My first bought car, Audi S3, help needed

[Nikolaj]

Hey!

Just bought my first car, an Audi S3. Been driving a friends old BWM last couple of years (e46 compact),
so this feels really good! It have been driven for 14400km, but since I am a car noob there is things I can't figure out.

Have searched the web alot but really no answers.. This seems like a very nice forum for audi owners so I thought I might give it a shot

There is a small squeaky noice from the brakes when braking in slow.. Not super huge but still there like an old volvo 240.. I've read some people saying its because an S3 is "race" and racing breaks tend to squeak at low speeds when warm. But some say it's other things..
Anything I can do about it?

Then there is this small rassle or what to call it, coming from behind of the car when reving up from gear. It's like if I go in 3rd gear from 2000 rpm to 4000 rpm the rassle starts about at 3000 and ends at 4000 then i shift at 5000 for example. Can it be a small stone stuck in there that rattles just at does revs?
It's kind of high pitched but not very noticeable. But it's there.

Hmm might edit in that it's a 2007,

Thanks!

Regards Nikolaj

 

[pburv]

Hey!

Just bought my first car, an Audi S3. Been driving a friends old BWM last couple of years (e46 compact),
so this feels really good! It have been driven for 14400km, but since I am a car noob there is things I can't figure out.

Have searched the web alot but really no answers.. This seems like a very nice forum for audi owners so I thought I might give it a shot

There is a small squeaky noice from the brakes when braking in slow.. Not super huge but still there like an old volvo 240.. I've read some people saying its because an S3 is "race" and racing breaks tend to squeak at low speeds when warm. But some say it's other things..
Anything I can do about it?

Then there is this small rassle or what to call it, coming from behind of the car when reving up from gear. It's like if I go in 3rd gear from 2000 rpm to 4000 rpm the rassle starts about at 3000 and ends at 4000 then i shift at 5000 for example. Can it be a small stone stuck in there that rattles just at does revs?
It's kind of high pitched but not very noticeable. But it's there.

Hmm might edit in that it's a 2007,

Thanks!

Regards Nikolaj

Hi Nikolaj.
Try checking the heat shield that runs along the exhaust underneath the car(could be loose??)

 

[leshkin]

Привет Nikolaj

The brake squeaking may mean that they need a clean with brake cleaner spray, which can help. It might be that the pads are aftermarket - some are noisy by nature. Swapping to OEM may help if that is the case.

Not sure about the noise at the back - may be something simple like a fastener or a bolt loose. Maybe something more serious with the rear differential, but its hard to go on just an explanation.

 

[Nikolaj]

Thanks for the tips, im not sure if the brake pads are aftermarket or worn out, but I know they only squeak when hotted up though. Other then that they brake really good.
I will be testing it for a small charge at local mechanic shop tomorrow, and hope it comes out clean. The noice from the back do sound like somethings is loose, might be the exhoust so ill check that too, cheers!

 

[Nikolaj]

All right! Got it back friday and everything looked good. Brakes was nice, nothing wrong there so maybe just a spray is whats needed to get rid of the squeaky brakes.
The noice coming from behind was a loose tightning screw from the reserv wheel in my trunk... Really annoying but its now solved!

When everthing seems to be in order something else shows up... I didn't hear it before but when I start the engine cold you can hear a "swish" sound from the engine.
I think i located it to the rubber band sitting left in the motor. It goes like "swich swich swich" like pumping up a football with air. I think it's the rubber band like I mentioned, left in the motor. Might be wared out?
It silence off when the engine is warm, then you can baraly hear it, if at all... Anything I need to be worried about?

 

[Nikolaj]

also a picture of it

 

[Audiabc7]

Another S3 owner from sweden I see Congratulations on your first car, looks really nice and clean!

I have that "swish" sound you describe as well, I've always just thought it has something to do with the HPFP or injection, but honestly don't have a clue and have never really investigated it. Always goes away when the engine warms up a bit. Had it for a year now without any issues...

 

[Nikolaj]

Yep! Sweden it is, hehe!
Im half russian, explaining my name

I don't think it's the fuel pump, but the rubber band moving at the left. Not sure exacly what they do so im not sure if I need to worry about it. You can hear the same thing on really old cars cruising in at gas stations. The sound is very close to the sound you had when fighting with sticks as a young bloke When you cut the air with it so to speak.

The dealer I bought it of said its normal ware on an s3, but I dunno.... not the camband atleast

 

[Nikolaj]

Can't find the edit button on my phone?
Just wanted to edit in a thanks
Car is really clean with some minor scratches. He also painted lower side grey, same grey that are on the front wing on standard. Didn't think of it much but now i really enjoy it to be a little bit different from other 8p s3.

Which brings me back to another question.
Which is the best way to remove scratches without a repaint? Mostly scratches from him cleaning the car. And from his dotters finger nails under the door handle.

