Audi A4 Noise Help

bob2oo7

Hi guys

Audi A4

115,000 miles

Serviced 3 weeks ago

There is a rattle out of the engine, quite noticable when stationary.. then when I lock the steering either left or right fully, there is quite a big "squealling" noise

Any ideas? Power Steering?

Thanks in advance

cadaliac

Could be a belt attached to steering pump. Or, could be bearings on the pump. Very hard to say without hearing it.

nogoodnamesleft

Sounds like you might have a siezed Alternator pully? The belt will be under more strain at full lock.

Tea drinker

Random guess: maybe steering pump loosened / lost a bolt

bob2oo7

Cheers guys

If it is any of the above, is it still safe to drive?

bob2oo7

The noise has gotten worse as the day went on

If you lock it right or left, it squeals... but if you then rev the engine, the squealing stops

Any further ideas?

I just want to have a good idea before I take it to a mechanic, so they cant bull sh$% me

Thanks in advance

Ronaldo*

bob2oo7 wrote: »

The noise has gotten worse as the day went on

If you lock it right or left, it squeals... but if you then rev the engine, the squealing stops

Any further ideas?

I just want to have a good idea before I take it to a mechanic, so they cant bull sh$% me

Thanks in advance

Well, assuming the power steering is ZF hydraulic, was the drive belt of the power steering adjusted? If yes, it may well be an issue but will start making a very loud squeeling noise as the belt starts to slip on the pulley especially when cold and turning full lock.
If no, perhaps the steering fluid has got some air or water in the hydraulic system. The more you run the pump, the more it "throffs" and makes foam in the steering system. Just replace the fluid (standard ATF dextronII) should be ok. Check the specs on the fluid.

bob2oo7

Alternator Pulley

Visited 4 garages:

Garage 1: 350 Euro, half days labour

Garage 2: 145 Euro, 3 hours labour

Garage 3: Too busy to even look

Garage 4: Again Too busy

Ronaldo*

So the alternator bearings have run dry and start to become noisy and seize. Belt slips and squeeals. This gives ample warning before the time, lots of humming noise. Best replace soon at this point.

This is normal on Bosch Aletrnators at 150 000 km. If you replace bearings, brushes will need to be done too. On bosch, they are integral with the regulator normally.
It's probably easyer to replace complete alternator with a new one but a bit more expensive.

bob2oo7

Ronaldo* wrote: »

So the alternator bearings have run dry and start to become noisy and seize. Belt slips and squeeals. This gives ample warning before the time, lots of humming noise. Best replace soon at this point.

This is normal on Bosch Aletrnators at 150 000 km. If you replace bearings, brushes will need to be done too. On bosch, they are integral with the regulator normally.
It's probably easyer to replace complete alternator with a new one but a bit more expensive.

Its currently in Garage No 2 at the minute

Maybe have to replace rib belt, but should be ok as it only started yesterday

Tea drinker

Ronaldo, he said pulley, not alternator, so I am assuming it means the spring loaded pulley is not tensioning enough. Maybe you are right though, could be the alternator.

bob2oo7

Tea drinker wrote: »

Ronaldo, he said pulley, not alternator, so I am assuming it means the spring loaded pulley is not tensioning enough. Maybe you are right though, could be the alternator.

Altenator pulley was the diagnosis.... not altenator

Ronaldo*

Mmm, yes all valid points, probably need to be more specific.
So is the alternator pulley allowing the belt to slip? Tensioner mechanism.
The the alternator pulley itself has no moving parts, it's just a metal pulley on the alternator shaft - unless there is something I am not aware of in a different model.

Anyway, hope you all sorted soon. It's nothing major, just a bit of a nuisance, maintenance work.
Cheers mate.

Ronaldo*

Tea drinker wrote: »

Ronaldo, he said pulley, not alternator, so I am assuming it means the spring loaded pulley is not tensioning enough. Maybe you are right though, could be the alternator.

Does the audi run the alternator and power steering off the same poly belt?

MugMugs

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

Sounds like you might have a siezed Alternator pully? The belt will be under more strain at full lock.

Suffered a simular issue with a TDI passat and this is what it turned out to be....

bob2oo7

MugMugs wrote: »

Suffered a simular issue with a TDI passat and this is what it turned out to be....

All sorted....Alternator Pulley replaced and working fine