Finally back in an Audi, what's this noise?

[runvsofme07]

As you can see, I just picked up a USP 1.8t w/117k car seems to be very well maintained and runs well with no check engine lights. I'm familiar with 1.8t, owned a b5 a4 before I turned to the dark side (f30 335) only to come back home to VAG & AWD after totaling it.

The only concern I have is that under load it makes a rattle around 2.5k-3k, it only makes the sound when accelerating.. I pulled the timing cover and the belt has very legible contitech branding so it looks like it's been replaced.

I'm thinking its the cam chain tensioner, sounds about right to you guys?

I'm capable of pulling the valve cover/intake cam and replacing it, just want to make sure I'm thinking on the right path.

The audizine community has been the best forum I've ever been on, feels good to be back!


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[customa4]

Grab a stethoscope and put it on the back of the head with the engine running to verify the sound is coming from the CCT. Guessing you have no codes? Welcome back!

[runvsofme07]

I have scanned for "hidden codes" but there's no check engine light. I've only heard the noise once or twice on cold start up, it's not a constant rattle..


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[Northern_B6]

I get a similar rattle around 2k RPMs.
From my searching, people have eliminated it by replacing:

1. Cracked PVC breather tubes
2. Flex pipe replacement
3. Exhaust Hangers
4. Simply tightening the heat shields around the engine bay

[tHatOne guY]

My rattle was a couple heat shields in the engine bay, fasteners were loose. On the passenger side, the shield that protects the p/s rack bellow from the turbo/exhaust heat was the first one. The second was in the tunnel just above the transmission. The shift linkage was actually rubbing on the heat shield.

[runvsofme07]

I thought heat shield as well, it just sounds more like a chain rattle sound controlled by engine speed that's why I went straight for the cam chain tensioner as the culprit..

I'm going to jack it up and tap around, also look at the PVC/Exhaust.


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[runvsofme07]

Finally took the car to a shop, he looked at it and had his friend that's an Audi tech look at it and they said I should replace the motor mounts first since they're worn. He doesn't think it's the cam chain tensioner, he also quoted me 7.5 hours of labor @95/hr to do the motor mount job.

I'm debating paying his 110 for diagnostics and taking it to another shop, seems like a lot of hours to replace mounts and that might not be the problem.

Can someone suggest a good Audi/VW shop in Southern California?

[KHARDa4]

7.5 hours for mounts lol I bet that tech is happy as hell..

[DarkoNova]

WTF 7.5 hours for motor mounts??

You need to find a new shop.

[jpulll]

I did it in an hour basically by myself with my friend watching to keep me sane. if I did it again today I could do it in 30 minutes. break all nuts free, jack engine up with block of wood in between. there is just enough room to get them out and not crush anything in the back of the engine. some ppl use a cut off wheel and cut the bottom stud on the mount down to gain clearance.

[tHatOne guY]

I just recently discovered my car has a noisy trans in 1st gear, sounds almost ;like a rattle w/ all the windows up and radio on low. May be something to look into.

[runvsofme07]

I've heard it at cold start and when the engine is warm but in all gears, all around the same engine speed. Seems load dependent, it won't make the noise at high load. It only makes the sound at ~50% throttle.

I obviously didn't let him work on it. He admitted to it being a "DIY job" and tried to bs me into free oil changes and a positive Yelp rating. I will not go back there, ever.

I've looked into 034 mounts for the engine and tranny, also a snub mount and diff inserts. I don't want to go down that road if it's not the source.

I'll inspect exhaust hangers when I do my S4 brake conversion next week.
Still looking for a shop/vagin the LA/SoCal area btw.