Audi A4 B5

Curly Watts

So a cousin is selling his Audi and I went to look at it today, he's off to Australia tomorrow and left it with his parents to sort out. He told me about the noise from the exhaust area and I test drove it and sure enough, under load there is a kind of vibration rattle sound in low revs coming from the front part of the exhaust on the passenger side it seems.

No expert on cars by any means, but could it be the Cat Converter? Or worse, gearbox?

its a 1999 b5 audi, 1.6 petrol that I can get for peanuts, to be fair the car is spotless and drives absolutely perfect. Not a peep out of anything else. Just cant put my finger on it. Anyway, its outside my house at the minute he said I can look at it and see if I can put my finger on it and decide if its worth buying or not.

It doesnt make that noise when I rev it, its only when taking off or driving at low speeds at low-ish revs.. Any ideas what it could be? Would really like to sort it and buy it, its basically a give away really, it will just cost me to sort that and its more or less mine.

Thanks

(Also to who I was talking to yesterday, no, I didn't go for the avensis, prob should have though )

Curly Watts

Sounds like theres something loose, could it just be a loose exhaust or a f*cked muffler? Any ideas on how to diagnose what it is ? Thanks all

Curly Watts

anyone?

L5

I had same issue , rattle from mid area of car (golf). Only on take off and under low revs. Turns out it was the cat had broken up. It got worse gradually over a few weeks until I got it diagnosed and replaced. Could be that with yours too I suppose ?

johnos1984

Define giveaway?

Loose heat shield?

Curly Watts

5 - €600 tax and tested.. Ok little update.. but will check what you've mentioned tomorrow

Took it for a drive to see if I could locate it and had both windows down its noticeable on bad roads but the noise stops completely when I use the brakes?? ?!

Suspension problems maybe?

@L5, did yours stop when you used your brakes (probably a silly question)

Somethings definitely loose, but it doesnt rattle when I brake at all. But its smooth as anything to drive I'm confused

johnos1984

Loose brake pads but thats just a stab in the dark.

OP get it checked by a mechanic

But sounds like a bargain if it's nothing major

Curly Watts

Possibly, yep thanks for the replies though will spin down to the local mechanic tomorrow and get his opinions, thanks to all who replied

Will post up the verdict.. hope its nothing major really like this car now bad idea letting it stay over for the night ha

Curly Watts

Was a loose clip in the rear brake caliper causing the pads to rattle, problem solved. cars perfect now, and I bought it