Suspension very heavy and bumpy and we acquired a rattle :(

Jax

Jax

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Car has just done its first 1000 mile.....just coming up to a month old....been driving like a dream, but all of a sudden and i mean all of a sudden...no potholes or anything hit....the suspension feels heavy, car doesnt feel as stable and you feel every lump and bump, and to top it off got a damn annoying door rattle now. Drivers side.

Its s line btw.
Any ideas.....?

Not put any wind in tyres yet as has done nowt but rain last few days and not been out. Think that could be it?
 
So logically, and too be safe, what ever the weather is doing you should start with the tyre pressures first?
 
cuke2u said:
So logically, and too be safe, what ever the weather is doing you should start with the tyre pressures first?
Click to expand...
Not been out since i noticed on my way home. So will be first port of call when i do go out. First thing to eliminate but wondered if anyone had any back up ideas, or any experience of the same thing.

There's a definitive difference in it drive wise, this last trip out, and of course i'm aware the s line suspension is stiffer, but this is something which has just occurred. Seems to shake everything in the car over the tiniest of bumps.
 
Last edited:
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does it feel like ever corner of the car or more front back left or right?

First thought is a flat, low tyre walls sometimes hide it if your not expecting it.
 
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Richy_C said:
does it feel like ever corner of the car or more front back left or right?

First thought is a flat, low tyre walls sometimes hide it if your not expecting it.
Click to expand...
Not sure. Can't quite seem to put finger on location so think must be every corner. x
 
Check the height of each side in mid wheel arch, could be a broken spring, but I would have thought it was unlikely.
 
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In my experience, there's a couple of things that can make an A3 feel like that all of a sudden, one obvious and one surprising.

The obvious one is tyre-pressures, as others have pointed out. I've never known a car as poor at keeping air in its tyres as my A3, but then again I've never had a car that requires such high inflation pressures (38F, 35R on mine). Those low-profile tyres get very crashy once they get below a certain pressure.

The surprising one is the door seals. If these are not kept well conditioned, they can make the most awful creaking, groaning noises - mine were so bad that every time I went over a bump it felt like the chassis had come loose. And this happened all of a sudden too. The reason? I'd washed my car. Whether it was something in the shampoo I don't know, but suddenly my refined, quality car felt like an old boneshaker. The solution, as many others on here will attest, is this stuff:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Einszett-...570?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5ae584c61a

Five minutes with this on your door and hatch seals and your car will feel like new again.
 
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steeve said:
Check the height of each side in mid wheel arch, could be a broken spring, but I would have thought it was unlikely.
Click to expand...
Will do. Thanks for that. Worth a check isn't it.

Just want to be able to go to Audi armed and ready if you get me. Having worked for BMW I kno how 'helpful' these chaps can be lol. Especially a 'woman' with a mysterious bounce or rattle.... They never get experienced by the techies lol... So just getting myself prepped!
 
steverobertsbbc said:
In my experience, there's a couple of things that can make an A3 feel like that all of a sudden, one obvious and one surprising.

The obvious one is tyre-pressures, as others have pointed out. I've never known a car as poor at keeping air in its tyres as my A3, but then again I've never had a car that requires such high inflation pressures (38F, 35R on mine). Those low-profile tyres get very crashy once they get below a certain pressure.

The surprising one is the door seals. If these are not kept well conditioned, they can make the most awful creaking, groaning noises - mine were so bad that every time I went over a bump it felt like the chassis had come loose. And this happened all of a sudden too. The reason? I'd washed my car. Whether it was something in the shampoo I don't know, but suddenly my refined, quality car felt like an old boneshaker. The solution, as many others on here will attest, is this stuff:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Einszett-...570?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5ae584c61a

Five minutes with this on your door and hatch seals and your car will feel like new again.
Click to expand...
wow! Yeah course being new it's been washed two or three times already. I'll check that out. How crazy, but makes sense.
 
Wait. You're a girl on this forum too..?


Expect a lot of attentive replies to this thread ;)
 
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Well tyre pressures weren't anything to be concerned about
 
Yup :( rang them today. Recommended I get Audi rescue out as they can't get me in for few wk.
 
steeve said:
Check the height of each side in mid wheel arch, could be a broken spring, but I would have thought it was unlikely.
Click to expand...
another option is to get audi dealer to check condition of the tyres as you could have a puncture like I did. It may sound daft as surely you would notice. however one of my tyres had a great big nail in it. however it wasn't obvious until the wheel was turned so the nail was sat on the ground if that makes sense, until then the ride was a bit crashy and steering felt odd. I thought it was a very very slow puncture but tyre looked perfect - I wasn't far off then. audi dealer repaired tyre and all ok
 
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I had a similar problem. Every time I hit the smallest of pot holes the front left of the car seemed as if it had no suspension. All the time the front and rear passengers complained. Eventually at about 6 months I started to hear a rattle, took it in and low and behold the Dealership responsible for the PDI left the 3 pink-cloured plastic "Anti-Transport" shocks on the front-left spring.

Removed them and immediately the car behaved "dream-like" compared with before. I won't name the dealership responsible but got an almost free rear parking sensor kit fitted, tons of goodies, bottle of champagne and other stuff which I forget!

Only takes a minute or two to look at each spring - god knows why I didn't do this straight away - just never realised these plsatic thingies existed!
 
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rozel said:
I had a similar problem. Every time I hit the smallest of pot holes the front left of the car seemed as if it had no suspension. All the time the front and rear passengers complained. Eventually at about 6 months I started to hear a rattle, took it in and low and behold the Dealership responsible for the PDI left the 3 pink-cloured plastic "Anti-Transport" shocks on the front-left spring.

Removed them and immediately the car behaved "dream-like" compared with before. I won't name the dealership responsible but got an almost free rear parking sensor kit fitted, tons of goodies, bottle of champagne and other stuff which I forget!

Only takes a minute or two to look at each spring - god knows why I didn't do this straight away - just never realised these plsatic thingies existed!
Click to expand...
Yeah heard this happen to a customer at the BMW I worked at. I will have a look but thing is it drove ok for first three week so is a long shot. Other half has measured up the gaps above the tyres and under the wheel arch and there is a good inch diff between driver side front and the other three..... Looks suspect that something is a miss there you think guys (and gals :) ?
 
Hey Jax. I'd definitely consider the rear coil springs. I know your car is almost new but anything is possible. My car is not at all new but became very crashy (even over the smallest of bumps) and found both rear coil springs were broken off at the bottom. Now I have new springs all round (eibach Pro), and the difference is amazing. Just a suggestion, so don't get too concerned
 
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Sharkie1976 said:
Hey Jax. I'd definitely consider the rear coil springs. I know your car is almost new but anything is possible. My car is not at all new but became very crashy (even over the smallest of bumps) and found both rear coil springs were broken off at the bottom. Now I have new springs all round (eibach Pro), and the difference is amazing. Just a suggestion, so don't get too concerned
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You never know do you! Def be having a closer look this week. It's a bit gutting after I waited so long for her x thanks :)
 
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Yes, it isn't a nice feeling that something's not right. Especially on a new car. At least you should have some kind of warranty and it should cost you anything to get fixed. Hope you get it sorted soon and enjoy the car again
 
Sharkie1976 said:
Yes, it isn't a nice feeling that something's not right. Especially on a new car. At least you should have some kind of warranty and it should cost you anything to get fixed. Hope you get it sorted soon and enjoy the car again
Click to expand...
Thank you. Does feel gutting. Puts you on edge, when you've paid out a good wedge for a vehicle you hope for some sort of quality. I know sometimes stuff goes wrong, just hoping they find something and then that's it!!
 
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