Plenum Chamber Drain Grommets - Every A4 B6 owner is affected by this common fault

[pj123]

Not a problem, looks like a good week of rain for people to check!

Should this thread be sticky...?

 

[swarcup]

when mine went in for the recall i had to approach Audi and ask if it was due, i never recieved a letter but then how would they know i owned it after 10 years? Also they told me they replace the bungs for a newer design that will not block, but now i read that marka4ti's blocked again after only 3k do they actually do what they say?

 

[rjm180]

Thanks for all the info guys. Think a call to Audi is in order to investigate further.

 

[jdp1962]

Is it just B6s that are affected by this?

 

[markA4tdi]

when mine went in for the recall i had to approach Audi and ask if it was due, i never recieved a letter but then how would they know i owned it after 10 years? Also they told me they replace the bungs for a newer design that will not block, but now i read that marka4ti's blocked again after only 3k do they actually do what they say?

I know by looking at these rubber bungs that all audi did when mine was recalled was just cleaned, and not replaced with a newer design, the paperwork from audi just said said RECALL B517 PLENUM CHAMBER

so to be sure they dont block quickly again (tbh i wouldnt rest, especially during the winter and rain) i feel better just removing them alltogether, (each to their own though) im sure where they are located ,there cant be much muck thrown up from the road.
Im just glad i checked today as its rained heavy since!

 

[markA4tdi]

Is it just B6s that are affected by this?

to be honest im not sure, but i think that any of these bungs will easily clog up with a soggy leaf and other fine debris.

 

[quattrojames]

Is it just B6s that are affected by this?

B5's are definitely, but you're asking about B7's I'm sure - to be honest I don't know. I've never heard of them being affected, but they're not that different so I would suggest it's worth checking.

How is the new car Jeff?

 

[jdp1962]

How is the new car Jeff?

Tell you what, James, it's ******' awesome! It's my first diesel in 30 years of driving (the last 20 of which have all been biggish V6s), and I figured the only way to make the switch was to get a beast.

And a beast it surely is. 233bhp and 330 lb/ft of torque, through all four wheels via a proper torque converter auto box. Effortless performance (0-60 in 7 sec), and the best fuel consumption since a Vauxhall Nova I owned in 1988. There is a bit of clatter when idling cold, but once you're moving, all you can hear is a deep bass hum.

I'm loving the RNS-E sat-nav. I only discovered yesterday that it is bluetooth-enabled. Five minutes of tinkering with my phone settings and the car was transformed into a giant mobile phone! Being a bit of a luddite, this gave me as much pleasure as if I had woken up and discovered I had landed on the moon!

I don't plan to mod it much. The most I might do in the spring is have an RS4 anti-roll bar fitted, and maybe the ambient lights if I can be *****.

There's more life on the B6 forum, though, so you haven't heard the last of me.

 

[deanski]

Was the recall done recently?

Should those affected be expecting some correspondence from Audi regarding this?

about 3 weeks ago. I called preston audi for a part and they said it hadnt been done and could i bring it in. So i took it to preston audi, had a lovely cuppa and drooled over a V10 spyder. I was very impressed with their service. They even gave it a free "health check" whatever that is.

 

[markA4tdi]

about 3 weeks ago. I called preston audi for a part and they said it hadnt been done and could i bring it in. So i took it to preston audi, had a lovely cuppa and drooled over a V10 spyder. I was very impressed with their service. They even gave it a free "health check" whatever that is.

The free health check is "lets see what we can find and tell him what we advise needs doing to his motor" lol

 

[deanski]

lol. thankfully it came out OK. And i left with about 3 tonnes of biscuits in my pockets.

 

[quattrojames]

Tell you what, James, it's ******' awesome! It's my first diesel in 30 years of driving (the last 20 of which have all been biggish V6s), and I figured the only way to make the switch was to get a beast.

Nice. I'm glad you've got no regrets. I imagine a 3.0TDi will be my next car, I know how well the 2.5 goes, and the extra power and torque of the 3.0 make it very appealing.

 

[paul20v]

Is it just B6s that are affected by this?

B5 B6 B7 also passats
my brother inlaws B7 blocked and also flooded the control module under the seat via the pollen filter housing gasket .

 

[markA4tdi]

lol. thankfully it came out OK. And i left with about 3 tonnes of biscuits in my pockets.

LMAO

 

[jdp1962]

Nice. I'm glad you've got no regrets. I imagine a 3.0TDi will be my next car, I know how well the 2.5 goes, and the extra power and torque of the 3.0 make it very appealing.

If you do get a 3.0TDi, I would really recommend you get an automatic.

