2000 Silver S4 Avant

[T_Dub]

So I got the car home last night, and I know I'm going to be hounded for pics but it was snowing like crazy and I didn't take any. This is a 2000 model S4 I got from an importer. She spent her life in Japan, is a euro spec car, with only 85,000km.

Couple quick questions off the bat. Is the whine from under the car normal? I figured its just the AWD system or the turbos but I've never had one before so figured I'd ask. Can't really hear it with the radio on.

Next is pretty much a given. She was really slow to warm up, and then never really got above 80C. I assume this is not normal and the car needs a thermostat. So I guess like most VW/Audi cars I'll do the timing belt and a metal impeller water pump while I'm in there?

Can't think of much else. Putting in a double DIN stereo but I think thats figured out. Unless someone know of an easier way to connect the parking brake wire. Not enthused about pulling the center console but I guess its not that much work.

[e30mclow]

Some mornin' s'mornin' b'y!
Where in Newfoundland are you?

I wouldn't say the whine from under the car is normal. Is it consistent with speed? Might be a wheel bearing or center bearing.
For the temp, when I was in Calgary and it was very cold, it took perhaps 20mins of driving to get it to the mark. I forget where 90c is, straight up isn't it?

[T_Dub]

I'm about an hour outside St. Johns.

It was an extremely quiet whine, went up and down in pitch with the throttle. I'll do more troubleshooting on that later when its not a snowstorm out. IE, if it goes away while coating etc.

Yeah 90 is straight up, mine never got there. So I'm planning to do the timing belt and pump and tstat.

[T_Dub]

Also is it normal for the screen in the center of the cluster to be sort of plaid?

[MarlinFoundNemo]

I'm about an hour outside St. Johns.

It was an extremely quiet whine, went up and down in pitch with the throttle. I'll do more troubleshooting on that later when its not a snowstorm out. IE, if it goes away while coating etc.

Yeah 90 is straight up, mine never got there. So I'm planning to do the timing belt and pump and tstat.

Look up B5 S4 vids of turbo spool. You'll hear the turbos spooling as you hit the throttle. However, it also can whine if your turbos are going. But yeah, videos will answer that question for you.

Since it's a 2000 I highly recommend replacing the plastic T-stat housing (I believe 2000 has the plastic?) with the aluminum one.

Also is it normal for the screen in the center of the cluster to be sort of plaid?

Yes, its a common issue with B5's that nearly everyone has. I'm one of the lucky few who doesnt have it at 160k miles *knocks on wood*

[bobkatkat]

If you do the thermostat I have a bunch of the aluminum housings and it would ship from Canada.

[T_Dub]

Thats great. I'm gonna have to do it I think, both the coolant and oil didn't go above 80C, can't see both sensors being gone.

Any places in Canada to get a timing belt/water pump/thermostat kit for a reasonable price?

Anything else I should do while I'm in there? I figure I'll do the full timing service, and the valve cover gaskets.

[T_Dub]

So something I noticed today. When I get off the throttle quick theres a thump and the gear lever drops down slightly. Then back on the power not really a thump but the gear shift moves back up. talking 1-2mm. Is my trans mount shot?

[JaredB5s4]

Do the drive belt also. Is it tip?


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[T_Dub]

Not tip, manual.

[T_Dub]

So something I noticed today. When I get off the throttle quick theres a thump and the gear lever drops down slightly. Then back on the power not really a thump but the gear shift moves back up. talking 1-2mm. Is my trans mount shot?

Is this due to the front engine mount? I ordered one anyway.

[goalieman24]

So something I noticed today. When I get off the throttle quick theres a thump and the gear lever drops down slightly. Then back on the power not really a thump but the gear shift moves back up. talking 1-2mm. Is my trans mount shot?

Even after new engine and trans mounts, mine moved the same way.

[T_Dub]

Even after new engine and trans mounts, mine moved the same way.

Does it move or does it clunk? Mine clunks a bit coming off throttle. I'm gonna try the snub mount because I'm taking the front clip of anyway and its a cheap mount. See if that does anything, and move on to the harder ones later if it doesn't do anything.

[landfill]

First check your motor & tranny mounts.
Then check your diff mount and driveshaft center
support bearing & cv's. Clunking and excessive shifter
movement can be a mix of any of the above going bad.

[T_Dub]

First check your motor & tranny mounts.
Then check your diff mount and driveshaft center
support bearing & cv's. Clunking and excessive shifter
movement can be a mix of any of the above going bad.

Will do, thanks.

[goalieman24]

Does it move or does it clunk? Mine clunks a bit coming off throttle. I'm gonna try the snub mount because I'm taking the front clip of anyway and its a cheap mount. See if that does anything, and move on to the harder ones later if it doesn't do anything.

