Rs3 issue can’t seem to resolve

[Newelly92]

Hi guys, so I currently own an Audi rs3 8v pfl 2016. I’ve owned the car since feb this year, I’ve had a noise on the car which when you put it in park it’s makes a sort of gearbox chatter noise then when in drive it goes away. Ive taken to 2 garages now and the one said it was flywheel so I had this replaced £2500 had the car back exactly the same noise. So onto the next garage said it was my clutch packs he also checked my launch count which was 162 or something which annoyed me massively. So I had the clutch packs replaced another £2500 so at this point I’m 5k in this car since feb. And I still have the exact same noise. Just wondering if you guys could shed some light on what it could be?. All I seem to be doing is worrying about this car and I think I’m at the point now where i shouldn’t be letting car cause me this much stress. Cheers

 

[flybynite]

The DQ500 is generally bullet proof but if you abuse anything it will break. 162 launches should not be a problem but I think it is indicative of how it has been driven at some point in its life.

I don't know what garages you have taken it to but I think you need to find a good reputable specialist who knows these cars. When the flywheel didn't cure it why did you take it somewhere else? Surely back to the same place would be better as their guess was wrong. You are not going to get it free but there is a bit more onus on them to diagnose better.

Money spent on diagnosis is rarely wasted, especially at a good place but that is rarely cheap. If you are in the West Mids then T&G are up your way and know the RS3 gearboxes well.

It needs to get up on a ramp and do it the old fashioned way with a long extension in your ear. It could always be something outside the gearbox like dogbone or engine mounts but they should be easy to spot.

If it is the gearbox, good used ones are not hard to find as I said they do not fail that often. Transfer box is a different matter. At least any replacement gearbox will have a new clutch pack and flywheel and that is not a complete waste on a car of that age.

 

[Newelly92]

The DQ500 is generally bullet proof but if you abuse anything it will break. 162 launches should not be a problem but I think it is indicative of how it has been driven at some point in its life.

I don't know what garages you have taken it to but I think you need to find a good reputable specialist who knows these cars. When the flywheel didn't cure it why did you take it somewhere else? Surely back to the same place would be better as their guess was wrong. You are not going to get it free but there is a bit more onus on them to diagnose better.

Money spent on diagnosis is rarely wasted, especially at a good place but that is rarely cheap. If you are in the West Mids then T&G are up your way and know the RS3 gearboxes well.

It needs to get up on a ramp and do it the old fashioned way with a long extension in your ear. It could always be something outside the gearbox like dogbone or engine mounts but they should be easy to spot.

If it is the gearbox, good used ones are not hard to find as I said they do not fail that often. Transfer box is a different matter. At least any replacement gearbox will have a new clutch pack and flywheel and that is not a complete waste on a car of that age.

Hi bud, it was t&g who fitted the flywheel and tbf after they fitted it and I pointed out it still had the same noise they fitted another one they did say could of been a faulty flywheel but still the same noise after they didn’t it second time round and they was just like they dunno what it is as they said it drives fine.

So after all that they said just drive it so I was abit like oh sound paid £2500 for something I didn’t need

When I had the clutch packs reset at the other garage as it was resetting the noise went and that’s when the garage said it’s your clutch packs you need new clutch packs and since I’ve had these new clutch packs in it’s exactly the same noise I’m starting to wonder is it a normal noise but god knows I have a got a video of the noise but I’m new to this and it only will let me upload photos.

 

[flybynite]

Well if it was T&G that looked at it first then it puts a different slant on it. Never dealt with them personally (bit far north for me) but they have a reasonable rep and they have heard enough RS3s to know what is right and not. If they got the spanners out they must have heard something they did not like. RS3 is not the quietest car but there should be nothing distinct.

I would go through the engine mounts and dogbone, launches are hard on all those joints. A failed joint metal to metal will make a racket and a few things shift when there is load on the box even not moving which might be enough to make contact. Worth a look.

If it all looks ok then I would go with the advice to just drive it. If the box fails then you are no worse off than trying a new one now. Like I say new clutch and flywheel may not have been needed now and been a bit hard to swallow but not a complete waste going forward on a car that age.

