Lumpy idle and puff of white smoke when accelerate

J

Jamie macdonld

Registered User
Joined
May 3, 2015
Messages
20
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Hi all. Just brought an Audi a3 2.0tdi on and 03 with 160k on clock, the car has been sitting a year. love the car but has a problem.

It has a lumpy idle and when I shut off and accelerate again a puff of white smoke, maybe unburnt diesel, comes out of exhaust.

It drives well and seems like it has full power.

Any help or suggestions would be great.

Thanks in adavance
Jamie
 
Could really do with a scan but at that age id bet it's one of 3 things:

1. Turbo, looking at your symptoms it's unlikely but possible

2. Injectors, typically give white smoke when they are knackered

3. Crack in the head. The heads on the 8P 2.0 tdi 140 were prone to head cracking. Audi issued many variations to the head, normally with the part code ending A, B or C. Check for the code stamped on the head, on the surface closest to the front of the car. A revisions were very prone to cracking, B revisions were better but still cracked and revision C pretty much sorted the issue.

I would get a VCDS scan done. If the turbo and injectors are looking ok on that then I'd say it's a cracked head.
On an 03 I think you're likely to have a revision A head unfortunately
 
Thanks for the reply. Did a torque scan with no codes found. Code on head ends with a b so maybe had new head at some point. Fingers crossed. So you thing after standing so long the fuel may have degraded and a fuel system cleaner like millers would help.

Thanks
 
It's worth a try. Certainly cheaper than the other possibilities.

Could be condensation in the system but that wouldn't take long clear
 
Possibly mate. I wouldn't be able to say for sure. A 2003 will be a really early 8P and also an early 2.0 tdi so it would stand to reason that it would be an A head from the factory but I can't say for sure
 
Ok, well at least I have a b head which is better anyway.

Thanks for help. I'll stick in my mates garage and he can look it over.

Put a tank full of ultimate on with a helping of millers.

Idle seems better after fresh fuel or maybe in my head lol

Jamie
 
check if its loosing water ?

I had a c head and cracked between all valves still drove ok but would get lots of smoke when first staring and after a few mins would be ok.
 
Oh I see. One smokes only now and then. Seems to be a low revs at low speed and just a puff then it's gone. Smells like oil smoke if you know what I mean.

Drives fine other than that. It looks like oil level is a little high aswell
 
I had the same with my one. The lumpy tickover was diagnosed as the injector loom, which was changed and improved things for a while. EGR pipe then cracked and that was replaced. Eventually the second turbo went and the head was removed to find several cracks and a knackered injector.
I think, with 160 thou on the clock, I wouldn't expect too much from a BKD, you are probably lucky not to have had things going wrong from 100 thou.
I would say if it's going well enough, just run it until it gives in but get ready for it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kanecullen89
Ok. Thanks for reply. Sorry you have had such issues.

I have Just brought it though so not sure of history of the engine apart from servicing and it has had a new head at some point as it's the later b one rather than the a. It has also had a new egr valve and a new fuel pump and control flap motor at the approx I40k

I only paid £1900 for it so I will see what happens. New turbos arent much these days and I have a mate with a garage who does things at a good price for me. I didn't know these engine where so fragile. I have had tens of cars with the 1.9 tdi engine in and they have been great including my gf's 2000 a3 with 170k on.

I'll see what my mate says next week and update the post.
 
I think the best bkd engines to get are the laters ones because they ironed out some of the issues. They still had fairly chocolate turbos though.

I'd be very surprised if your car hasn't already had a new turbo and clutch at that mileage. I don't think the originals would last that long. Just depends when they were done.
Also you want to know when the cambelt and water pump were last done.

They can last fairly long, so long as the head is a good one.

The 1.9 engines are in a league of their own though. Bombproof (except a batch of 1.9 engines from the 8P and a few other models that liked to throw their leg out of bed)
 
Yeah know the 1.9 well.

I'm getting the cambelt and water pump done next week.

Your probably right about the turbo and clutch. It's probably better to buy a high miler than one with 100k on the clock. I always buy high milers and have never(touch wood) had one break down or had big repair bills

I really like the drive of the Audi 3dr sport. Just came from an e90 320d with 160k, Audi feels more fun to drive and as well put together.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jake 61
Just went out in it and gave some beans and car went into limp mode so reset it by turning ignition off and on.

Only done it the once though
 
Get a scan on it mate.
Could be turbo if it went to limp
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jake 61
+1 for the turbo. That day I mentioned that you should save for could be near.
That's exactly how my one started the road out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kanecullen89
Yeah think u maybe right. Would the make it smoke, only seems smokes when under load at lowish speed just after lifting off
 
I brought a recon turbo for my gf's Audi from a company in Corby about a year ago, seems ok and was only £300. Looks like I'll be calling them again soon

Btw. Thanks for replys.
 
Any unusual noises from the turbo? Siren style noises and squealing type noises are common with turbo failure
 
Jamie macdonld said:
I brought a recon turbo for my gf's Audi from a company in Corby about a year ago, seems ok and was only £300. Looks like I'll be calling them again soon

Btw. Thanks for replys.
Click to expand...

Are you local to Corby? I live near Kettering
 
Sort of local. Ely near cambs.

The turbo has a slight whistle but not very load. Still pulls well and has only gone into limp mode the once
 
Every time I hit 3000 revs it would go into limp home mode. There was no drama with the first turbo but the second was spectacular.
Major smoke coming up from underneath at both doors, still got it home though... :laugh:
 
Car been I'm garage had cambelt done, had to take it back though as wouldn't start well, turns out it was half a tooth out on the inlet cam. Now it's sorted it runs better than when I first got it.

Anyway, turns out the turbo is on its way out so will have to get one sorted.

Still loving the car though
 
Limp home mode is almost certainly the turbo on it's last legs.
Once you get that sorted it sounds like life will be sweet. Get a decent one though, I went down the cheap route and ended up putting a Garrett on after 5 or 6000 miles.
It was spot on after that.

;)
 
I'm going to run the turbo as it is for a bit longer.
I brought a reman turbo from s company Corby for the gf's a3 seems ok still and came with a 12 month warranty.
 
had similar on my a4, got a brand new turbo fitted through warranty claim and was amazing! Oem all the way, no recon refurb bullocks!
 
Hi all, but of an update

Had turbo fitted now have no smoke and good power about 3k rpm but the problem now is lack of power below 2800 rpm.

Oh well something else to sort
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

bokoboy
Lumpy idle when hot
Replies
2
Views
838
NHN
NHN
A
White smoke and a rough idle?
Replies
4
Views
3K
Abz99
A
A
Rough/Lumpy Idle When Cold
Replies
12
Views
11K
martinivw
martinivw
Forbzeeee
Puff of blue smoke after coasting
Replies
8
Views
4K
Forbzeeee
Forbzeeee
R
First impressions & lumpy idle when cold?
Replies
1
Views
1K
rowansbank
R
Top
Back