3rd day and still none the wiser...

[Happy Grumpz]

Well, my car went into Audi on Tuesday morning for a service and also to get a weird sound checked out.

The sound is a strange one, it only occurs once you've been in the car for a really good amount of time (like 45 minutes plus) and sounds like a bumble bee when you accelerate, there really isn't any other way of describing it. It's not a rattle or vibration, it's a high pitched rotational mechanical sound...

The technician came out with me on Tuesday morning and the car eventually made the noise. He looked at me and just shrugged his shoulders when I asked him what he thought it was.

Update today (when I kicked off for people not calling me back) 2 technicians have been out in the car to try and pin point the noise and they're still none the wiser and going to have to start swapping parts with a donor car

I've been told they might need the car for a while.

Let's see what courtesy car they provide me with this evening...

 

[WesT-gefül]

The title has not correlation to your post.

 

[Happy Grumpz]

The title has not correlation to your post.

What, the fact the car's been in the garage for 3 days and they're none the wiser as to what the issue is?

I'm sorry the title doesn't meet your requirements on creating appropriate titles for threads

 

[cuke2u]

So which parts are they swopping?

 

[Happy Grumpz]

So which parts are they swopping?

I’ve been in tonight to collect a courtesy car and asked if they were any further forward.

They’re waiting for an identical to mine to return so the can test them side by side and change parts.

He was honest and said they have no idea where to even start, everyone is scratching their heads

 

[WesT-gefül]

What, the fact the car's been in the garage for 3 days and they're none the wiser as to what the issue is?

I'm sorry the title doesn't meet your requirements on creating appropriate titles for threads

Sorry. Wasn’t meant to offend.

I just looked at the title and though was is this in relation too?

On another note, seems to be a commonly reported issue. Rattles and noises. My car was in for a different issue but after I drove a courtesy A6 which has zero rattles I mentioned it to Audi they will also look into it. Hope it gets sorted.

 

[Happy Grumpz]

On another note, seems to be a commonly reported issue. Rattles and noises.

That’s the thing, mine has zero rattles or creaks. In 6 months and 12K it’s been faultless.

This is 100% mechanical and seemingly no one at the garage has ever heard anything like it before.

 

[Syed Shah]

Does this noise happen when the cars changing gear after youve given it the beans? Because mine has on occasion made a similar vibration/rattle whilst changing gears when the revs are quite high

 

[cuke2u]

If they haven't a clue what's causing it, or where it's from it beggars belief that they can then start swopping unknown parts...

 

[Syed Shah]

If they haven't a clue what's causing it, or where it's from it beggars belief that they can then start swopping unknown parts...

Or they know what it is but don’t want to speak too much of it..

 

[cuke2u]

Or they know what it is but don’t want to speak too much of it..

Who knows but would you trust them none the less...

 

[WesT-gefül]

Clocking warranty work for the dealership

 

[Syed Shah]

Who knows but would you trust them none the less...

You have no choice but to... otherwise your £40k is going down the train because they void your warranty for going with someone else.

 

[cuke2u]

No harm in going to another dealership and getting a second opinion though. I certain would give them the three days if not I would take it elsewhere and contact Audi CS.

 

[Happy Grumpz]

Well rumour has it that they've been in touch with Germany and even they don't have a clue

I've been given an 1.5l petrol A3 Saloon, (I used to have an A3 saloon 2.0 TDI) but I feel like it's constantly revving it's nuts off, not a relaxed drive at all.

 

[cuke2u]

The 1.4 a3 I had was a very relaxed drive, you're probably still driving it like a diesel ;-)

 

[Berrrtie]

It took four visits to two different Audi dealers to finally get my rattle resolved.

Each time declaring "It sounds like a loose screw somewhere in the door card"

Last week they 'found' a number of loose screws around the speaker grill.

Pro Tip: Use http://onlinetonegenerator.com/ on your phone plugged into the MMI.
90 Hertz Sine tone resonated perfectly for me.. the technician was able to pin point the source of the rattle.

 

[WesT-gefül]

Pro Tip: Use http://onlinetonegenerator.com/ on your phone plugged into the MMI.
90 Hertz Sine tone resonated perfectly for me.. the technician was able to pin point the source of the rattle.

Thanks for this tip!!!

