A3 2.0 TDI Vibration, Help!

Love the Smurf

Hi all,

Ive just test drove a 06 TDI S Line 140bhp, really nice car and ive wanted one for a while, its at the limit of my budget and its a private sale so ill be in major trouble if anything goes wrong.
There seems to be a vibration comes from the chassis through the seats, the arm rest was virbating a bit also, not uncomfortable but noticeable.
Its not coming from the pedals or the gear lever. No rattling noise and its ticking over nicely on idle.
Opening the bonnet theres movement from the engine block but nothing i wouldnt expect from a diesel.
This will be my first diesel so maybe im being a bit mad, also theres 18" alloys so the ride isnt the most comfortable but they really suit the car.

If ye know of any problems or if this strikes a cord let me know. Thanks for the help

Anan1

Is it a manual? I think the dual mass flywheel gives trouble on them.

cadaliac

Love the Smurf wrote: »

Hi all,

Ive just test drove a 06 TDI S Line 140bhp, really nice car and ive wanted one for a while, its at the limit of my budget and its a private sale so ill be in major trouble if anything goes wrong.
There seems to be a vibration comes from the chassis through the seats, the arm rest was virbating a bit also, not uncomfortable but noticeable.
Its not coming from the pedals or the gear lever. No rattling noise and its ticking over nicely on idle.
Opening the bonnet theres movement from the engine block but nothing i wouldnt expect from a diesel.
This will be my first diesel so maybe im being a bit mad, also theres 18" alloys so the ride isnt the most comfortable but they really suit the car.

If ye know of any problems or if this strikes a cord let me know. Thanks for the help

Oil pump gives serious problems in most of the 140 tdi's. Very expensive fix. To be honest, it's probally one of your alloy wheels that is causing the vibration. At motorway speed cluch the car and drop the revs to idle and see if the vibration is still there. If it is, then it is most likely an unbalanced wheel or a damaged alloy.

Love the Smurf

cadaliac wrote: »

Oil pump gives serious problems in most of the 140 tdi's. Very expensive fix. To be honest, it's probally one of your alloy wheels that is causing the vibration. At motorway speed cluch the car and drop the revs to idle and see if the vibration is still there. If it is, then it is most likely an unbalanced wheel or a damaged alloy.

The owner claimed to have hit a kerb last week, yes the car is a manual, Is the oil pump a common fault, theres 80K miles on the clock

Anan1, is the flywheel a big job to fix?

cadaliac

The buddy has an 07 Audi A6 with the same engine. It is currently in the garage getting a new oil pump. It stopped on the motorway and he had to get it towed.
His bill is €2,500. (It is a company car and it is an Audi dealership).
DMF will cost the bones of a grand.

I had one of these 2.0 A3 140bhps as a rental for a weekend last October in the UK, I really think they are overpriced and overrated. No way does it feel like anywhere near 140bhp.

Moanin

cadaliac wrote: »

Oil pump gives serious problems in most of the 140 tdi's. Very expensive fix. To be honest, it's probally one of your alloy wheels that is causing the vibration. At motorway speed cluch the car and drop the revs to idle and see if the vibration is still there. If it is, then it is most likely an unbalanced wheel or a damaged alloy.

It's common on the 'BLB' eningine.See if you can find out the engine code and if it's this one stay well clear.
To me it sounds like the dual mass flywheel is on the way out as other posters have hinted.

robtri

at a guess with above...
does the vibration happen when sitting parked and revving the engine??

if it doesnt, i would say, wheel or possibly a warped brake disc..

Love the Smurf

robtri wrote: »

at a guess with above...
does the vibration happen when sitting parked and revving the engine??

if it doesnt, i would say, wheel or possibly a warped brake disc..

No, at idle its fine, ive spoken to the owner who is in the process of doing the timing belt, getting a new rear tyre and putting it through the NCT so ill get him to get the wheels balanced and the tracking set.

Thanks

Love the Smurf

RoverJames wrote: »

I had one of these 2.0 A3 140bhps as a rental for a weekend last October in the UK, I really think they are overpriced and overrated. No way does it feel like anywhere near 140bhp.

Fair point James, I didnt get blown back in my seat by the acceleration but we were up to 80mph fairly quickly.
My main reason for buying is asthetics, inside and out I really like the look of the car and its a solid build.

