Worrying noise

Z

Z82

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Hi all, not been on for a while as I've had a lot going on recently and just not had the time but something nasty seems to be going on with my car which has brought me back for some helpful advice.

I've been getting a noise coming from the car last few times I used it and its getting worse. I can only describe the noise as similar to a squeely belt but a little more squeeky/whistley if that makes sence?? :?

It appears to be coming from the front of the car, possibly passenger side and seems non engine. The noise only hapens when driving and accelerating. It does not hapen when I dip the clutch to free wheel or if I rev but seems to be in sync with engine revs rather than road speed.

Its getting quite loud now and I've started to get a judder from the base of the car when either turning a corner at low speed (either direction) or taking off from a junction. The judder seems to be related to the noise above but this feels more to the rear and has got me very concerned so Im not going to use the car till I get to the bottom of it.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
 
Aux belt tensioner perhaps?

If the belts slipping the power steering might drop out under load and that would make the steering pulse a little bit.
 
My PS fluid level was fine so put it to my mechanic.
He's had the car for 2 days and has looked over it several times and cant find anything wrong and has suggested I take it to a quattro specialist :crying:

Only problem is up here my only option is Audi or a guy that used to work for Audi who is almost as expensive. I'm really quite concerned its the quattro system and this could be the end of my car as no doubt it will not be a cheap fix :faint:
 
hopefully its not much mate, might be worth a second opinion , get someone else to drive it. ask that guy who used to work for audi if he would look it over and give you an estimate.
 
the "quattro system" is an all mechanical affair with a torsen centre diff. Its nothing particularly fancy, and wont be making a squealing noise...

I'd take the auxiliary belt off and see if the noise goes away before i went any further.

I'm not sure on the judder, could be engine/tranny mounts or diff mounts?
 
Well it runs the power steering, alternator, AC and possibly water pump (v6's might run the WP from the timing belt?)

Its the main serpentine belt at the front of the engine.
 
Ah yeah the V6 water pump is run from timing belt and I dont have Air Con so I know the one you mean.

Dont think this has anything to do with my prob but noticed a ticking sort of noise coming from the thing I circled in the pic. What is that thing? Looks like some sort of valve? Is it supposed to make a noise?

23052009290.jpg
 
Had a mate whos a mechanic at local Audi over last night. Took him out in my A4 to listen and feel and he reckons its a pin in the clutch plate thats popped out, he says its a common problem :-/

Does this sound feasable?
 
I've never heard of that problem in the time i've been on this forum, but then i've not seen the car, and one would assume if this guy knows his stuff he's probably right.

I cant however think of any pins inside the clutch that could come out, and i usually apply a heavy dose of scepticism to anything a mechanic tells me from past experiences.

A Clutch change on an A4 is a bit of a ******* of a job due to the location of the gearbox, and on a quattro i'd think you'd find its probably easier to remove the engine than trying to mess around under the car getting the transmission out, at least you can get a crane onto the engine and have access to work around it removing things.
 
Yeah I thought this might be a bitch to do. Got another guy looking at it hopefully Friday, so I'll see what he says.

I'm a bit doubtful its the clutch myself as theres no noise when I bring it to biting point and 'rock' the car.
 
audi upgrades
Z82 said:
My PS fluid level was fine so put it to my mechanic.
He's had the car for 2 days and has looked over it several times and cant find anything wrong and has suggested I take it to a quattro specialist :crying:

Only problem is up here my only option is Audi or a guy that used to work for Audi who is almost as expensive. I'm really quite concerned its the quattro system and this could be the end of my car as no doubt it will not be a cheap fix :faint:
Click to expand...

Hey Z think i know the guy you are on about without mentioning name he is a mate of mine when used to work next door him.If i was at home i would have gone down speak to him as he knows his stuff and has helped me out a good few times in the past with my old A4 QS maybe you could go down have a word with him see what he has to say.If not im home in 2 weeks and if problem still there i could speak to him.Hope all goes well!
 
Z82 said:
Hey bud, yep the guy next to your old work.
Hows the S4 going? Wanna swap? :jester:
Click to expand...

I thought it was!
Its going great as far as i know my old man has it at the mo and cant wait to get back to drive it again!Let me think about that for a split second em nah its ok!:yum:
 
Z82 said:
lol thought you would say that. You about this weekend, cos meet is back at Whin Park this Sunday, plus folowing weekend is Elgin Car Show.
Click to expand...


Sorry dude im still in egypt working not home until around the 11- 12 of june so will miss both of these but will hopefully be at the next meet unless have to go away again!Back at whin park cool maybe gert a bigger turn out especially as lighter nights now!
 
Not having much joy hetting someone knowledgeable to look at this :(

Spoke to another mechanic at Audi (an old mate from years ago) who is going to see if he can look at it next week.
I described what was happening and he replied that it did sound quattro related but hes never heard of them failing, however I mentioned that a couple month ago the missus borrowed the car and drove nearly 500 miles with a flat tyre till it completely shreaded and he said that it is sounding more like the quattro system now.

Any further ideas guys?
 
Just picked the car up from the local Audi/VW Specialist and he is 85% positive its my transfer box but says its not worth fixing :scared2:

Any one know how much these things cost (I belive they come with the gear box?) and how hard they are to replace?

Also, whats likely to happen if I run it in to the ground? Will it be dangerous?
 
Well, its all built into the 'box as part of the torsion diff iirc, just get yourself a used gearbox and stuff that in. I would ensure you have oil in the box and aa memebrship and carry on running it. I know the std quatty box has run up to 500 bhp in the US without too many problems
 
The gearbox? Nah not really, if you were alone on your drive, using basic tools and a set of ramps you could do it within a day if you can handle a spanner you could d o this. The great thing about these boxes is that you dont end up covered in oil when removing/fitting them
 
Sweet! Theres a biox on ebay the now for £175 buy it now + £45 delivery. I'll see what the guy has to say.

Makes me wonder why the Audi Specialist didn't want to touch it though :-/
 
Garages are a bunch of ***** thats why!

Can you describe the noise a bit more?

Landrovers often make screechy squeally noises when the UJ's in the propshaft have been ignored and are half dead. Unlike the Landrover the Audi joints will be "sealed for life" but that doesnt mean they cant bind up and start to seize....

It would change pitch with the road speed though.
 
If its a quattro gearbox the transfer box is inside it.

Some vehicles like my landrover have an external transfer case that bolts to the rear of the tranny. On the quattro its just part of the main gearbox. The main has the rear prop flange on the back, and the front driveshafts on the sides.

CV joint noise and spokes of a wheel noise to me both suggest a rapid clicking...

tick tick tick tick tick.... etc

Does the noise increase with engine RPM or road speed, and does it make it when revving in neutral, or only when driving?

I just cant fathom how a gearbox can make a noise like that. A CV joint or the UJ's on the propshaft could, but the tranny itself just doesnt seem likely.

I'd check the propshaft UJ's for play (hold one side of the joint, and twist/push/pull/heave/etc on the other side) there should be no detectable play in the joints at all.
 
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