 

[Happy Grumpz]

The 1.4 a3 I had was a very relaxed drive, you're probably still driving it like a diesel ;-)

You could be right but I find the TDI so relaxing, I never have to boot it to get any power as it's always got enough to get the car moving.

It took four visits to two different Audi dealers to finally get my rattle resolved.

Great tip BUT, it's not a rattle.

 

[cuke2u]

Can you pinpoint the location of the noise, is it anywhere near the pedals for example?

 

[Happy Grumpz]

Can you pinpoint the location of the noise, is it anywhere near the pedals for example?

It's under the bonnet and that's all you can tell. Part of the problem is it only makes the sound while moving and the sound only starts happening once you been driving for ages.

 

[cuke2u]

Borrow a small child to sit in the engine bay? Or the only other way would be to position microphones in different places to see where it's the loudest.

 

[Happy Grumpz]

Well, it’s down to the master technician at the garage to work out what the issue is.

I’ve told them I don’t want it back until it’s fixed.

 

[WesT-gefül]

The part they might struggle with is having someone drive it long enough to hear it again. Hoping for a resolution for you.

 

[Happy Grumpz]

The part they might struggle with is having someone drive it long enough to hear it again. Hoping for a resolution for you.

They've had to do that 3 times already. Once it starts to make the sound they drive by the garage and get a second technician in the car then go out again to try and locate the sound. Obviously at this point they've had no luck.

 

[cuke2u]

Clocking up the mileage no doubt too...

 

[Happy Grumpz]

Clocking up the mileage no doubt too...

Not as much as I'm clocking the mileage up on their car haha. I do about 25k per year so I'd rather put the miles on their car than mine.

At this moment in time, I'm just leaving them to get on with it. I'll see how it plays out over the next week and then go from there.

They have told me I'll get an update tonight, I have more chance of knitting fog than I have getting a call.

 

[Concerned Cat]

Any news? I have a similar problem. It doesn't exhibit the problem until probably 30 mins from starting. It's not temperature dependent. It "creaks" when you set off & stop. It also occurs when driving on rough surfaces. I suspect it's to do with the front suspension or steering arm. Offside. Not too noticeable outside the car. It's driving me nuts & totally ruining the experience of running the car.

 

[Happy Grumpz]

Nope, nothing. They’re waiting for a donor car

 

[Concerned Cat]

Does my description sound anything like yours?

 

[Happy Grumpz]

Does my description sound anything like yours?

Nope, mines a mechanical rotating sound, like a fast spinning impeller.

 

[pjeffe9172]

I know it might sound weird but get the tyres checked. A few years ago I had an alfa romoe that had a mechanical whine/rumble. I had the wheel bearings checked, differential checked and was in the dealership for days to no avail. I went to get the front tyres changed and the tyre fitter said my rears were ‘castleated’ and once warm were creating the noise.

 

[Happy Grumpz]

Good shout but it’s not that, the sound roughly matches the revs and only comes on above 3k in the 1st few gears.

 

[cuke2u]

We really can only guess as to what it would be, having not experienced it ourselves. However keep us posted if they do identify it as then this will be useful if another owner experiences something similar..

 

[Happy Grumpz]

Just has a call from Audi...

They believe that it’s got a bearing failure inside the turbo unit.

The sound fits with what they’ve said. So fingers crossed it is the actual fault.

The whole turbo requires replacing and they’ve had to order one.

 

[cuke2u]

It does fit with the description as you say, I hope the part arrives soon and you can be back on the road with your car again..

 

[WesT-gefül]

Good to hear there is some progress. I remember you saying it takes time for the issue to present, whilst driving. If the bearing has failed did Audi say anything about oil delivery to the the turbo.

 

[cuke2u]

Or even cooling. One of the commonly expressed concerns is the start/stop kicking in after a fast run when the turbo is hot. The electric coolant pump should take care of of that by continuing to run under those circumstances to cool the bearings. If there is an issue with the pump or a sensor then premature bearing failure could occur.

 

[Daggerit]

Or even cooling. One of the commonly expressed concerns is the start/stop kicking in after a fast run when the turbo is hot. The electric coolant pump should take care of of that by continuing to run under those circumstances to cool the bearings. If there is an issue with the pump or a sensor then premature bearing failure could occur.

On that note, I've noticed that my stop/start won't kick in for a while after some spirited driving and I presumed that was the reason.

 

[WesT-gefül]

Is the turbo cooled by coolant instead of oil or both?