First Post, Haldex trouble.. Anyone wanna buy a kidney?

N

Nine Pack

Registered User
Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
35
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Rochdale Lancs
Hi guys, it's my 1st post on here & from searching around you guys seem to be mustard on the subject.
My 2008 A3 Quattro (TDi 170) haldex has started to make a whirring/faint whining noise, or at least that's what I suspect as it's dead centre just below the rear seat area. It manifests above 40mph & is only road speed related (clutch in or out makes no difference).

I've tried the cheap fix of a new filter & oil but if anything it seems to have got worse. The previous owner seems to have left it unchanged for over 40k so no surpise it's suffered.

Audi have quoted me £1227.48 inc vat for the part so I presume it comes with a free Faberge egg.. Does anyone have any info on somewhere I could source a used one from?

Free membership at my gym to anyone saving me a ton of ££'s...
 
Last edited:
Hi, welcome to ASN. Any pics? Have a look over in the classifieds section, there is a search button at the top right hand side, just type in haldex and a list will come up. Enjoy the forum. :)
 
Thanks for the replies folks. I'll get some pics up tomorrow. It's a pretty standard car aside from the grill & remap. just had it up in the air at my mate's toyota garage ramp. I thought the haldex was a seperate part to the diff but it looks like it's all one big thing, but there's a little silver coloured oblong thing with haldex written on it. I presume that's the brain?

I doubt it's a wheel bearing (tbh I wish it was that simple) as it's dead centre & not the kind of drone a bearing makes. Thanks Max for the link, I'll have a read now & check out the classifieds too, thanks Sandra
 
What month was it registered in 2009 and what miles? Still could be under warranty :)
 
It's 1st date of reg was March 2008 (D'oh! Just noticed I said 2009 on my 1st post) & just a shy off 90k now. Full history but Haldex oil last change (before I did it) was 53k so it's long overdue due to previous owners poor dilligence so I'm not surprised it's gone bye bye. I'm giving the car to my GF's son next year so I want it to be right so I'll have it fettled but would really rather source a used diff than get dry b#mmed by the Audi dealers..
 
Last edited:
Hm, in the book it says Haldex oil every 38k/4 years, so it sounds like it was 15k over. I guess there's a bit of me that thinks someone might get away with that, it's kind of equivalent to not changing the engine oil until it was 7500 over I suppose.

I think what I'm saying is that there might not be a direct causal link between the late change and your problem, although in fairness it does indicate a general neglect by the previous owner. I like to get stuff doione early if anything...

Good luck with your search, I assume the one the dealer quoted you for was gold plated and also made women remove their knickers when you drive by? And made you a sandwich.
 
The Governor said:
Hm, in the book it says Haldex oil every 38k/4 years, so it sounds like it was 15k over. I guess there's a bit of me that thinks someone might get away with that, it's kind of equivalent to not changing the engine oil until it was 7500 over I suppose.

I think what I'm saying is that there might not be a direct causal link between the late change and your problem, although in fairness it does indicate a general neglect by the previous owner. I like to get stuff doione early if anything...

Good luck with your search, I assume the one the dealer quoted you for was gold plated and also made women remove their knickers when you drive by? And made you a sandwich.
Click to expand...

Platinum coated with strontium edging & diamond studded I think...
 
Update. I've located a few used Haldex diffs so I'm deciding which one's the best one, however my mate at Toyota can fit the part (no labour charge) but has said it's highly likely it's not quite as simple as just bolting the thing on, it may need a specific set up procedure which will require Audi specialist software. Does anyone know if this is the case?....

I have one spares place trying to sell me one off a 3.2 Quattro saying it's the same..? It's cheap at £200 but I seriously doubt it's the same part. Another one at £600 and that seems to be the exact part off the same model etc so I'd be more comfy spending £600 then the £200 & risking spending again cos I got the wrong one. My head hurts....
 
Last edited:
Hi fella - sorry to hear of your woes. I had my haldex knackered when the garage left the unit empty of oil when changing the filter. Sounds like a haunted sound fomr the rear of the car!

