A4 B6 2.0FSI

[manosskali]

Hi Guys

I have recently become the proud owner of a 2003 A4 B6 2.0FSI after spending 3 years with my beloved Subaru Impreza WRX.
I loved my Subaru but its drink problem became unbearable so it had to go. I have always liked Audi's since my dad used to have an Audi 80 back in the early 90's so getting an A4 wasnt really a difficult decision to make. I contemplated getting a diesel A4 due to its fuel efficiency and high torque levels but being a petrolhead i decided that the 2.0 FSI was really the best option for me.

As soon as i found a nice looking FSI within my budget i snapped it up and i have been buying little bits for it ever since. It has also had fresh oil, filters and spark plugs straight away just to make sure it runs as smooth as possible.

One thing i have recently noticed is a humming sound coming from the engine compartment i think. Its really difficult to pin point exactly where its coming from as it is only noticeable above 40 miles/hour. I am not a mechanic but i dont think its connected to the drive shaft or gear box as its present even when the car is rolling with no gear engaged. Its not a rattling or mechanical type noise (wheel bearing for example), its like the noise a fan would make at start up and it seems to increase as spead increases and decrease as speed decreases. I have noticed that my aircon is not really cool - probably needs recharging - but dont know if thats somehow connected to this noise. Obviously the noise is present when aircon, radio etc are off. I also thought it might be tyre noise as the previous owner had winter tyres on the car but to be honest its too loud to be tyre noise i think - i have since increased the tyre pressure a little bit but there was no difference.

There is an aftermarket cone-type air filter on the car which just makes it sound a bit throatier during acceleration but im sure it doesnt contribute to this sound im trying to describe as it can be heard regardless of me having my foot on the throttle or not.I may be exaggerating a bit but it sounds like a plane about to take off! Has anyone encountered a similar thing? Any advise would be appreciated.

Another niggly thing is the radio reception - pretty bad. I have read a number of threads on here regarding this common fault of the aerial booster situated above the back windscreen but i have not really read about a solution yet - unless you want to pay Audi hundreds of pounds for a new part. Could anybody point me to the right direction please?

Also has anyone had to change the light bulb in the glove compartment? It may sound a bit silly but there doesnt seem to be enough room to get your hands in and get the plastic cover off without forcing it and breaking it! Any advice?

Apart from all the above, the car is great! Definite improvement on fuel and insurance bills compared to the Subaru and of course a lot comfier too (i think i might be getting a bit old). Performance is not comparable really but i ve had 3 good years in the Scooby and to be fair driving the Audi is not as risky in terms of losing my licence.

I have tried to attach a couple of photos of the new and the old but failed - maybe im not allowed being new in the forum etc. I
hope someone can advise about those issues stated above.

Thanks,

Manos

 

[manosskali]

Hi guys

I have come to the conclusion that the humming noise i can hear is due to a worn wheel bearing on the front passenger side wheel. This will be confirmed next Saturday when i take the car in to Audi for my free of charge coil pack check & replacement, general health check, clean & vacuum (many thanks to the members on here who shared the coil pack recall info in the first place). Could anybody confirm if this is the part i would need to replace please? It includes both the hub & bearing. eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

No progress has been made on the glove box light bulb & radio reception issues. Any advice?

According to the posting permissions section detailed on here, i can not post attachments. I just wanted to put a couple of photos of the old & new car. Do i have to get to a specific number of posts to be able to post pics?

Thanks

 

[BahnStormer77]

can you post [ img ] links (as generated by photobucket, etc? you can't post any photo's directly to the site, you have to host them somewhere else... radio reception issues are usually related to a faulty signal booster behind the headlining above the rear windscreen... I've not had the time (or courage) to pull the headliing back yet and get to the booster... they're £140 to replace though, just for the parts!!

 

[quattrojames]

As mentioned you don't have to have a specific post count to post pics, just use an external photo hosting website, there's a sticky thread in the General Chat section to help you.

I've never tried to change the glove box light, are you sure it's that and not an issue with the switch located in the glovebox lid damper accessed from the passenger side end of the dash?

 

[mememe]

As mentioned you don't have to have a specific post count to post pics, just use an external photo hosting website, there's a sticky thread in the General Chat section to help you.

I've never tried to change the glove box light, are you sure it's that and not an issue with the switch located in the glovebox lid damper accessed from the passenger side end of the dash?

Sorry to hijack but, is a B6 glove box door supposed to be on a damper? Mines not.