 

[Widemonkeys]

Yes definate rip off that health check. A week after I bought my car a took it to Wearside Audi and it came out of "free" health check with £1200 of stuff that needed fixing.took it took an Indy that specialises in VAG and it was less that half that

 

[Nutkin]

Yes definate rip off that health check. A week after I bought my car a took it to Wearside Audi and it came out of "free" health check with £1200 of stuff that needed fixing.took it took an Indy that specialises in VAG and it was less that half that

Was this just audis costings or that they said you needed things which you didnt?

 

[Nutkin]

Also water in the car is common for me now as i left my window open accidently one night >.<

 

[Avant4me]

I defy anyone to do this themselves without removing the battery! If you can, then clearly you have very thin wrists and long long fingers!

Mine is all done, had the modified drain bungs in mine with the skirts to stop splash back, but they were still all gunked up from bits of tree being washed down. Took the batter tray and gave it a clean also as it was caked. I had about 3/4 of an inch of water in mine which was a worry.

 

[paul20v]

I defy anyone to do this themselves without removing the battery! If you can, then clearly you have very thin wrists and long long fingers!

Mine is all done, had the modified drain bungs in mine with the skirts to stop splash back, but they were still all gunked up from bits of tree being washed down. Took the batter tray and gave it a clean also as it was caked. I had about 3/4 of an inch of water in mine which was a worry.

No problems
and i dont have thin wrists or long fingers you must have been trying without moving the exspansion tank .

 

[quattrojames]

No problems
and i dont have thin wrists or long fingers you must have been trying without moving the exspansion tank .

How does that help? Can you get access through the metal bulkhead?

 

[BILKO1]

Theres a big thread about this on rs6.com here Class Action Suite - Water Enters car Many models are affected and it's not just the plenum bungs if you have a sunroof you need to clean the drains for this out to.

If you purchased or leased, new or used one of the vehicles listed below, your rights could be affected:
· 2001-2007 Volkswagen New Beetle equipped with sunroof (VIN below 3VW---1C-7M514779)
· 2001-2007 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan or Wagon equipped with sunroof
· 2001-2007 Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen GTI equipped with sunroof
· 1999-2005 Volkswagen Passat.
· 1997-2006 Audi A4 B5 and B6 Platforms (including Cabrio, S and RS versions).
· 1998-2005 Audi A6 C5 Platform (including Allroad, S and RS versions)

Current owners or leasers:
· 1998-2000 and 2007-2009 Volkswagen New Beetle equipped with sunroof (VIN 3VW---1C-7M514779 or higher)
· 1997-2000, and 2008-2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan or Wagon equipped with sunroof
· 1997-2000 Volkswagen Golf/GTI and 2008 - 2009 Volkswagen Golf/GTI equipped with sunroof
· 1997 and 2006-2009 Volkswagen Passat equipped with sunroof
· 1998 Volkswagen Passat
· 2004-2009 Volkswagen Touareg
· 2005-2008 Audi A4 B7 equipped with sunroof (including S and RS versions)
· 1997 and 2005-2009 Audi A6 C6 platform equipped with sunroof (including S and RS versions)
· 1997-2009 Audi A8 (including S versions)

So to answer your question this issue includes all C5s and other VAG models as well.

 

[paul20v]

How does that help? Can you get access through the metal bulkhead?

No mate you can access from under the bonnet and pull them out from underneath
if you move the expansion tank to one side you can get access that way and pull the bung under the battery tray straight out
maybe its mechanics hands that help

 

[paulfromwire]

Another thing to take into consideration is if you've already had this work done ie brake servo replaced & relays in the ECU box replaced Audi will compensate you for this.

 

[Funkyfin2000]

Thanks for this, sadly the guide in the first link has broken. Anyone got a link to how to do it step by step

 

[pj123]

It really is an easy DIY fix, will take you about an hour max.

- under the bonnet remove the plastic cover across the top of the battery by removing the rubber strip that runs the full width of the car. Just pulls off.
- Disconnect the negative lead on the battery then the positive which has two nuts to undo.
- The battery is secure on the front side of the battery at the base with a allen key head. A long allen key is required for this.
- Lift the battery out
- Two nuts secure the battery support bracket. Below this is the first grommet (cam shaped rubber thing) which just pulls out.
- From memory you can then reach across to the drivers side below the brake servo (big round black thing) to get to the other grommet. There will probably be a cable/ wire running through the grommet itself. I just pushed the grommet through the hole and left it connected to the cable but you could cut the grommet free.

Reverse order to replace and always replace positive first then negative second.

I think you have a couple of hours of the battery being disconnected before you will need the radio code.
To make the key work again, put it into the ignition, turn to position 2 and press unlock and lock together.
The traction control light will be on after replacing the battery and starting the engine. This will go out when you start driving.

