This SUCKS!

On my way to class this morning, my CEL came back on, so it's positive my catalyst is out/dead. Here is the code:

16815 - Warm Up Catalyst; Bank 2: Efficiency Below Threshold
P0431 - 35-00 - -

so I decide to bring it by Sal later on. Well on my way I get off the highway and I hear a whirring/drilling (i cant explain it, its something that I havent heard before) so it hits my mind that FVCK one of my turbos is on its way out. =( At this point im really pissed off I get back on the throttle to make sure and the same noise is there. Later on I get to Sal's give him my VIN etc so he can order my catalyst. He takes a spin and the noise can be heard but he said it's normal and not to worry about it(the whirring and drilling noise coming from the turbo), but I dont know = / why would it start making it now? This being said I've been chipped for about 2 weeks, is it known to do that? Then I left, the noise is still there but no loss in performance. Im about to turn onto my driveway and my tire blows out! My sidewall on the right front tire got a puncture from something. I just finished changing that and got a replacement tire from Goodyear for half off saved some money there from the warranty I had, other than that I dont care about the catalyst that much, it's just this turbo noise that came up. I hope it's not a blown turbo =(. What do you guys think? TIA

 

as for your problems..i dont think your turbo is shot. when mine was on its way out on my old a4 it had faint tinny grinding sound(also hard to explain) bottom line is if its shot its time to upgrade! as for your flat tire. i got a set of 4 new tires. one week after i got them i had such a bad tear in one of them i had to go out and purchase a brand new one. now that hurts. best of luck

 

so your saying turbos are going bye bye?

 

My issues are in the link..plus a picture<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/1010981.phtml">click if you want to</a></li></ul>

 

personally, i ran with the noise for 8k, no loss in performance, had it replaced cpo (it never blew)

regarding the cat... you dont need'em
are these the pre-cats (dp) or the main?

 

hit a patch of dry cement as i got off the van wyck towards the belt... sidewall GONE
so...I win. =p

 

i dont need the cat's? please explain...

 

if you're a tree hugger...
i wont get into that here cause im not trying to start a Save the Planet Topic.
Plus if you dont have a hookup for inspection, so you'll need cats in order to pass.
I'm sure you saw that alot of guys run Test Pipes, which are basically a straight pipe, instead of cats.

The Benefits:
more free flowing
less restriction on turbos
and of course, POWA 15-20 ponies on a 2.7t

The negatives:
inspection, if it applies to you.
lawn mower smell
and a raspiness on some exaust setups.
oh, and some people will hate you

 

ill leave them in

 

Sal is correct...the turbo's will make a faint whirling sound that is, without doubt audible. I found it more noticable once the DP's were done. And I really only hear it when the car is cold.

Chipping can accellerate the K03's to un untimely death, but it's no guarantee. I ran many many miles on Ko3 and APR code...both 93 and 100 oct code. And I don't drive easy.

This said....and I don't want to be negative on you.. I know what I heard on the way back from COI. And Paul grabbed me on the radio immediately with the same thought...That was turbo noise, it was loud and it wasn't sandblaster.

I doubt you killed a turbo as a result of the APS code and I trust Sal's diagnosis 100%. However, if you did...I have two sets of K03's collecting dust.

As far as the CEL...probably an O2 sensor or pre-cat. Remember your car has been run at half of this load for a long time..chipping with higher miles is likely to expose at least a few bogies that might have be just under the radar. Drop the DP's gut the precats, relocate the O2's and see if the DTC's come back.