Annoying shake when the car is idling. please help.

[garyoke]

Hi everyone.firstly it's great to be here and I manage to pick up loads of useful information about my A3.

I have 2010 A3 1.6 technik which I purchased from Evans Halshaw back in November. I have been pleased with it so far but about 2 months ago I have started to notice a really annoying shake when the car is idling (once choke has gone off).

I took it to Audi as there is still warranty on it until September and their engineer raised the tick over. I had to take it back later the same day as it was still the same. The engineer raised the tick over more and told me that this particular engine was renowned for doing this and nothing else could be done and it was not showing any errors.

I explained that the car did not do this before and that in my opinion it had developed a fault. I lifted the bonnet so that he could see the engine shake unusually now and again like it was slightly misfiring which sends the vibration through the car. He again said this was normal.
As you can probably see from my post, I don't know a great deal about cars but this doesn't seem normal on a car I paid £11000 on a few months ago. It has only done 21000 miles.

Please can anyone help with any suggestions. Does anyone think that Audi are just trying to get out of repairing this problem because it is going to be an expensive repair for them under warranty? Is the 1.6 engine usually a problem?
Cheers Garry.

 

[immo]

Sorry I can't help but I need to say I f**king hate mechanics for this reason. If they're not trying to rob you they're giving excuses and worming. I work in the motor trade, I know! I dislike when anyone says something like "this is normal" even though it's not right. I've driven Peugeot's all my life and never had any engine problems, can't say the same for Audi. Mine judders too when idling sometimes. I expect better.

 

[tdi-man]

no sure on a 1.6 but I found turning idle up makes idle worse on a 2.0 tdi turned my idle down to 800 and idles great

 

[Chillout]

Sorry I can't help but I need to say I f**king hate mechanics for this reason. If they're not trying to rob you they're giving excuses and worming. I work in the motor trade, I know! I dislike when anyone says something like "this is normal" even though it's not right. I've driven Peugeot's all my life and never had any engine problems, can't say the same for Audi. Mine judders too when idling sometimes. I expect better.

Had similar experiences in the past many mechanics are of the opinion no fault code no fault however fault codes are only generated when a sensor Is out of range and recognised by the ecu it doesn't mean the sensor is reading accurately it just means its not out by enough to be picked up I would try disconnecting you maf but this will generate a code so you will have to reset it somehow.

 

[RobinA3]

Has the idle actually been raised? Have you seen it idle higher? Reason why I ask is because without changing the ecu software which dealerships can't do then there is no way they have raised the idle speed.

 

[Mikemc]

Could be a possible DMF ?

 

[Chillout]

Could be a possible DMF ?

A seized dmf could cause it ,we'll it did with my passat and the dealer kept dodging it until I got vw uk involved i had told the dealer I thought the dmf was knackered for two years but they kept saying no fault.

 

[37]

Could be as simple as Engine mount bushes going off!! I know it hasn't done many miles, but you never know..

 

[Sevv]

Could be as simple as Engine mount bushes going off!! I know it hasn't done many miles, but you never know..

not sure about this but if has that cheap plastic inlet manifold that 2.0T's have then i would say a carbon clean for the inlet and engine head would probably cure it... check your plugs and as 37 said check the bushes you never know...

 

[garyoke]

Thanks for all the replies.
I'm just about to ring Audi and suggest that they look at some of the above possibilities. I was told by someone last night that increasing the idle speed can potentially make it fail it's mot because the emissins would be out.not sure if this is true but its a good point.they need to find the underlying problem.

In reply to Robina3 they did increase the idle speed the frst time it went in and they told me they got a patch from Audi (if that makes sense).i noticed the idle speed had gone up to just above 800 revs mark. he told me that it was too low before. the 2nd time it went in he said he had raised it more but i didnt really notice any change.he told me that the shake was a characteristic of the car and that Audi didn't use that engine anymore.
I contacted the previous owner who told me the car run perfectly smooth.
I need a brick wall to bang my head against.
i'll let you know what Audi come up with.
cheers Garry.

 

[garyoke]

I have rang Audi and have arranged to take it in wednesday afternoon to do a side by side comparison with another 1.6
Just hope that their car doesn't have the same problem.

The service manager told me that it wouldnt be engine mounts, plugs or carbon build up because of its low mileage and age.
This is what im up against.
cheers Garry.

 

[37]

The service manager told me that it wouldnt be engine mounts.

Have they actually tested this? I bet not!

 

[garyoke]

As far as I am aware they haven't checked anything and only upped the idle speed.
I forgot to mention that the service manager told me that Audi had released the update patch to increase the idle speed (which doesn't work by the way) because of receiving a lot of complaints from people having the same issue. They are not however admitting that there is a problem with this engine. Even though they do not use it in their vehicles anymore.
He went on to add that they couldn't just keep throwing new parts at it to find out what was wrong.