Love the Smurf

All,

Thanks alot for your speedy relies and help. With regards to the dual mass flywheel, any things I can check for relatively easily,

At the moment im hoping its only a wheel issue but this can be easily checked. As i said there isnt an issue in idle, no movement on the rev counter and no vibration so if theres a way i could rule out the flywheel it would be great.

bren11

Sounds like one of the rear alloys is damaged or needs to be balanced. If its a front wheel needs to be balanced, you will feel it in the steering wheel. Also try to get him to change tyres in pairs.

JJJJNR

I'd say its a wheel bearing, cost a bit to get right about 300 - 400 euros.

JJJJNR

RoverJames wrote: »

I had one of these 2.0 A3 140bhps as a rental for a weekend last October in the UK, I really think they are overpriced and overrated. No way does it feel like anywhere near 140bhp.

There was something wrong with yours if you think that, there actually closer to 150bhp, I've a 2.0Tdi and it flys, way faster than my prev 140bhp petrol.

Love the Smurf

JJJJNR wrote: »

I'd say its a wheel bearing, cost a bit to get right about 300 - 400 euros.

There wasent any noise coming from any of the wheel hubs, wouldnt a bearing give a humming sound, any way I can easily inspect this.

A cracked alloy might be messy to fix, ill need to take a closer look at the wheels.

Thanks

keithclancy

Love the Smurf wrote: »

Hi all,

Ive just test drove a 06 TDI S Line 140bhp, really nice car and ive wanted one for a while, its at the limit of my budget and its a private sale so ill be in major trouble if anything goes wrong.
There seems to be a vibration comes from the chassis through the seats, the arm rest was virbating a bit also, not uncomfortable but noticeable.
Its not coming from the pedals or the gear lever. No rattling noise and its ticking over nicely on idle.
Opening the bonnet theres movement from the engine block but nothing i wouldnt expect from a diesel.
This will be my first diesel so maybe im being a bit mad, also theres 18" alloys so the ride isnt the most comfortable but they really suit the car.

If ye know of any problems or if this strikes a cord let me know. Thanks for the help

IMO you should just walk away from it.
Could be anything from crash damage to a dodgy flywheel to an engine mount being gone.

Point is you just don't know and you have to ask yourself why the owner is selling it for so cheap.

Love the Smurf

keithclancy wrote: »

IMO you should just walk away from it.
Could be anything from crash damage to a dodgy flywheel to an engine mount being gone.

Point is you just don't know and you have to ask yourself why the owner is selling it for so cheap.

I never said the owner was selling it cheaply, it isnt and the reason im looking for help is to look for these issues and rule them in or out.

keithclancy

Love the Smurf wrote: »

I never said the owner was selling it cheaply, it isnt and the reason im looking for help is to look for these issues and rule them in or out.

I'm not trying to be a bollocks .. but i'm just speaking from experience

See my thread !
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055974329 :eek:

If I was on a limited budget and couldn't really afford for anything to go wrong i'd by an older/cheaper car and put the money aside for repairs

Love the Smurf

The timing belt is being replaced this week. Would issues with the flywheel or engine mounts be obvious while this work is taking place

Love the Smurf

keithclancy wrote: »

I'm not trying to be a bollocks .. but i'm just speaking from experience

See my thread !
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055974329 :eek:

If I was on a limited budget and couldn't really afford for anything to go wrong i'd by an older/cheaper car and put the money aside for repairs

Fair point Keith but ive been set on one of these for a while now, the sensible optin would be to buy a newer fresher golf or something but im stubborn, ive had older cars for years, my last one just had a clutch / gearbox failure so i scrapped it hence the reason im in a hurry.
Thanks for your help though

r3nu4l

Love the Smurf, did you check the armrest? Something that bugs me about my A3 is that if the armrest isn't properly positioned it can interfere with the handbrake and the handbrake may be vibrating off the armrest. It's easy to adjust.

Also, in my 58 plate (2008 plate) facelifted A3 the armrest also contains storage. Check that there's nothing in there causing a vibration. Could be something as simple as that.

JJJJNR wrote: »

There was something wrong with yours if you think that, there actually closer to 150bhp, I've a 2.0Tdi and it flys, way faster than my prev 140bhp petrol.

I thought the 140 was actually 138?