 

[Audiabc7]

That belt you mention drives the alternator and AC compressor, Just have it checked at the regular service intervals and you should be good to go. Never had any issues with mine and it feels nice and tight.
If I'm not mistaken I think I saw that car on blocket a while ago, nice to have some unique touches to your car. I got the front lip painted in a matte aluminum finish to match the mirrors, so mine has some unique details as well

As for scratches, a full detail and polish is always a good idea. If it's just minor swirls and scratches from washing a fine grade polishing compound along with a dual action polisher would sort it out nicely. Those deeper scratches like under the handles might require a more aggressive compound and even wet sanding in some cases, although they are really hard to access.. I took a microfiber cloth with some compound and just rubbed the **** out of them was nowhere near perfect but at least it restored some of the gloss.

Have a look in the detailing section here at audi-sport, a lot of good advice there there is also a swedish forum called bilvardsforum.se, have a look there as well

 

[Nikolaj]

Sorry for the late reply, I work in health care and had a lot to do this week! Glad its weekend now!

Cool! I just did APR stage 1 ECU in Denmark yesterday (couldn't resist it) and they told me the sound could be the driving belt, which is bad
They usually change it at their shop around 100-120k km even though audi recommend at 180k km.
Mine is 140.500km. Maybe now is a good time to do it? Considering the ECU tune as well?

I have tryed polish compounds and vax, the most expensive haha.. and it helped to some range! Very shiny and nice but the scratches still remains though... I will try the site you linked, thanks!

With solutions comes new problems... When I did the APR stage 1, the car got a lot faster! Still need to push it over 3-3.5k rpm until the beast is unleached, but then it just goes on and on!
Now, the boring part... I got this strange metallic cricket sound coming at 3.5-4k rpm and lasting about 1-2 secounds when revving up. Its more noticeable in high gear revving up. The mechanic guy (which was very kind and helpfull) though it could be pvc or a crack somewhere in the BoV? But he was not sure at all. And ofcourse the sound was much lower when he drove it...

It is really annoying and cant find anything that helps on google. Any ideas?

 

[Audiabc7]

Yeah you should definitely get the timing belt changed if it hasn't been done before. I would also recommend every 120k, better safe than sorry considering these cars often get driven a bit harder than regular cars. Mine is at 115k now so I'm having mine done next month.

Stage 1 sure does a nice difference to the performance, absolutely worth it It's really hard to tell what the sound could be just from the description, maybe the intake/turbo noise getting louder at stage 1? If you're worried about it or if it gets any worse then have it checked at a garage. Both PCV and the diverter valve issues are quite common on these cars, both really simple to fix though. Typical signs of a faulty PCV is erratic/rough idle, revs not wanting to drop/drops slowly, oil leaking at the cap or coil packs. There are a lot of threads about that over here. I replaced mine a week ago or so.. A crack in the diverter valve would typically make the car feel a bit slower due to the boost leaking. Just remove it and check for any cracks and damage. If the sound is more of a rattle kind then try checking for any loose panels or heat shields etc.

 

[Nikolaj]

Cheers mate!
The car have never been tuned before, and have been driven pretty good I think. Last owner told me his friends daughter drove it before me for 2-3 years. And before that a "responsible" man.
When doing some internet work, showed up to be a true story. Old age, owning a small store etc.
It all sounded too good to be true, but evidence slowly showed up, like a forgotten Chanel lip gloss in the car haha.. And the winter wheels was labeled the old owners name.
So his storys all showed to be true, and im starting to belive everything was true Sounded like a honest and good guy, the seller.

With all that said, and im now pushing it with APR stage 1.. Not driving it bad, but fast haha.. Still recommend to change the belt?
They told me 1200€ inckuding cost of belt etc. Also they will change minor stuff at the same time, said it was wise.
Is that an ok price?

Im going to change PCV and DV in a couple of weeks, hope that will fix some issues. Is it possible for me to do it myself? I can say im quiet handy. But never done mechanic work to cars before.

There is another thing that really annoys me though... There is a clicking sound, or more like 2 metal plates clashing toghether when I press down the throttle pedal.
Happends everytime. It's like *click* when i press it down, and *click* when i release it back again. I can hear it both when in gear and in neutral. In pretty much all speeds and revs.
It's JUST when i press down the peddel, once. And when its released, once.

Same thing with clutch, but my guess is that its normal for manual? Only been driven a BMW 316i a couple of years, so pretty new in the car scene.

Will check for loose plates etc asap!

 

[Audiabc7]

Yep would still recommend getting the timing belt changed asap. Cost of repairs if it fails would be much higher so not worth taking the risk IMO. Most guys here recommend a change every 5 years/120k km.

That 1200 euro quote sounds way overpriced to me. Before I bought my S3 I asked my dealer about the timing belt job and got a quote of about 6000 kr, including belt, tensioner and water pump, which should be replaced at the same time. Prices might have gone up a bit since then but that sounds just insane! Ask your dealer or other local specialists what prices they can give you.

As for the DV and PCV valve, both are really simple DIY's. Just pop the engine cover off, some hoses and electrical connectors to unclip, 3 screws each and you're done takes about 5-10 minutes each.

I have honestly no idea about the sounds you are describing, but if the car feels good and drives good I wouldn't worry too much. These cars are quite bulletproof if treated and maintained correctly.