Now they have told me this I am guessing that when I take my car in for a side by side comparison, they will find a car that does the same and they will try and convince me that it is normal.
I really don't know what to do next. I imagine the next step would be to send in a complaint to Audi head office.

 

[Sevv]

i know for a FACT that carbon build needs to be clean every year... and your a3 is definitely over a year old... so it may cause it i wouldnt rule it out unless they physically take the inlet mani off and check it... mine was more evident as it was done fort he life of the car which was 53k miles... abit shocking

 

[garyoke]

I took the car in to Audi and they assured me that the 1.6 engine does shake and feel like it is mis-firing which I personally know is an absolute load of rubbish as it didn't do this up until a few weeks ago. They told me that there was no fix and nothing else could be done. I have just fired a complaint letter off to Audi because of the unwillingness of repairing the problem under warranty. Has anyone else here had problems like this with the 1.6 petrol engine?

 

[37]

I have similar problem and Ash187 suggested it were the engine mount bushes since it happened to him as well. The shake is not horrible. It's just extremely light and sometimes even unnoticeable, but it's there and comes on after a bit of driving, say 40-50 miles. I've left mine as is for now since I'm ok with it. But like I said, it's almost unnoticeable..

If it's really bad in your car, perhaps take it to someone you know and isn't going to rip you off and get it checked for bushes?

 

[garyoke]

Thanks 37. I did mention to the engineer at Audi about this but he said that mine had got the latest engine mounts. I'll just wait and see what head office come back with. I hated to have to take it this far but I ran out of options. My warranty is soon due to expire and I just want it sorted. I can't really let anyone else touch it until I hear from them.
Cheers Garry.

 

[garyoke]

Audi head office have told me that all of the BSE 1.6 engines shake/wobble and that there is nothing that can be done to fix this only to adjust the idle speed. I seriously can't believe that Audi would sell cars that do this. I have spent the last 2 hours looking on google and can't find any information to back this up. Does anyone know who I can contact high up at Audi who could help me more. cheers Garry.

 

[37]

Audi head office have told me that all of the BSE 1.6 engines shake/wobble and that there is nothing that can be done to fix this only to adjust the idle speed. I seriously can't believe that Audi would sell cars that do this. I have spent the last 2 hours looking on google and can't find any information to back this up. Does anyone know who I can contact high up at Audi who could help me more. cheers Garry.

Well - I will be watching this with intereste since I have exactly the same Engine code..

 

[garyoke]

Just a quick update: I have booked my car in with a local mechanic to do a full diagnostic check next wednesday. I will also get him to check all of the above reccomendations you have all kindly posted including, seized DMF, Engine mounts, carbon clean for the inlet and engine head, plugs,

I would also ask him to put my idle speed back to normal. out of curiosity What should this be as TDI-man is happy with his set at 800?

 

[Mikemc]

Mine was at 840 I think as standard but I put it to 800 as it was a lot smoother

 

[tdi-man]

mines was 840 but 800 smooth as can be

 

[37]

Engine mounts

THIS.

I would also ask him to put my idle speed back to normal. out of curiosity What should this be as TDI-man is happy with his set at 800?

Mine comes down to 600 after engine is upto its optimum temperature. Remember it is 1.6

 

[garyoke]

Quick update. The mechanic thinks that it is the throttle sensors. He said that the idle speed goes up when the choke goes off and that the revs needle isn't smooth when falling back down because it jumps. I have spoken to Audi head office and it looks like they are going to replace it but they did point out that if it isn't this they were not prepared to go any further. fingers crossed.

 

[garyoke]

Audi have assured me that there is nothing wrong with my car. They are aware of the shaking but say that it is normal which I still strongly disagree with. A friend of mine has the same model a year younger which doesn't do it.
I have actually gone full circle and I am back where I started.
Does anyone else have a 1.6 petrol technik around 2010 which trembles when idle?
I have searched google but I can't find anyone else with similar problems. Please help!
cheers Garry.

 

[Tomwebb]

I'm having the same problem with my 2.0 tdi it's fine once moving but at first start it's noticeable and annoying, in going to take it to the garage and ask them to check the possibles above.

 

[Dean06]

Audi have assured me that there is nothing wrong with my car. They are aware of the shaking but say that it is normal which I still strongly disagree with. A friend of mine has the same model a year younger which doesn't do it.
I have actually gone full circle and I am back where I started.
Does anyone else have a 1.6 petrol technik around 2010 which trembles when idle?
I have searched google but I can't find anyone else with similar problems. Please help!
cheers Garry.

Did u find the solution on the and my friend. I have the same problem now.