Help Please Dilemma! Keep car or get rid? Timing chain issue, 3.0 TDI

[Sherv]

I just bought my first A4 3.0 TDI B8 three months ago (had an A3 before). I noticed a noise & took it back to the garage I purchased it from, they diagnosed it was the timing chain but said they wouldn't fix it as it was just out the one month warranty! I contacted trading standards & they said it has to be "fit for purpose for the first six months", I sent a recorded delivery template letter asking for the issue to be fixed (which was ignored), my next step is to do the same but ask for a full refund (paid 7k) then it will go to a small claims court which should work in my favour. Problem is even if I get 6k back I won't be able to get another 3.0 TDI with my high spec. My friend who is a mechanic has offered to replace the timing chain, guides & tensioners but I'm not sure what to offer him, normal price is between £1500-2000 which i could never afford, would have to scrap it! I was thinking of offering him 1k (including parts), does this seem reasonable for a homer as I know it's a huge job.

 

[pazaudi]

I think I'd rather get all my money back instead of worrying about the high spec.

 

[DieselJake]

As above I'd persue that route first but if it looks like the cash isn't coming back guess the best route is to get it done (through your mechanic or whichever other route). If you don't want to pay for the work to be done I suppose the only way is to sell it like you say and specify what it needs in the add but buyers will most likely be warey with any mechanical issues, may even be interested in the car myself if it's going without the chain being done for reasonable money.

 

[tech838]

The minimum parts alone are £400+ for a decent quality kit, so depending how friendly you are with him £1000 isn't miles out. You might even get away with just replacing the top tensioners like others on here, but you won't know until you're in there.

Once its sorted with proper oil changes these engines can do 300k+ miles easily so it is worth fixing.

Did you buy it on credit card or with a car loan? As they are also jointly liable (credit card 6 months / loan for the duration of the loan IIRC)

 

[Mike B]

I doubt if the court will see it in your favour if you have only just noticed the noise.The other side will say its wear and tear and nothing broke during the guarantee period.Maybe if you have only done a few miles an expert might give evidence that it must have been faulty on purchase but it was a lot of money and there is always the legal principle of buyer beware and it should have been picked up then.Anyway if this is the only drawback with the car you need to fix it or let someone else do it.I wonder if you had bought it from Audi they would have made a contribution as a goodwill gesture but then you would have got a longer guarantee and probably paid a lot more.

 

[Sherv]

I think I'd rather get all my money back instead of worrying about the high spec.

I wouldn't get the full amount back, lucky if I get £6k back which isn't enough.

 

[Sherv]

Did you buy it on credit card or with a car loan? As they are also jointly liable (credit card 6 months / loan for the duration of the loan IIRC)

Unfortunately it was bank transfer

 

[Sherv]

I doubt if the court will see it in your favour if you have only just noticed the noise.

Noticed the noise about two months ago, contacted the garage I purchased from about a week after I noticed it.

 

[Mike B]

That might help if you have proof but they can still say it was fine when you bought it.I sympathise but to me it shows how careful you need to be.My son and I looked at many S4s and S5s last year with the 3.0 V6 chain engine .Some were very rattly some he found with wear with his VCDS.Its a cambelt for me although he did find an S5 which seems good so far

 

[Retroman]

Whilst one can argue about the possibilities (or not) of getting a refund, if the car is otherwise fine I would be inclined to get it fixed - which if you can get done for £1,000 is fine. There is always the chance of losing just as much money on repairs to a replacement car or just via the profit premium paid to another dealer for another car.

 

[bhodgkiss]

What noise are you hearing out of interest?

 

[Sherv]

What noise are you hearing out of interest?

A constant rattle that goes faster when you apply the accelerator. It's getting more noisey and worse in the cold.

 

[PGunter]

Interested to know what the mileage is on your A4. I have just purchased an A4 3.0TDi and considered the possible issues relating to the chain and what it could cost. She has 82K on here and has been serviced without consideration to costs. 10 services on a 2008. I just hope that I am lucky.

From those in the know. I was under the impression that the noise was only on start up until the engine got warm ?

Interested to know how you get on.

 

[Marky007]

I had an a8 3.0 tdi which made a timing chain noise on start up for 12k miles before I sold it with 155k miles on it worked flawlessly in all that time.
Never bothered me just left it alone.
I can see yours is a bit more serious issue I would be inclined to fix it and you'll be good for a good few more miles.

 

[Sherv]

Interested to know what the mileage is on your A4.

It's got 98k on the clock. Noise is constant and speeds up when you accelerate which is probably the guides rubbing. Timing chain rattle at this mileage (meant to be good for 300k) is down to using long life oil and long service intervals.

 

[Gazwould]

Just the LongLife intervals .

 

[bobby singh]

Change the top two tensionors before taking the engine out - See my build thread, I posted some pictures a while ago

 

[desertstorm]

Just going to paste a link to that Bobby. To the OP if the noise is constant I personally wouldn't be driving it. At the moment the engine is repairable. If the timing chain slips or something brakes you may as well bin it.
The top two tensioners may resolve the issue and can be done without removing the engine.
Used car warranty is a waste of time usually unless it's backed by a manufacturer.
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts...audi/a4/a4-avant-8k5-b8/25509-3-0-tdi-quattro

 

[bobby singh]

Buy Febi parts they are OEM Audi supplier - even have the Audi pn

 

[bobby singh]

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threa...-tdi-build-thread.248899/page-15#post-3322452

 

[JGrant]

I just bought my first A4 3.0 TDI B8 three months ago (had an A3 before). I noticed a noise & took it back to the garage I purchased it from, they diagnosed it was the timing chain but said they wouldn't fix it as it was just out the one month warranty! I contacted trading standards & they said it has to be "fit for purpose for the first six months", I sent a recorded delivery template letter asking for the issue to be fixed (which was ignored), my next step is to do the same but ask for a full refund (paid 7k) then it will go to a small claims court which should work in my favour. Problem is even if I get 6k back I won't be able to get another 3.0 TDI with my high spec. My friend who is a mechanic has offered to replace the timing chain, guides & tensioners but I'm not sure what to offer him, normal price is between £1500-2000 which i could never afford, would have to scrap it! I was thinking of offering him 1k (including parts), does this seem reasonable for a homer as I know it's a huge job.

Alright bro did you get this sorted in the end? I have got a rattle when I start and am pretty sure it’s the chain etc I am handy with Tools but not sure I wanna do it my self in case I make it worse, ironically I start with a a3 also then got this.. I’m trying to upload a video to see if someone can 100% confirm for me would but it will not let me from my iPhone if anyone could also help with that?

 

[Marky007]

Alright bro did you get this sorted in the end? I have got a rattle when I start and am pretty sure it’s the chain etc I am handy with Tools but not sure I wanna do it my self in case I make it worse, ironically I start with a a3 also then got this.. I’m trying to upload a video to see if someone can 100% confirm for me would but it will not let me from my iPhone if anyone could also help with that?

Do a YouTube video then post link ?

 

[Sherv]

Alright bro did you get this sorted in the end? I have got a rattle when I start and am pretty sure it’s the chain etc I am handy with Tools but not sure I wanna do it my self in case I make it worse, ironically I start with a a3 also then got this.. I’m trying to upload a video to see if someone can 100% confirm for me would but it will not let me from my iPhone if anyone could also help with that?

Unfortunately I still haven't fixed it. It did go quieter when I replaced the oil but it's starting to get loud again. I was going to try and replace the top two ttensioners as apparently the engine doesn't need to be dropped out for this but I still don't have money for that never mind a full chain kit replacement.