No clunk. I can just see a slight wiggle of the shifter when on and off throttle.

[T_Dub]

So if my coolant temp is always low, and the oil temp is about ten degrees higher, then it must be my thermostat correct? I'm trying to come up with a scenario where its the sensor but I can't think of anything. Trying to rule stuff out before I rip the thing apart. I have all the parts to do the timing belt, water pump, and thermostat.

[T_Dub]

Finally got around to taking a pic albeit of a dirty car. Sue me, its winter in Newfoundland. The car wont be clean til spring.



Did the timing belt, water pump, the t-stat over the weekend. The thermostat was gone but I figured I'd take care of the whole job. Also fitted new valve cover gaskets which were leaking quite badly. Also did the FSI coil upgrade, put on 034 TBB and diverter valves, and installed an ECS vent pod boost gauge (not pictured). The TBB was a pain but I eventually managed to get it to fit and got the MAP bolted down. I'm hoping the heat will make it relax a bit, its not exactly a direct fit is it. I also replaced some deteriorated braided hose while I was in there.

[vavJETTAw36]

wow did you run an entire new harness for your ignition conversion?

[T_Dub]

Nope that pic was just before I connected to the original.

[e30mclow]

Perfect car for the snow.

[T_Dub]

Tell me about it! With the Nokian snows on it its a beast.

[T_Dub]

Went to start it last night after I got it back together, battery dead. When I was doing the boost gauge I left the dome lights on. I had to charge overnight.

Also when I took the hose off the heater core to bleed it the nipple broke a bit. Pieces went back down the hose. So I had to shop vac it, the pieces came out with about 4L of fresh coolant. So I mixed up more G12, filled and bled again, good to go.

Anyway, after a short spin the heat cut in a lot sooner than usual, the driveline slop is gone thanks to the ECS snub mount, and she is boosting smoothly. The heater core pipe might be weeping slightly but I have a plan for that. Any ideas about the heater core are welcome. There's about 1" of nipple left. I've seen fixes involving JB weld and whatnot, so I'll give that a go before I pull the dash.

[T_Dub]

Today on the way home the temp went down to 70 then back up to 90. Sensor problem?

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[Papa_Dios]

More than likely coolant temp sensor. Rear passanger side head area.

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[T_Dub]

Yeah, I just did my thermostat and water pump so can't be those.

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[T_Dub]

Finally took a decent picture.

[T_Dub]

I've been reading about engine mounts for a while now. Still not sure what the consensus is. Do I get stern soft engine mounts, stern trans mounts, stern poly differential bushings, and an akipol diff mount? This car is 100% daily, may see some autoX once I get the mounts in it and the engine isn't banging around.

[goalieman24]

I've been reading about engine mounts for a while now. Still not sure what the consensus is. Do I get stern soft engine mounts, stern trans mounts, stern poly differential bushings, and an akipol diff mount? This car is 100% daily, may see some autoX once I get the mounts in it and the engine isn't banging around.

You'll get different responses because people have different opinions on what is good for daily driving. Just like some people say a catless and straight-piped exhaust is ok to daily while others like cats and two mufflers.

In general, the soft and/or street stiffnesses will be more forgiving daily and probably plenty for just occasional autoX.

[T_Dub]

What about 034 vs Stern vs ...? I'm thinking 034 due to the price point but if it doesn't last then I'll go with the others.

[T_Dub]

Ended up buying the 034 street density stuff. Engine mounts, trans mounts, front diff mount, diff carrier bushings. Should be pretty solid when I get all that installed. Then I'm going to think about stage 1.

[vavJETTAw36]

Ended up buying the 034 street density stuff. Engine mounts, trans mounts, front diff mount, diff carrier bushings. Should be pretty solid when I get all that installed. Then I'm going to think about stage 1.

I have the 034 street density and I think it's too stiff and I don't daily drive. Wish there were oem feeling "solid" mounts.

[T_Dub]

I hope that I don't mind them. I wanted something different from OEM to be more solid. I think at this point as ling as my shifter stops moving around I won't mind a bit of vibration. I do daily my car.

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[vavJETTAw36]

I hope that I don't mind them. I wanted something different from OEM to be more solid. I think at this point as ling as my shifter stops moving around I won't mind a bit of vibration. I do daily my car.

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You're always going to have a moving shifter. All manuals linkage manuals due this. You can reduce it with stiffer mounts. My street density still gives a moving shifter. Nothing you can really do about it.

[T_Dub]

I see. Well I guess it's less the moving shifter and more the banging if I shift fast.

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