 

[Newelly92]

Well if it was T&G that looked at it first then it puts a different slant on it. Never dealt with them personally (bit far north for me) but they have a reasonable rep and they have heard enough RS3s to know what is right and not. If they got the spanners out they must have heard something they did not like. RS3 is not the quietest car but there should be nothing distinct.

I would go through the engine mounts and dogbone, launches are hard on all those joints. A failed joint metal to metal will make a racket and a few things shift when there is load on the box even not moving which might be enough to make contact. Worth a look.

If it all looks ok then I would go with the advice to just drive it. If the box fails then you are no worse off than trying a new one now. Like I say new clutch and flywheel may not have been needed now and been a bit hard to swallow but not a complete waste going forward on a car that age

 

[Newelly92]

Yeah mate cheers for the reply. Do you have Facebook or anything I could send you the video of the noise just to see what you thought ? I think I need to stop worrying about it and try and enjoy it if anything happens it happens. I don’t think I’m gonna ever bother trying to launch it though which is a shame but with that many I’m abit scared aha. What do the launches normally damage diffs/ transferbox ? Can it cause wear on the engine ?

 

[flybynite]

Not really on Faceache TBH although there is a UK 8V group that is supposed to be not as toxic willy-waving as other places. Probably get more eyes and opinions than here.

Front bevel box and driveshafts along with all the rubber bits that hold it in. If you have watched a video of the movement of one of these engines on a dyno you will get the idea what can wear. The PFL does not launch as hard as the DAZA FL, it was toned down in later cars too but it is still hard on them from a standstill.

Never felt the need to launch mine, it is unlaunched (plenty on youtube to show me what it does)

If you haven't done already I would get all the oils done with OEM fluids (front diff, rear diff, and haldex) I assume DSG was done.

 

[Newelly92]

Not really on Faceache TBH although there is a UK 8V group that is supposed to be not as toxic willy-waving as other places. Probably get more eyes and opinions than here.

Front bevel box and driveshafts along with all the rubber bits that hold it in. If you have watched a video of the movement of one of these engines on a dyno you will get the idea what can wear. The PFL does not launch as hard as the DAZA FL, it was toned down in later cars too but it is still hard on them from a standstill.

Never felt the need to launch mine, it is unlaunched (plenty on youtube to show me what it does)

If you haven't done already I would get all the oils done with OEM fluids (front diff, rear diff, and haldex) I assume DSG was done.

Yeah fb more hassle than what it’s worth sometimes I’ve added the video to YouTube so I’ll send you the link. And yeah I’ve had all the oils changed
View: https://youtu.be/FGKGXUZl950?feature=shared

 

[flybynite]

Strange noise, can't really work out what that might be. Doesn't sound like worn mounts as I thought earlier. As I said above I think it needs to be up on a ramp with the undertray off and going round with something to pinpoint where it is coming from. I have a cheap stethoscope but often find my 1/4" long extension works better. Did you get any of the oils analysed for metals?

 

[Newelly92]

Strange noise, can't really work out what that might be. Doesn't sound like worn mounts as I thought earlier. As I said above I think it needs to be up on a ramp with the undertray off and going round with something to pinpoint where it is coming from. I have a cheap stethoscope but often find my 1/4" long extension works better. Did you get any of the oils analysed for metals?

I had this exact noise when I took it to t&g and they had it up on the ramp with a stethoscope and the noise was literally flywheel area hence why they fitted new one I’m just so baffled with it tbh why it’s still making the same noise. And no oils haven’t been analysed but he did say there wasn’t no metal bits in transfer box but did say gearbox oil was quite black. Also since I’ve had my new clutch packs fitted I’m not saying it is them but since I had the car back when I put my foot slightly on the accelerator I can hear a sort of tinny/grinding noise which I never had before the clutch packs were fitted.

 

[flybynite]

If you look at a breakdown of the DQ500 you can see there is a lot going on in that area including a shaft that runs side to side through the transfer case, there are a few bearings around there. Not saying T&G did not do it but sometimes you need to do 4 points of the compass along with both ends when tracking down a noise. Human nature to do the easy stuff first.

At least you don't have wastegate rattle on the PFL

I don't know if the PFL does it but I know the FL throws oil out the breather when launching, that's why many run catch cans. Not out of the bounds of possibilities they dropped the oil level launching and something ran dry leaving a noisy bearing or something.

