy thousand kilometers. A five-speed manual gearbox was standard for all cars, but a four-speed automatic was installed only on request. The automatic control unit was equipped with a DSP program (Dynamic Shift Program), capable of optimizing gear shifting. Both mechanical and automatic gearboxes are reliable when changing the oil every seventy thousand kilometers, together with the filter and the gasket of the oil pan.

The only weak point is the axle shaft seals, which can leak on cars that have run more than 130,000 kilometers.

The suspension of the Audi 100 A6 is an energy-intensive chassis that not only smooths out the poor quality of our roads but also provides the car with confident movement even at high speeds. On the all-wheel-drive versions of the Audi 100 A6, the front and rear suspensions are independent, and on the front-wheel-drive versions, the rear is semi-independent. After 30 to 40 kilometers, you will have to change the bushings of the anti-roll bar, and after 50 to 60,000 kilometers, the upper supports of the struts and silent blocks of the front levers. The ball joint is supplied only assembled with the lever, although if the wheels do not fall into deep pits, it lasts for a very long time. The rear semi-independent suspension is durable, but in the independent Quattro version, on average, after seventy thousand kilometers, you will have to change the silent blocks of the rear levers and the rear wheel camber adjustment rocks.

The rack and pinion steering of all Audi 100 A6 models are equipped with hydraulic booster. On cars that have traveled more than 150,000 kilometers, the high-pressure hose of the power steering system often leaks, and tie rod ends may require replacement after 30 to 40,000 kilometers.

The brake system is very effective due to the use of disk mechanisms on all wheels, as well as the ABS system. Over time, during operation, due to corrosion, the guides of the calipers (most often the rear ones) can become problematic. Therefore, during the replacement of the pads, experts recommend cleaning and lubricating the guides. In addition, it is desirable to use the parking brake more often; if this is not done, the handbrake drive may rust, and then the entire caliper assembly will have to be replaced, which can be costly.

Thanks to the galvanized body, high-quality assembly, the reliability of most components and assemblies, as well as high comfort, used Audi 100 A6 models are in steady demand. Their purchase can be recommended to those motorists who are able to satisfy the appetite of this car since the cost of its maintenance is quite high.