My 170 is actually 168.

Although I agree, if it didn't feel like 140 then there may have been something wrong. Without getting into the 'wow TDI torque is great' argument I will say that the torque should have caused a feeling of being 'pulled back' into the drivers seat and if it didn't then there was something wrong with the car. I've driven the 1.9 105PS, 2.0 140PS and own the 2.0 170PS and they all feel very different.

Love the Smurf

r3nu4l wrote: »

Love the Smurf, did you check the armrest? Something that bugs me about my A3 is that if the armrest isn't properly positioned it can interfere with the handbrake and the handbrake may be vibrating off the armrest. It's easy to adjust.

Also, in my 58 plate (2008 plate) facelifted A3 the armrest also contains storage. Check that there's nothing in there causing a vibration. Could be something as simple as that.




I thought the 140 was actually 138?

My 170 is actually 168.

Although I agree, if it didn't feel like 140 then there may have been something wrong. Without getting into the 'wow TDI torque is great' argument I will say that the torque should have caused a feeling of being 'pulled back' into the drivers seat and if it didn't then there was something wrong with the car. I've driven the 1.9 105PS, 2.0 140PS and own the 2.0 170PS and they all feel very different.

I thought the arm rest sat a bit high in relation to the seating position alright but im used to haviing armrests on VWs. They do get in the way of the hand brake especially on the A3 but its not an issue for me.
When I drove it the armrest wasent hitting off the handbrake. The vibration was coming through the seats more than anything else so ill drive it again at the weekend after the wheels are rebalanced so we'll see.
Thanks for your help

Love the Smurf

I see MotorCheck.ie do a pre purchase technical inspection, anyone ever used these before, im going to have to get a mechanic to give it a look over because half of ye have scared the life out of me regarding oil pumps and flywheels.
Anyone know good mechanics in the Limerick area that would be willing

Mr Benevolent

OP, frankly it'd be madness to buy a car with an unknown obvious vibration on a model with known expensive problems with the DMF AND the oil pump.

From HJ:

Dual Mass Flywheel failure increasingly common, even on Multitronics, usually replaced no question under warranty, but obviously Audi goodwill has to get thinner as the cars get older.

Early 2.0TDIs have a chain drive to the oil pump and the chain drive can eventually snap. Later cars have a gear train positive drive to the oil pump. Modifying early cars to positive oil pump drive can cost as much as £1,600.

A problem of later 2.0TDI PD 140s and 170s is failure of the oil pump. The oil pump is driven from a balancre shaft via a short hexagonal shaft. The peaks of this hexagonal shaft locate in six corresponding but minute grooves machined within the otherwise circular-bored oil pump drive shaft. Thus, the oil pump drive relies entirely on an interference fit of little more than 0.010" along the peaks of the hexagonal shaft. After about 50,000 miles, the shaft can round off, resulting in a totally destroyed engine and turbo, plus a bill of up to £9,000. If the danger is known and the oil pump is removed by the garage in good time, a new replacement pump will cost over £500, plus the labour etc to remove and refit it. However, it is also possible to save the old pump and modify the drive at a fraction of the cost of a new one. Many local machine shop already have numbers of these pumps in for such rectification, the drive shaft of each having been on the point of rounding off.

Moanin

Confab wrote: »

OP, frankly it'd be madness to buy a car with an unknown obvious vibration on a model with known expensive problems with the DMF AND the oil pump.

From HJ:

I agree totally.There are plenty of used cars out there at the moment.I know you're in a panic to get one soon but it could cost you alot of money and time in the long run.

JJJJNR

r3nu4l wrote: »

I thought the 140 was actually 138?

My 170 is actually 168.

Although I agree, if it didn't feel like 140 then there may have been something wrong. Without getting into the 'wow TDI torque is great' argument I will say that the torque should have caused a feeling of being 'pulled back' into the drivers seat and if it didn't then there was something wrong with the car. I've driven the 1.9 105PS, 2.0 140PS and own the 2.0 170PS and they all feel very different.

From what I've seen most people who go on a pre remap RR have reported it to be 150 - 155bhp for the 140, haven't seen the RR results for the 170 but I think thats typical for VAG.

Some people seem to find it difficult to grasp driving a diesel and tend to rev the ****@ out of them.. instead of changing up... ie the missus...