moddie

Hi everyone, I've put about 1000kms on the a4 over the last 3 weeks.

I had it inspected by audi, who estimates $3500 in total repairs before tax including labour, and an independent garage who told me that nothing is wrong with it and didn't charge me anything. (They actually fixed/tweeked part of the front left suspension FOR FREE and got rid of a noise that audi wanted to charge me $180 to do....)

On to my concern. I realize that there has to be a realistic place between these two opinions. I'm sure that there is something that needs to be fixed. I had to add oil to it today because the yellow oil level min symbol popped up. (i'm not sure how something as simple as that was over looked by 2 garages in the same week... but anyways.

Here is a video I made earlier today of the engine at idle. Not sure if this sounds good or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JodP8pg9n-g


Also: does anyone know what these slots do above the climate control screen? I was hoping to mount an iphone holder there.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/c-record/4925804476/" title="IMG_0078 by Crecord, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4925804476_54397e0e2c.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0078" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/c-record/4925804464/" title="IMG_0079 by Crecord, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4925804464_202971b30c.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0079" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/c-record/4925804458/" title="IMG_0080 by Crecord, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4925804458_b9f59cd306.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0080" /></a>

Do they take temp readings in the cabin?
Anyone else had any luck mounting an iphone anywhere else, other then by suction cups to the windscreen?

Thanks
Dave

jschick

hard to tell on video, but sounds like could be lifters or bad cam chain tensioner. If it were me I would first add seafoam to the oil drive for 100 miles and change oil and filter. If it has some sticking lifters or plugged passage ways to the tensioner this may clear it up, if it does nothing then you have a more serious issue, likley do to running it low on oil.
if you can pinoint the location of the noise this could help, the drivers side has the cam tensioner in the front of the head, the passanger side it is in the rear of the head.

AudinBmw4life

cant hear it that well.. but it sounds like it could be the timing belt tensonier pulley...

is it quiet when the engine is cold???? and how long ago did u replace the timing belt and tensioner on it??

jschick

Good point, pull the timing covers and take a look at the pulley's see if the belt runs smooth when the car is running, if you have a loose or bad pulley you will want to stop driving it! You can barely see them so get a light and look at them with the car running, if the belt is not running smoothly over the pulley (any flopping etc...) you could have a bad or loose pulley.
but my guess is still internal lifters or Cam chain tensioner. do your best to try to pinpoint the area of the noise.

1999Audi

"does anyone know what these slots do above the climate control screen?" same here

AudiMick

Pulls air from cabin to measure temperature. If you block it up the tiny fan that is there will burn out and your climate control won't work.

jschick

as mentioned above those slots are for interior air temp.

1999Audi

"tiny fan that is there" - I didn't notice any fan when I remove grill. are you sure?

waspie

there may be a small tube or something but the end result is a small fan that draws air over a thermistor. you likely won't burn it out but your climate control may be come erradic from improper readings.

moddie

I bought the car a few weeks ago with 200k on it. I worked at mercedes for the last 3 years and a lot of our techs used to work for audi and bmw locally.

Long story short an ex-audi tech took a look at the t.belt (peaking through the cover) and could make out a few shinny teeth on the belt. Also the condition of the hoses etc. are a little on the older side, so it's probably due for a change sooner then later.


The Audi dealer I took it to qouted me as follows:

2 oil leaks -cam chain tensioner and top engine gasket (so some of the guesses have been correct $1200

Rear Diff leak $695

Pass. Engine mount fluid leak not effecting ride quality yet $480

Front rotors grooved $480

d.side ball joint $500

Level Sensor arm? This is what was making noise and now isn't $180

Didn't mention timing belt but I asked what it would cost:
$890parts
$732 Labor

All prices include labor in Canadian dollars before tax.

I'll have the Merc/Audi tech have a go at it. I trust him more than the other 2 sources thus far.