Hope this helps.
Paul

 

[Funkyfin2000]

Thanks PJ a job for next weekend I think1

 

[quattrojames]

Thanks for this, sadly the guide in the first link has broken. Anyone got a link to how to do it step by step

That "weirdlittlebiscuit" site is always a bit up and down. Stick VW Passat Plenum Chamber Leak into any search engine and you'll get some results.

 

[Funkyfin2000]

I did this today without removing the battery. Mainly coz i didn't have a long allen key!!

My hands are absolutly scratched to bits!

I presume the gromit is shapped like this (===) that kind of shape? Behind it was all dry.

The one behind the Servo was really hard to get to, I would think even with the battery out. I used a LONG screw driver to push the rubber through. Job done.

Thanks to PJ123 for his guide....it was cracking and had my netbook sat on the engine whilst doing it

Just need to get the engine not so lump now

 

[iyrix]

I did mine at the weekend, took the battery out and it was a bitch to get back in.

Glad i did it though, had about 2" of water in there. The muc just fell out as soon as i touch it.

 

[goon]

take it out and leave it out,does no harm for water to drain away completely

 

[Funkyfin2000]

Why on earth VAG thought it was wise to put a rubber plug there? When you can't even see it! What on earth was the point?! And then to go and do that and continue to do it to millions of cars! Weird!

 

[paul20v]

Why on earth VAG thought it was wise to put a rubber plug there? When you can't even see it! What on earth was the point?! And then to go and do that and continue to do it to millions of cars! Weird!

Its not just audi loads of makers use this method of drainage and it effects a lot of them in different ways .

 

[Grover2000]

I have a petrol 2.0 A4 B6 2001 and have unfortunately fallen into the trap of Servo failure due to water in the Plenum chamber. I now have to replace the servo. I was thinking of a second hand servo. Could someone please advise which servo (part number) fits mine and I would prefer to have one from a later model? (are they interchangeable between other models passat etc).

Any help on the matter is greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance

Grover

 

[simon.m]

id try my luck with audi before you pay out mate if you can prove its through the fault that they should have recaled it for you shpuld get the job done free as its there problem. and im sure some one on here had this and audi paid for it

 

[gary1208]

Hi, I've been suffering with the hard brake pedal symptoms on my 2002 A4 when the overnight temps were reaching -5 or lower during December, so I contacted Audi customer care who acknowledged that the plenum drain action had not been carried out on my car. I asked if I would be liable for any additional work that would need to be done as a result of the blocked drains and was told that Audi UK would foot the bill.
My car has been with the local main dealer today and they've phoned to say that the servo needs to be replaced due to water damage and Audi UK have agreed to the work free of charge.
I've also been given an A3 courtesy car to use until the job is done as they do not have the parts in stock.
A big thumbs up for Audi customer car from me, anyone else with the same issues should contact them.

 

[BahnStormer77]

I just talked to the Audi tech's and my local and apparently it affects all A4's to varying degrees: "just lift the plastic cover on the battery and look down the side, if there's any water building up there, bring it in".

Maybe they've been de-plugging A4's for a while and my car was last in there a couple of months ago (Xenon ballast replacement), so perhaps he was just discreetly saving me the hassle of booking the car in again

 

[fourcircle]

That's outstanding service on an 8 year old car. I wouldn't have expected them to do that.

Hi, I've been suffering with the hard brake pedal symptoms on my 2002 A4 when the overnight temps were reaching -5 or lower during December, so I contacted Audi customer care who acknowledged that the plenum drain action had not been carried out on my car. I asked if I would be liable for any additional work that would need to be done as a result of the blocked drains and was told that Audi UK would foot the bill.
My car has been with the local main dealer today and they've phoned to say that the servo needs to be replaced due to water damage and Audi UK have agreed to the work free of charge.
I've also been given an A3 courtesy car to use until the job is done as they do not have the parts in stock.
A big thumbs up for Audi customer car from me, anyone else with the same issues should contact them.

 

[vorsprung dork]

i had a y reg passat that dicided to drink about 2 literes of water from the chamber! this was sucked into the engine oil via the servo! belive me this was not pretty! luckly i found this out straight away and had the service parts at home to drop the contaminated oil and water out! but this was not the end of it! it was last winter and when the weather froze there must have been water still in the servo and it stoped my brakes from working at all!!! this happened on 3 or 4 occasions! i took the servo off and dryed it out in the house for 3 days! really when i think about it i could have been or could have killed someone else due to this drain problem! i now run 2 audi a4s on 04 plates and both of these have suffered water in the chamber! do not listen to audi compleetly remove these gromits it could be in the worst case that your life depends on it!

 

[sinic]

Mines a 2004. Not sure if it's been done but I'm going to take them out as after I wash the car a trail of water is left round every roundabout for the first ten minute drive. Can't think where else that amount of water would come from.