SQ5 SQ5 engine rattle

[Redreels]

Hi All,

I thought I would post looking for any suggestions.
We have a 2013 SQ5 with around 80k miles and full Audi history. The car runs very nicely and drives well. Tappety on start up buy they all are. We have noticed that when reversing up our drive there is a loud rattle from the front. It isn’t noticeable when driving forwards but only when reversing up the incline.

My first thought was maybe a heat shield (hopefully) or perhaps bottom end bearings (hopefully not). I took the engine cover off the top and there is nothing obviously loose at the top.

I had the wife reverse the car up the drive with the bonnet up and me following carefully. It appeared to be from the engine itself from a few feet away. Could this be timing belt tensioners?

Any thoughts would be appreciated as it is a strange one as it only happens when under load in reverse up the hill.

Thanks in advance

 

[desertstorm]

It's not anything in the engine if it only does it in reverse. More likely to be a heat shield as you thought or possibly an issue in the gearbox/ transmission.

 

[Redreels]

Thanks for the post. Hopefully it is just that but wondered if it was raising its head as it is under increased load. I best get the engine tray off and have a proper inspection.

Many Thanks

 

[45bvtc]

Thanks for the post. Hopefully it is just that but wondered if it was raising its head as it is under increased load. I best get the engine tray off and have a proper inspection.

Many Thanks

Increased load means more 'strain' and 'more 'engine-vibration' and that 'vibration' will for sure be making other 'bits' vibrate in harmony. You've not said what the sound is 'like' though I'd expect it to be a 'high' pitch-noise rather than low. I'd be more worried about 'low' as for sure bottom-end-noise is low and heavy - and certainly not directional i.e., just in reverse.

 

[Redreels]

It’s a strange noise, I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as a high pitch, tinny noise that perhaps you would have expected from a heat shield coming into contact with the exhaust.
Certainly more of a lower noise, more like that of a bottom end problem. When I followed the car it appeared to be top end like a shortage of oil (its not) which made me wondered if timing chain tensioners were an known issue. I will try and get a video of the noise.

Thanks all for your input

 

[Matty69b8]

It’s a strange noise, I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as a high pitch, tinny noise that perhaps you would have expected from a heat shield coming into contact with the exhaust.
Certainly more of a lower noise, more like that of a bottom end problem. When I followed the car it appeared to be top end like a shortage of oil (its not) which made me wondered if timing chain tensioners were an known issue. I will try and get a video of the noise.

Thanks all for your input

Hi, I’m just wondering if you ever had this issue sorted in the end? I’m having the exact same thing with my 2014 sq5 a rattling sound in reverse gear when on steep incline like it’s under load it’s very pronounced.
If you can shed any light on it I’d be very grateful.
Thanks
Matt

 

[Redreels]

Hi Matt, very strange that you should message at this moment in time.

I struggled to pinpoint the rattle myself and since my post the rattle became more pronounced when driven and became more noticeable when revving the car whilst parked.
We had it in at Audi for a service who couldn’t find the rattle. They probably didn’t look. Then another garage suggested the gearbox. We took it in to a local transmission company at the beginning off December who were very good. They used their listening equipment and identified that the noise was coming from the timing chain area.

We actually have the car going in to have the chain and idlers etc replaced on Monday. After ringing around some local specialists we managed to get a less eye watering quote but still expensive. We have had to wait four weeks to get it in so we parked it up for fear of engine damaged.
It’s a 3o hour job and apparantly a £8000 job at Audi. Appears to be quite a common fault. I will find a you tube link for you which demonstrates the sound we had. I will post that shortly.

 

[Redreels]

Hopefully this helps you and others

 

[Redreels]

Just to close the thread out. We have just received the car back after nearly two weeks. The timing chains, guides, tensioner, bolts baskets and seals have all been replaced. The noise has gone and the engine sounds super.

The chain was still under tension but one of the guides was chewed up and not fully located in place. One of the other guides appears chipped. Was an eye watering bill but we have peace of mind and fairly priced for the amount of work that went into it.

The Part numbers for the guides has been superseded several times so there is a strong chance they have been redesigned as our was an earlier model.

hope all the above helps someone out

 

[Leebroath]

@Redreels

Just wanted to add to this thread, and hopefully it isn't the same issue (I pray its just a heat shield)

I just parked the car on a slight incline pointing downwards to the school, I had to reverse a little up the hill to move closer to the kerb.
While reversing, both myself and other half heard a small rattle as both our windows were down.
Going to investigate this weekend, we have an SQ5 2020 model.

After everything we have gone through, I am 99% sure I'll be taking out the Audi cover (pay monthly)