I was told if you keep driving it it will eventually sieze - happened to Warren S3 a while ago on the motorway, so be careful.

The S3 replacement unit was £2580 from TPS or over £3k from Audi without the attached electronic box, so your cost was in line. I got a second hand unit from Steve at Stattlers in Sheffield for £600. I was also offered an R32 unit, but what if one bolt hole is in a different place? So I went with the right unit as you seem to have decided to.

As for the software, my replacement was fitted by the same garage that knackered it & they definitely don't have any specialist Audi equipment, so your mate should be able to do it.

Hope this helps....
 
audi upgrades
BigBird, that's comforting then if your garage fitted it without the software, as I can save myself a ton of money by not having to pay the labour. Gonna call the place that has the one at £600 but if you have Steve at Stattlers in Sheffield's number I'd be keen to see if he can help.

The noise is definitely the haldex/diff (all one unit on mine) as we checked the bearings etc & all is fine. Mr Sod & his law strikes again it seems.
 
Nine Pack said:
BigBird, that's comforting then if your garage fitted it without the software, as I can save myself a ton of money by not having to pay the labour. Gonna call the place that has the one at £600 but if you have Steve at Stattlers in Sheffield's number I'd be keen to see if he can help.QUOTE]

From Google - Statller ( Autorads ) 298 Attercliffe Road Sheffield S4 7WZ Telephone: +44 (0) 1142 798 195

He was super helpful & others have found them the same...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks BigBird. I called earlier. they sold a diff/haldex 3 days ago. D'oh! Not to worry I'll have that other one at £600 as it comes with a guarantee and with no labour to pay I'm still well ahead compared to the rogering I'd get at Audi.

Hopefully this will sort it. Failing that I'll turn the music up louder..
 
audi upgrades
Bought the diff (off a car with 34k on clock before it was inserted into a bus for £550.00 inc vat & delivery from Motors In Motion), it's arriving tomorrow but it's minus the silver haldex box (made by seimens) that's stuck on the side. If the existing one is taken off the old diff & plugged into the new one, will it still work does anyone know?

My mate at Toyota is very concerned about it needing setting up so I may have to to take it elsewhere to be fitted in case he gets the car back together & it won't run if his friend with the Audi diagnostics can't be there to help him while he does the job.

The fun just never starts... ;-p
 
Last edited:
Nine Pack said:
Bought the diff (off a car with 34k on clock before it was inserted into a bus for £550.00 inc vat & delivery from Motors In Motion), it's arriving tomorrow but it's minus the silver haldex box (made by seimens) that's stuck on the side. If the existing one is taken off the old diff & plugged into the new one, will it still work does anyone know?

My mate at Toyota is very concerned about it needing setting up so I may have to to take it elsewhere to be fitted in case he gets the car back together & it won't run if his friend with the Audi diagnostics can't be there to help him while he does the job.

The fun just never starts... ;-p
Click to expand...

Yes - it should work with the old electronics box. When I had a new diff, they simply plugged the old box into the (nearly) new diff I'd bought...
 
Diff arrived today. The car is going in on Monday & I'm relieved because it's noisier by the day & is quite worrying so I've been driving in a very christian manner indeed...which sucks.

Hopefully this will sort the issue once & for all..
 
audi upgrades
Plus I got a new contest prep client today so that's pretty much paid for the whole deal (my other day job being a gym owner/bodybuilder). Result :)
 
So my car has had the diff changed... Picked it up this morning. Sooo, anyhow, I'm now driving a black 52 plate Golf courtesy car. drove my A3 all of 100 yards & turned right back to garage. The steering wheel is cocked to the left & the car drifts hard to the right if I let go of the wheel. The car feels drunk.

Now I fear it's never going to be the same again. Can changing the diff affect rear geometry???
 
New diff in place, tracking was out hence the car feeling drunk so they've sorted that & all is well... or is it?

