Facelift RS3 Haldex Problem?

[AudiNutta]

Hi All,

I’ve copied this thread from the RS3 section as I know more people are active over here.

I’m after a bit of last minute advice. I’ve got 4300 miles on my car now, pretty much from new I’ve noticed something untoward with the way the car drives. I was going to ignore it because I hate dealing with Audi and couldn’t be bothered, but stuff it.. the car is going in today for the exhaust rattle and it needs investigating.

I’ve driven a lot of Quattro cars in the 8V platform and never experienced anything like it, even after 12,000 miles in my S3.

So I’m having issues with the engine bogging down when I suspect the Haldex kicks in. Say for example, pulling onto a dual carriageway.. accelerating steadily (not slow but not fast, just loaded).. the car will bog down, give you a kick and then carry on. It isn’t the gearbox, day for example 5th gear at 40mph, as soon as the revs start to build the revs bog and it feels like a bad manual gearchange, it’s also very noticeable from the engine note. It isn’t traction control as the light has never flickered while it’s done it, ever! The car is engaged in a gear and accelerating when it does it.

It is somewhat similar to what you’d expect from a traction control intervention as it stops power, but it’s much more violent.. the traction control just stops any increase in speed. There is a ‘scrunching’ / ‘graunching’ mechanical noise most of the time when it does it, but I’m unsure if that’s the exhaust note changing if I’m honest.

Hoping for some advice before I drop the car off at 4pm, it’s an obvious problem when you’re adjusted to the car and I’m curious if others have experienced it.. you would have clocked onto the loss of drive instantly.


Thanks,

Matt.

 

[Shawn8V]

Hi All,

I’ve copied this thread from the RS3 section as I know more people are active over here.

I’m after a bit of last minute advice. I’ve got 4300 miles on my car now, pretty much from new I’ve noticed something untoward with the way the car drives. I was going to ignore it because I hate dealing with Audi and couldn’t be bothered, but stuff it.. the car is going in today for the exhaust rattle and it needs investigating.

I’ve driven a lot of Quattro cars in the 8V platform and never experienced anything like it, even after 12,000 miles in my S3.

So I’m having issues with the engine bogging down when I suspect the Haldex kicks in. Say for example, pulling onto a dual carriageway.. accelerating steadily (not slow but not fast, just loaded).. the car will bog down, give you a kick and then carry on. It isn’t the gearbox, day for example 5th gear at 40mph, as soon as the revs start to build the revs bog and it feels like a bad manual gearchange, it’s also very noticeable from the engine note. It isn’t traction control as the light has never flickered while it’s done it, ever! The car is engaged in a gear and accelerating when it does it.

It is somewhat similar to what you’d expect from a traction control intervention as it stops power, but it’s much more violent.. the traction control just stops any increase in speed. There is a ‘scrunching’ / ‘graunching’ mechanical noise most of the time when it does it, but I’m unsure if that’s the exhaust note changing if I’m honest.

Hoping for some advice before I drop the car off at 4pm, it’s an obvious problem when you’re adjusted to the car and I’m curious if others have experienced it.. you would have clocked onto the loss of drive instantly.


Thanks,

Matt.

That mechanical noise, does it sound like it’s coming from the front engine/gearbox region ? Had a similar noise and violent behaviour to that under harsh accleration on my s3. Turned out the transfer box was bust, whole gearbox was replaced under warranty at only 9000 miles.

Also are you experiencing any constant wheelspin in 1-2nd gear ?

 

[AudiNutta]

That mechanical noise, does it sound like it’s coming from the front engine/gearbox region ? Had a similar noise and violent behaviour to that under harsh accleration on my s3. Turned out the transfer box was bust, whole gearbox was replaced under warranty at only 9000 miles.

Also are you experiencing any constant wheelspin in 1-2nd gear ?

Nope it’s from the rear.

I have absolutely no wheelspin and never have done on the front. It’s just harsh engagement of the Haldex.

 

[Shawn8V]

Nope it’s from the rear.

I have absolutely no wheelspin and never have done on the front. It’s just harsh engagement of the Haldex.

Sounds like a haldex pump relaxed issue then, tbh never heard of a transfer box to go wrong on a DQ500 gearbox than compared to a DQ250.

 

[AudiNutta]

Sounds like a haldex pump relaxed issue then, tbh never heard of a transfer box to go wrong on a DQ500 gearbox than compared to a DQ250.

