A4 avant 3.0 sline tdi faults

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ollie86rn

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Hi all,

So it's come to getting a bigger car and I've been looking at a 2007 3.0tdi sline avant about 86k, it's in mint condition with a few nice extras but just to keep my mind at rest are there any faults I should look out for. It has been remapped with a mil tech exhaust so is the extra power an issue for any components?

Searching the forum I've come across the swirl vanes which might be a problem but I can't seem to find anything major.

Anything would be great as cant decide if its a deal breaker or sealer!,

thanks
 
I have the same car same year, TBH they are a pretty solid lump. On another note they go like stink and return amazing MPG
 
Yup, I second what Mr-C says. I have an 07 3.0TDi Quattro. It's an SE Automatic, and is a supremely smooth and swift mover. Yes there are problems with inlet manifold swirl flaps, but there are now lots of ways of fixing this that don't involve Audi's recommended solution of replacing the entire assembly at £700 a go.

The extra power shouldn't be an issue. All I would say is that you might want to upgrade the brakes.
 
Thanks both, I think I've pretty much decided on it just didn't want to hear about any nasty surprises after. I did think about the brakes need to run it for a while then decide. The swirl vanes, is there a thread on here how to replace them?
 
ollie86rn said:
Thanks both, I think I've pretty much decided on it just didn't want to hear about any nasty surprises after. I did think about the brakes need to run it for a while then decide. The swirl vanes, is there a thread on here how to replace them?
Click to expand...

Let me have a dig about, and I'll find what you need to know.
 
There are quite a lot of threads on this (I've even contributed a couple myself) which a search should throw up for you. Essentially; the inlet manifolds on 3.0TDi models have swirl flaps inside, mounted on spindles which are attached by little drop links to electric motors mounted on the outside of the manifold. The mechanism wears out prematurely so the linkages become loose and sloppy (sometimes the drop links become detached at one end - usually the spindle end). The looseness causes the engine management system to detect an error in the amount of movement in the flaps, and the engine warning light comes on. This causes a slight drop off in performance but not by very much. However, the car will fail an MOT.

Audi's official solution is to replace the entire manifold, flap and motor assembly, at a cost of around £700 per bank. A less drastic solution is to have the mechanism repaired and modified (I had that done on mine by Fontain, the indie Audi specialist from whom I bought the car) at a cost of £225 per bank. If you are mechanically gifted yourself, here's a link to a repair guide. It's taken from an A6 forum, but it's the same engine so everything still applies.

The least costly option is to leave the faulty linkage as it is, and have the fault code mapped out to that the engine management system just ignores it. Here's a link to a firm that offers this service - FR&R Tuning. They are based in Lancashire but have franchised agents all round the country. Just scroll down and you'll find the relevant section covering 2.7 and 3.0 litre engines.

I fixed mine using a combination of the Fontain modification and an FR&R remap.

Hope this helps.
 
jdp1962 said:
I fixed mine using a combination of the Fontain modification and an FR&R remap.
Click to expand...

I seem to recall you had the fault mapped out later? Do you think you would have done the Fontain modification if the remap had been available earlier? Not having a dig, just curious.

As an aside I always read the 3.0TDi threads with sadness/jealousy. I looked at both the 3.0TDi and 2.0T FSI and eventually bought the 2.0T. With hindsight I wish I'd bought the 3.0TDi with an auto box. Silky, smooth power. Ho hum. :)
 
scotty76 said:
I seem to recall you had the fault mapped out later? Do you think you would have done the Fontain modification if the remap had been available earlier? Not having a dig, just curious.
Click to expand...

You're right, I did do the mod first and the map later. I think I would still have done it that way, because in my case, the drop link had detached itself completely from the spindle, so the flap was completely inoperative. Having it modified first ensured the flap became operative again, albeit still with sufficient wear in the mechanism to generate a fault. The map then eradicated the fault code so that the ECU ignored it.
 
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Thanks for the information think ill email the seller and see if he has had them done, do you know what the approx mileage is for them failing?
 
ollie86rn said:
Thanks for the information think ill email the seller and see if he has had them done, do you know what the approx mileage is for them failing?
Click to expand...

Well mine first started showing a warning light at about 73,000, but I imagine it varies from car to car.
 
Brucey bonus for me is mine is a manual so RFL is £260
 
audi upgrades
So emailed the seller and he hasn't had them done however hasn't had any lights on the dash either! Spoke to an independent audi service garage too and he says he usually has them come in for repair between 80k-90k, the one I'm looking at is on 86k!! I know it all depends on how you drive it and luck but i don't fancy buying a new car to then spend £1500 on it! May offer a dropped down price and see what he says as other than that i really cannot find anything else wrong with it.
 
ollie86rn said:
So emailed the seller and he hasn't had them done however hasn't had any lights on the dash either! Spoke to an independent audi service garage too and he says he usually has them come in for repair between 80k-90k, the one I'm looking at is on 86k!! I know it all depends on how you drive it and luck but i don't fancy buying a new car to then spend £1500 on it! May offer a dropped down price and see what he says as other than that i really cannot find anything else wrong with it.
Click to expand...

Ah but that's the point; you don't need to spend £1,500. Use the issue as a tool to bargain him down a few hundred pounds, then if you go get a problem later, go for a low cost solution like the FR&R map, and you're quids in.
 