Nope. The noise is still there albeit a lot quieter. MY fears are now that the used diff I bought (off a car that had only done 34k I was told) may have a similar problem. Failing that, it's something else altogether. Part of me wants it to be the replacement diff thats at fault even though that would mean a lot of faffing about again, but then I'd realllly like a simple quick cheap fix right now & put the whole episode behind me.

I'm beginning to wonder if there is always going to be a degree of whirring sound from the rear as there's a driveshaft spinning away all the time & that there's meant to be. I've been so tuned in to listening for it over the last weeks that I may have become paranoid? I had an IS200 once that sounded like a spaceship due to the rear mechanicals & that was normal as I'd driven a few of them in the past.

Do all A3 quattro's have a small degree of mechanical noise at the rear? Even just a smidge?
 
I think there must be some noise from the rear to a degree, as I said my tyres are really really noisy.. I have been listening out for every sound recently from the rear driving around with the tunes off! I think we are a little paranoid.. When you start googling things it makes you worse!

I am getting the Haldex oil and filter done and leave it at that..
 
antmax7 said:
hi it sounds to me like it is the haldex coupling/bearing which is at fault not the diff
many people have had the same problem and replaced it and the problem is solved the part is around £200+vat from memory
here you are have a look here http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...uattro-load-vibrating-2-thousands-revs-2.html
Click to expand...

This seems to be a different issue. I don't have any vibration & it's not engine speed related in any way, just road speed above 40mph in any gear, or neutral, clutch in or out. I have the car going back to Volksmaster tomorrow so they can drive it & see if they can pinpoint where it's coming from. I had my girlfriend drive it up the motorway last night whilst I clambered around in the back & in the boot trying to see if I could nail it down to a particular place. My fear is that in buying a used diff (which has allegedly only done 34k) I may have bought a bad part to replace a bad part & may have to pay labour again to have the 'new old one' taken out, then shell out £1200 to Audi for a new one.

Once I get this sorted I'm gonna sell it. Kinda fallen out of love with it now. Even if it's sorted I'd be afraid of driving it hard in case something else breaks which kinda defeats the object.
 
Last edited:
Had the car in at garage again & they've driven it extensively this morning. Anyhoo... Westy, may I offer you a sincere 'D'OH!!!' and allow you the pleasure of doing a told you so dance all over the bonnet of my car..

It's a sodding wheel bearing! I'm so relieved and at the same time kicking myself. Mick at Volksmaster said the bearings on these aren't like I was used to when I was in the car job & when they go they transmit noise thru the entire rear axle as opposed to the old drone they used to make. Despite my extreme embarrasment, in the interests of the forum & benefit of others in future I'm showing what drawing the wrong conclusion can cost you if too hasty. In my case, somewhere in the region of £830.00.

Volksmaster have had a look at the diff they removed & said it's absolutely perfect & showing no signs of wear at all so if anyone wants a cheap haldex diff for an A3 quattro 2.0 TD1 170 drop me £300 and it's yours.

So in summary, D'oh!......
 
At the very least the good news is you had an easy fault to fix in the end and you have got a nearly diff in the car, which is hopefully no bad thing!
 
This is true. I have a rattle in the glovebox too so I'll go and buy a new tailgate now to fix it ;-p
 
Sorry to hear about his, i had problems with my diff for over 3 years of S3 ownership. Some things to note are its very sensitive to tyre pressure differences between the axels, this can cause winning. Also the rear propshaft can cause winining but most important is to get the Haldex service done every 40K miles. I've also experienced tyres causing problems, if you have a slightly different pattern due to manufactoruror or problemtaic tyre that can also cause whinning from the rear.

HTH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
dont wanna buy a nicked rnse
Replies
1
Views
564
NHN
NHN
A
First post and a problem
Replies
2
Views
674
NHN
NHN
olliea3
anyone got a symphony stereo they wanna sell ?
Replies
11
Views
899
Shane.
Shane.
Jason-3.2
First post
Replies
6
Views
900
quattro81
quattro81
J
First Post
Replies
12
Views
859
SiT
S
Top
Back