A4 2.5 Tdi Quattro - Severe engine knocking and loss of power.

[richardj]

Morning all,

I'm new to the forum and new to Audi's and I'm sorry that my first proper post is a request for help, but I had some major problems with my car last night....

3 weeks ago, I purchased a A4 2.5Tdi quattro with 104000 miles on the clock. I decided on this car as I do a lot of motorway miles but also have a need to tow a hefty trailer once in a while. this seemed like the perfect comprimise. Up until yesterday I had done around 2000miles of motorway driving without problem, the engine seemed to be running perfectly fine with no rattles bumps or thuds. It didn't seem to be burning any oil and I was plesently suprised with the MPG I was achieving.

....anyway i left work last night and was heading along the A31 for well desrved weekend away in Dorset, unfortunately I never made it. The traffic was heavy and I'd been crawling along for around 10 minutes at start-start pace. I came to a stop on an uphill section and as the traffic started to move away, I pulled off in 1st gear quite sharply, but not floored and there was a big cloud of smoke and the engine was very sluggish. it then started knocking and I managed to crawl into a laybay a few hundred yards down the road.

The engine slowed to an idle and there was a large, what can only be described as a thumping from the engine that was shaking the whole car...it was almost as if one of the pistons was punching its way out of the engine block, it definately wasn't a rattle like I've heard on broken engines before. Needless to say I turned the car off and called the recovery truck. I checked the oil level and it hadn't moved since I last checked it. I couldn't see any fluids leaking from the car. although the recovery truck was wet when the car came off, I couldn't see anything wet on the undertray, so i'm not sure if this came from my car or someone elses.

I'm no car expert, but its sounds quite terminal. From my description, does anyone have any suggestions what has actually happened? Is it worth rebuilding or would it be easier to source a replacement engine?....or worse...write the car off? Anyone know of any good mechanics in the Coventry area? I see Lion Garage in Hickley is well respected, but it would be nice if I could find someone local to have a look before I decide what to do.

I intend to give the trader I bought the car from a call later, but I would like a bit more info before approaching him.

Thanks,
Richard

 

[Ste_Nova]

if no visual faults then its needs a compression check, or a look down the bores with an endoscope

 

[AudiLeon]

I'd be tempted to whip the sump off and check for any rocker arms or peices of metal.

 

[marktdisport]

Could it of jumped some teeth on Cambelt.... Just seems strange was ok before sharp pull off...

 

[murran]

dropped a valve?
if you were nearer id come look at it.

 

[voorhees]

I know a mechanic who can have a look and he won't charge the earth,PM me.

Oh and welcome to Audi ownership btw :icon_thumright:

 

[quattrojames]

Could it of jumped some teeth on Cambelt.... Just seems strange was ok before sharp pull off...

Mine had exactly the same symptoms as yours had and it had jumped four teeth when the idler pulley disintegrated. Hopefully you'll have more luck though!

 

[richardj]

Thanks for all the feedback, I've spoken with the guy who I bought the car off and so far he sames to be making all the right noises about getting it sorted. Need to get it to a local mechanic to diagnose the exact problem and then take it from there.

 

[richardj]

I know a mechanic who can have a look and he won't charge the earth,PM me.

Oh and welcome to Audi ownership btw :icon_thumright:

You have a PM!

 

[richardj]

OK, I have an update. I took it to a local place that deal with VW and Audi cars. There reckon its the camshaft and have quoted more than I've bought the car for to get it replaced...Bizarrely thay didn't open up the engine to give the diagnosis and the high repair price leads me to believe they don't want the work.

The guy I bought it off is still talking about getting it repaired and he's on about getting someone local to him that he trusts to look at it, but thats 60miles away, so Ideally I'd still ike someone local to me to fix it.

So without giving me a heart attack, what should I be looking to pay to get the camshafts and associated parts replaced (if it is that whats wrong).

 

[AlexGSi2000]

Unfortunatley this camshaft issue effects quite a few 2.5 engines - I recently had mine replaced by murran.
I purchased the parts from a german motorfactors on ebay for just over £1100 which included a new timing belt kit.
(think the camshaft kit only was around £600 if I remember)

Im surprised they didnt take off one of the rocker covers - it only takes around 15mins for the left side - from there you can see the wear on cams and any dislodged rocker arms.etc

I was gutted when I found out as its quite an expense!

 

[murran]

what youve described in the first post sound very much like a dropped valve to me. if i were looking at it, id remove both both rocker covers to check the valves and valve gear/valves is/are all still intact, before doing anything else.
if it has dropped a valve id fit a s/h engine.

i dont see how that garage can quote you anything other than worst case senario without atleast finding out for sure if it has actually dropped a valve.

 

[murran]

any joy with this?

 

[richardj]

Morning all, Thanks for all your help with this. The car went car to the trader to get diagnosed.....unfortunately his mechanic has effectively written the engine off, so rather than get it fixed, he is going to refund me in full for the price I paid for the car. He didn;t say exactly what the problem was, but I think its probably the best outcome for me. If it had been repaired I think I would have always been thinking in the back of my mind that it wasn't a reliable car.

Shortest Audi ownership in history?

Anyhow, I should get my money back early next week and I'll be on the look out for a new motor. I still facing a A4 quatrro, but not sure if I would look at the 2.5 again...might just be content with a 1.9.

 

[AlexGSi2000]

Thats a shame - at least the good part of it is that the trader have refunded you in full (im sure some traders would try and play it off against the purchaser)

I think your right in thinking about a 1.9 - not as powerful but probably more reliable.

 

[murran]

can you find out what had gone wrong with the engine? id like to know!

 

[spartacus 68]

If your looking for a B6 1.9 TDI quattro - then here's a nice example: Used Audi A4 Estate 1.9 Tdi 130 Quattro Sport 5dr | Culloden Car Sales

Pretty sure this is the same car I enquired about a few weeks back (was for sale at Autostation, Elgin, now at Culloden Car Sales, Inverness and price has dropped £500. Both dealers failed to forward information to me - so I haven't taken it any further. Distinctive as it has Gmbh bodykit and rear parking sensors.

Also petrol version: Used Audi A4 Estate 2.0t Fsi Quattro S Line Special Edition 5dr | Auto Station