I’ve found a pair of roundabouts that the car seems to be doing it all the time on, outside the centre! Brilliant! Hoping to take somebody out tonight, waiting now... fingers crossed it happens.

 

[AudiNutta]

So the Master Tech came out with me and he was a quiet character, he acknowledged the noise / feeling but didn’t give me any opinion as to whether it was normal or not... my service advisor basically said I will find that out when I get my update.

 

[alpesh26]

I had a similar issue in my S3 the other day. i put my foot down (car was in 3rd already with the Drive Select in Auto), revs built and it went off as normal, but then it lurched forward, a bit like the bad manual gear change you mentioned - like it wanted to gear down whilst the revs/speed were too high, then it decided what it wanted to do and acted normal again.

I reckon mine is more of a gearbox issue than haldex though, ive also noticed an occasional harsh gear change from 2nd to 3rd which im not sure is normal.

 

[Powerenhancer]

So the Master Tech came out with me and he was a quiet character, he acknowledged the noise / feeling but didn’t give me any opinion as to whether it was normal or not... my service advisor basically said I will find that out when I get my update.

Did you ever get this resolved? Mine is doing the same, 150 miles from new.

 

[AudiNutta]

Did you ever get this resolved? Mine is doing the same, 150 miles from new.

Did I bo**ocks.

Went into Audi for it last week, they told me it was due to my exhaust valves being unplugged. Honestly give up with the idiots!

 

[Powerenhancer]

Did I bo**ocks.

Went into Audi for it last week, they told me it was due to my exhaust valves being unplugged. Honestly give up with the idiots!

Exhaust valves unplugged (insert: I really did just die of excess laughter smiley).

I will see how mine gets on. Also getting TC lights flashing under moderate acceleration in the dry!

 

[Dan_G]

I had TC issues going over minor bumps where immediately afterwards I would give it a decent bit of throttle and nothing would happen.

Like after going over a speed bump for instance. didnt always get the TC light on either.

 

[AudiNutta]

Exhaust valves unplugged (insert: I really did just die of excess laughter smiley).

I will see how mine gets on. Also getting TC lights flashing under moderate acceleration in the dry!

I know, the majority are useless fools. They said the reason I can hear the noise is “change in exhaust tone” due to the valves being unplugged, uh.. the valves change tone not without.

Anyway they reconnected them, was still making the same noise when I left. They spouted a load of rubbish about my valves being unplugged and the plugs being corroded causing a fault code, no the valves unplugged fault code is because they are unplugged not because of corrosion on the pins... makes me angry.

I went out on a drive with the tech (young one), told him it went to a different dealer and because they couldn’t see a fault on the system they said there isn’t an issue. There was a bit of silence after that and no response, it’s exaclty what he’s done!!! No fault codes, no fault sir.

Had an absolute boobie full of dealers.

 

[PhatGit]

Had the same issue on the S3 at around 18 months or so. Was identified as an issue with the Haldex pump. Repaired under warranty with no issues. Never happened again for the remainder of the time I had it. There is a thread on here somewhere with more details about it

 

[AudiNutta]

Had the same issue on the S3 at around 18 months or so. Was identified as an issue with the Haldex pump. Repaired under warranty with no issues. Never happened again for the remainder of the time I had it. There is a thread on here somewhere with more details about it

Exactly the same? Noisy when the back wheels kick in, feels like a pause in power?

So annoying because Audi won't touch it, told me there is nothing wrong.

 

[PhatGit]

Well, not having sat in your car when it happens, I can’t say “exactly”
Basically, if I hit the go pedal a reasonable amount, there would be a pause for a moment, a kind of noticeable, but not too loud, grinding bang then either the car would go, or the TC light would flash and then go, or on a couple of occasions (with more spirited attempts to go) the front would bounce

 

[AudiNutta]

Well, not having sat in your car when it happens, I can’t say “exactly”
Basically, if I hit the go pedal a reasonable amount, there would be a pause for a moment, a kind of noticeable, but not too loud, grinding bang then either the car would go, or the TC light would flash and then go, or on a couple of occasions (with more spirited attempts to go) the front would bounce

I have a pause in drive, can hear a ‘scrunching’ noise, never see the TC light and never experienced any bounce / wheel spin.

I’m going to wait for it to go bang, if it doesn’t it’s a characteristic of the car and I will just continue to tell whoever I’ve got in the car ‘Haldex fault coming up’, I can predict now when it’s going to happen

 

[PhatGit]

“...never see the TC light and never experienced any bounce / wheel spin. ”

Well your obviously not trying hard enough