Strange, very specific 'rattle'
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Strange, very specific 'rattle'
My Q7 has recently acquired a slight 'rattle' which seems to be coming from below the floor board on the drivers side (or in the vicinity). Rattle isn't really the word, the sound can best be described as a 'woodpecker' type sound, a quick 2-3 second sound that happens in the final stages of coming to a stop, around 5 mph. It seems to get worse in the cold, but that might just be my imagination.
Anyone experience this issue and/or found a resolution?
Anyone experience this issue and/or found a resolution?
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Western NJ USA
Hi Chappy,
I had a low RPM rattle on my 2018 Q7. Sounded similar to what you're hearing. Mine was very audible at 1000 rpm whether in Drive or Park. Always at 1000 rpm. I too initially thought it was speed related but it was not.
Check out posts #3,7 and 12 in this thread where I list the issue with the muffler flex pipe and the repair and parts performed by my dealer. It solved the "rattle".
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/q7-...ution-2975380/
I had a low RPM rattle on my 2018 Q7. Sounded similar to what you're hearing. Mine was very audible at 1000 rpm whether in Drive or Park. Always at 1000 rpm. I too initially thought it was speed related but it was not.
Check out posts #3,7 and 12 in this thread where I list the issue with the muffler flex pipe and the repair and parts performed by my dealer. It solved the "rattle".
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/q7-...ution-2975380/
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2018 q7 prestige engine vibration 1000 rpm
Took car in and determined muffler crack on both sides mid car. Audi would only replace full muffler so we had the mid section replaced by local muffler shop. Pounder noise went away (prob muffler hole) but shake continues when coasting and down to 1000 rpm. We don’t notice it to be worse when braking but maybe sometimes it is. Then found the tsb on this forum for the muffler brackets needing to be tightened or replaced and had that performed. Car returned and sound is louder after $600 to have the brackets fixed per bulletin. Brought car back in and they think it’s the down pipes but will only fix the entire pipe and muffler system for $3300! Asked about flex pipes as also noted in forum and told they looked at that but our car doesn’t have flex pipes.
currently being told, and based on what I’ve seen, I agree with them that most likely since brackets and everything has been tightened up that it must be down pipes.
any thoughts or suggestions so we don’t have to spend another $3300!!
thanks.
currently being told, and based on what I’ve seen, I agree with them that most likely since brackets and everything has been tightened up that it must be down pipes.
any thoughts or suggestions so we don’t have to spend another $3300!!
thanks.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 52
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Took car in and determined muffler crack on both sides mid car. Audi would only replace full muffler so we had the mid section replaced by local muffler shop. Pounder noise went away (prob muffler hole) but shake continues when coasting and down to 1000 rpm. We don’t notice it to be worse when braking but maybe sometimes it is. Then found the tsb on this forum for the muffler brackets needing to be tightened or replaced and had that performed. Car returned and sound is louder after $600 to have the brackets fixed per bulletin. Brought car back in and they think it’s the down pipes but will only fix the entire pipe and muffler system for $3300! Asked about flex pipes as also noted in forum and told they looked at that but our car doesn’t have flex pipes.
currently being told, and based on what I’ve seen, I agree with them that most likely since brackets and everything has been tightened up that it must be down pipes.
any thoughts or suggestions so we don’t have to spend another $3300!!
thanks.
currently being told, and based on what I’ve seen, I agree with them that most likely since brackets and everything has been tightened up that it must be down pipes.
any thoughts or suggestions so we don’t have to spend another $3300!!
thanks.
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AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 52
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Ugh, brutal. The service manager claims that there isn’t anything bad happening to the car to produce the rattle and most people just live with it. The first time around my rattle was much worse than the second time. Not sure how bad yours is, but it’s either fix it or deal with it. I’m they kind of person that will be driven crazy by a rattle so I’ll probably end up paying to fix it again in 25-30k miles.
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Same response in that it’s doing no harm if we can live with it. It’s really not that bad, just when coming to a stop with a quick shake/rumble. Going to see if we can live with it for now. Seems insane for a $70k+ thousand car to be told to just live with it!
they did say a muffler shop may be able to add flex pipes at the 90 degree joint that may absorb some of the shake but not sure I want to go down that road.
they did say a muffler shop may be able to add flex pipes at the 90 degree joint that may absorb some of the shake but not sure I want to go down that road.
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Follow up question. I’m looking myself, it looks like it is truly the downpipes shaking and causing the now louder noise than originally present. Since the bulletin recall stated to replace and tighten the brackets, it seems with everything right that it is now located only at the Dow pipes. If I pay $3300 to replace the downpipes, am I guaranteed to fix the issue or are we just moving the shake up the line and closer to the engine? Is there a chance that the bulletin bracket tightening wasn’t done correctly and that’s what made the noise worse? Any other thoughts on how to make this more livable without spending that much money?