 

[quattrojames]

It is yes

 

[mememe]

Well ****** me! Why are there wires going to the damper?

 

[quattrojames]

It's the switch for the glovebox light.

 

[dope]

One thing i have recently noticed is a humming sound coming from the engine compartment i think.

My FWD A4 had those same symptoms. Happened all the time - coasting, all gears, clutch in or out, cornering, accelerating, braking. It just got more noticeable the faster the car was moving. I spotted it on the test drive though so I got the dealer to fix it. I wish I could remember exactly what it was though!! Sorry, I know it doesn't help much! I know the gearbox came out. Some kind of bearing maybe. It sounded just like when a clutch release bearing is on it's way out, except not just when you ride the clutch. And it wasn't the clutch release bearing that was changed.

I might have some paperwork for it. If you're still stuck I can have a rummage later.

 

[manosskali]

Thanks for your replies. I am hoping the humming noise is just a wheel bearing and can be sorted relatively inexpensively (~£45 for the part and as much again for labour). Hopefully exactly what needs doing will become clear on Saturday when i take the car to Audi in Sheffield for its free new coil packs and health check.

Thank you for the glove box switch advice, i ll try and have a look at it on Sunday. I am guessing the glove box will need to come out?
As for the radio reception i think i ll invest on one of those iphone radio transmitters instead!

I created a photobucket account this morning so here's the links to the previous & current rides (hope it works):
2002 Subaru Impreza WRX pictures by manosskali - Photobucket
Audi A4 pictures by manosskali - Photobucket

I had a bit of a nightmare this morning as the car would not start! Engine was turning over as you would expect (no battery issues) but it just would not fire up! The petrol light has only just come on so it couldnt be that could it?! I ve done about 350 miles since i bought it (full tank) and it said i ve got another 50 to go! I didnt have time to start messing so I had to drive to work in the wife's little Suzuki Wagon R (i think you can just see it on the darker photo parked up in front of the A4). Endless amount of street credit.

My first thought was the dodgy coil packs due to be changed on Saturday (hopefully sorting out the first thing in the morning rough idling too). Any (reassuring) advice please?

 

[marktdisport]

when i brought mine i knocked the bloke down as tyres was low also a very noide wheel bearing noise when i replaced all 4 tyres i was going straight to my vw speacialist when the noise had completly stopped ??? do you have good tyres or low tread poor quality ???

 

[dope]

Engine was turning over as you would expect (no battery issues) but it just would not fire up!

The fabled light switch issue? I only just learned about it, and it sounds crazy, but switch the lights on then turn the key.

 

[manosskali]

when i brought mine i knocked the bloke down as tyres was low also a very noide wheel bearing noise when i replaced all 4 tyres i was going straight to my vw speacialist when the noise had completly stopped ??? do you have good tyres or low tread poor quality ???

when i bought it the car there was no humming noise or at least i didnt notice it when i drove it around the block. when i first noticed it i did think it may be the tyres as they are winter tyres (Continental Contiwinter) and they tend to be more noisy than normal, but not that noisy! they are good quality tyres with plenty of tread so they are staying for the time being

 

[manosskali]

The fabled light switch issue? I only just learned about it, and it sounds crazy, but switch the lights on then turn the key.

You are right, it does sound crazy but if the car wont start again i ll try it. By the way it started fine this morning! I read last night about the Plenum Chamber issue, remembered the heavy rain the night before and thought this might be what caused the problem. I just emailed Audi (since the car is going in on Saturday for new coil packs) and asked them to put the plenum chamber drain grommets on the job sheet - i believe it was a recall?

 

[manosskali]

It is yes

thank you very much for this James, you were right, the light itself was fine. the little pin connecting the damper with the hinge had dissappeared so i took the damper out, WD40'd its stiffness away and used a screw & nut instead of the pin. result!

 

[manosskali]

Audi just got back to me - apparently the only outstanding campaign is to check the coil packs, nothing about the plenum chamber. could it have been solely the coil packs causing the car not starting after being exposed in a heavy rain session? i did read a thread on here about how to diy the plenum chamber issue but if i remember correctly there was a difference of opinion if its best to attack it from the top or underneath the car. i believe the relative link with photos etc on the thread does not work any more. Any advice on this please?

 

[manosskali]

I had all 4 coil packs changed at audi yesterday but the slightly erratic idling issue when the car is cold remains. It's not too bad but a little bit annoying but what can you do. I pushed the plenum chamber grommet imderneath the battery through the hole as I didn't have rime to remove the battery so hopefully it's gonna be ok?