Yeah thats true, think I'm looking too much into it tbh. Just to confirm if the fault does raise its head, there is no risk to destroying the engine like a mates BMW did as it sucked the vane through the manifold!!
 
ollie86rn said:
So emailed the seller and he hasn't had them done however hasn't had any lights on the dash either! Spoke to an independent audi service garage too and he says he usually has them come in for repair between 80k-90k, the one I'm looking at is on 86k!! I know it all depends on how you drive it and luck but i don't fancy buying a new car to then spend £1500 on it! May offer a dropped down price and see what he says as other than that i really cannot find anything else wrong with it.
Click to expand...
You can actually buy the component parts and fix yourself for not a lot or if you look on ebay £345 gets you 2 COMPLETE INLET MANIFOLDS KIT 2.7 3.0 TDI AUDI VW A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 Q5 Q7 TOUAREG | eBay Or pay £1500 at Audi. Buy the car enjoy the car and if they go then its hardly the end of the world
 
ollie86rn said:
Yeah thats true, think I'm looking too much into it tbh. Just to confirm if the fault does raise its head, there is no risk to destroying the engine like a mates BMW did as it sucked the vane through the manifold!!
Click to expand...
No that doesn't happen; it's very much a BMW party-piece.
 
Out of interest from current owners how much do you reckon it's worth from the specs below, I have my thoughts just interested what others think

2007 b7 a4 3.0tdi quattro sline avant manual
sprint blue paint
86k
bose sound system
privacy glass
storage pack
refrigerated glove box
Miltek stainless exhaust
remaped
 
ollie86rn said:
Out of interest from current owners how much do you reckon it's worth from the specs below, I have my thoughts just interested what others think

2007 b7 a4 3.0tdi quattro sline avant manual
sprint blue paint
86k
bose sound system
privacy glass
storage pack
refrigerated glove box
Miltek stainless exhaust
remaped
Click to expand...

sorry mate, I bought mine three years ago and am very out of touch on current prices.
 
Mr-C said:
I think auto Avant's are the big £450 job
Click to expand...

That makes sense. I seem to recall my CO2 emission rating is only about 1 or 2 under the threshold, so the extra weight and drag of the Avant might be enough to tip it over into the next category.
 
ollie86rn said:
Out of interest from current owners how much do you reckon it's worth from the specs below, I have my thoughts just interested what others think

2007 b7 a4 3.0tdi quattro sline avant manual
sprint blue paint
86k
bose sound system
privacy glass
storage pack
refrigerated glove box
Miltek stainless exhaust
remaped
Click to expand...
Just tell us what he's asking for it and I'm sure we can pass judgement easier
 
this is helpful for me :) looking out for one over next month, do these suffer from injector problems like the a6 ?
 
moggytom said:
this is helpful for me :) looking out for one over next month, do these suffer from injector problems like the a6 ?
Click to expand...

From what I've researched i haven't come across it yet, that's not to say they don't though. The inlet vanes seems to be more comman
 
I'd you look on the a6 c6 section on here there horror stories of them costing a small fortune to replace :/
 
So i see, seems like luck of the draw again to them failing. Does anyone know where the engine code is on the B7 A4?
 
that's what put me off and a6... plus there the size of a large barge haha,
 
Reference docs: TPI 2014211/7 Vehicle pinks or judders in warm-up phase- A8 3.0, 4.2, A4, A6, Q7 2.7, 3.0 TDI

Customer statement / workshop findings

A8 3.0 TDI, 4.2 TDI; A4, A6, Q7 2.7TDI, 3.0 TDI - vehicle pinks or judders in warm-up phase.
​
As a result, the adjustment of the injection is incorrect and combustion noises can be heard, sometimes in connection with juddering or misfiring.
​

Technical background

Complaint in the injector production.
​

Production change

Modified injector production from Chassis No:
A4: with 3.0l TDI from: ........
​
A6: with 3.0l TDI from: ........
​
Cabriolet: with 3.0l TDI from: ........
​
A8: with 3.0l, 4.2l TDI from: ........
​
Q7: with 3.0l TDI from: ........
 
jdp1962 said:
This causes a slight drop off in performance but not by very much. However, the car will fail an MOT.
Click to expand...
I can't see how it can fail? You can advise that the engine management light was on. But if it passes a smoke test then it's passed?
 
ollie86rn said:
I've been looking at a 2007 3.0tdi
Click to expand...

Early V6 TDi has some production issues ...

Chain rattle being the biggest costing but by 2007 the chain tensioner production issue was solved ...

Early injectors on the V6 TDi were poorer but by 2007 this was also improved ...

The early MY2004/2005 Tiptronic had older TCM software & oil but by MY2006 this was also improved ...

My own opinion is the 2007 production year V6 TDi is more sound than a MY2004/2005/2006 ...
 
Il be looking at a 2006 one auto. Would I be best trying to get an 07 one ?,
 
Darren198712 said:
I can't see how it can fail? You can advise that the engine management light was on. But if it passes a smoke test then it's passed?
Click to expand...

That was my understanding, that a lit earning light would result in a fail, but I have been known to be wrong before.
 
ollie86rn said:
Out of interest from current owners how much do you reckon it's worth from the specs below, I have my thoughts just interested what others think

2007 b7 a4 3.0tdi quattro sline avant manual
sprint blue paint
86k
bose sound system
privacy glass
storage pack
refrigerated glove box
Miltek stainless exhaust
remaped
Click to expand...

Another diesel Sprint Blue!? You're kidding me. First time I've come across another Sprint Blue B7 diesel. :icon_thumright:
 
moggytom said:
Il be looking at a 2006 one auto. Would I be best trying to get an 07 one ?,
Click to expand...

If I was buying again I'd go for something which had a minimum of production date of 2007 , so first registration year 07/57 ...

I bought a 2005 A6 3.0 TDi ... chain rattle fix is engine & gearbox out job@indi = £2K ...

Mine had 70K on clock@purchase, @80K 3x injectors out of spec, DIY@home install of 6x injectors £1280 ...
 
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