Analysis will tell you of a problem before you get bits in the oil. I would drive it for couple of thousand miles then drop the oils again, and get them analysed. Another oil change won't hurt. I always measure quantities coming out as that can tell you a lot. Front bevel box was often low for some reason too.

 

[Newelly92]

If you look at a breakdown of the DQ500 you can see there is a lot going on in that area including a shaft that runs side to side through the transfer case, there are a few bearings around there. Not saying T&G did not do it but sometimes you need to do 4 points of the compass along with both ends when tracking down a noise. Human nature to do the easy stuff first.

At least you don't have wastegate rattle on the PFL

I don't know if the PFL does it but I know the FL throws oil out the breather when launching, that's why many run catch cans. Not out of the bounds of possibilities they dropped the oil level launching and something ran dry leaving a noisy bearing or something.

Analysis will tell you of a problem before you get bits in the oil. I would drive it for couple of thousand miles then drop the oils again, and get them analysed. Another oil change won't hurt. I always measure quantities coming out as that can tell you a lot. Front bevel box was often low for some reason too.

 

[Newelly92]

Yes, I was abit disappointed that I’ve had this issue looked at and tried to be fixed by 2 companies that deal with rs3 everyday. Then to be told just drive it. It only has 35k miles on the clock I’ve never worried about a car going wrong so much before lol. I’m literally stuck on who to take it too now for further work to be done on it and trusting someone to do the work and not to just take my money and tell me it’s normal. When clutch packs were fitted by previous garage he stated there was more float on the input shaft than what he would have liked or something I was like ok. Are you a mechanic you seem to know your stuff with these cars ?

 

[flybynite]

Play in the input shaft would be a pointer as what is wrong, shame they did not test the oil at the time. Like I say the DQ500 is a strong box but it will still break if abused. Unfortunately the RS3 has attracted the wrong crowd for a while now, people with no mechanical knowledge, no mechanical sympathy and prefer to add tat to the car rather than keep the oils fresh.

When they gave you the launch count, did they check mileage on the other modules? Clocking them is all too easy these days unfortunately. I take it you don't have VCDS?

Not a mechanic as such but I have a tech background and rebuilt my first car engine in primary school. I look after my own stuff as I don't trust many other people so I get to know my way around anything I drive. I find it helps to know what you are talking about on the occasion I need to get things done elsewhere too.

As I say, now I would drive it for a good few K and then drop the oils, send them away. My gut feeling is it may need a second hand box but no point doing it now and new clutch and flywheel is not a complete waste. Good luck with it

 

[Newelly92]

Play in the input shaft would be a pointer as what is wrong, shame they did not test the oil at the time. Like I say the DQ500 is a strong box but it will still break if abused. Unfortunately the RS3 has attracted the wrong crowd for a while now, people with no mechanical knowledge, no mechanical sympathy and prefer to add tat to the car rather than keep the oils fresh.

When they gave you the launch count, did they check mileage on the other modules? Clocking them is all too easy these days unfortunately. I take it you don't have VCDS?

Not a mechanic as such but I have a tech background and rebuilt my first car engine in primary school. I look after my own stuff as I don't trust many other people so I get to know my way around anything I drive. I find it helps to know what you are talking about on the occasion I need to get things done elsewhere too.

As I say, now I would drive it for a good few K and then drop the oils, send them away. My gut feeling is it may need a second hand box but no point doing it now and new clutch and flywheel is not a complete waste. Good luck with it

Yes mate mileage was checked that was genuine tbf. I was hoping for the worst lol. And like you say they’ve attracted the wrong crowd.

I had an s3 for 8 years before this car it was my pride and joy really looked after it and since owning this rs nearly a year I feel like ive lost love for it already because of how
It’s been treated in the past. I either need to try and enjoy it or get rid I think. It’s a shame because I’m driving it and it’s asif im
Waiting for something to mess up and it not enjoyable.

In a way I want to get rid and i don’t as it’s been a dream car of mine for years. I feel like I’ve sort of wasted 27k on a car that took me a while to save on a lemon I suppose I’ll just have to see how I get on with it but like I say at the moment I ain’t enjoying it.

I even put it on motorway and they offered 22k and I just thought I ain’t losing 5k in the space of 7 months