New problems - A4 2.8 30V

[Stephen Kormilo]

At 10:40 AM 13/04/02 -0400, ricematthews wrote:

>From: "ricematthews" <ricematthews at msn.com>
>To: <quattro at audifans.com>
>Subject: New problems - A4 2.8 30V
>Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 09:40:53 -0400
>
>Time for an update......
>The patient:  '98 A4 Avant Quattro 2.8 30v
>
>The first issue was the timing belt/water pump (also thermostat, rollers &
>serpentine belt).  The dealer told me that
>they recommend 60,000 miles for this service, even though the manual says
>90,000.  The car has about 74,000.  When I took it in to the dealer to do
>this work, I had a long list of potential warranty issues to have checked
>out before my Audi Assured Warranty runs out in another 1,000 miles or so.
>
>Included in the list were leaks in several areas of the engine, in the rear
>diff seals, and at the PS pump.  Also low idle (about 650-700 rpm - slight
>fluctuation - as shown on the tach)

Idle fluctuation on these engines seems 'normal', i.e. 'they all do that'
:-(.  Occasionally, mine 'hiccups' lower, but eventually comes back.  The
2.8 in in my son's 2001 A4 also exhibits an erratic idle.  The idle speed
in both of our cars is usually around half-way between the 600 and 800
marks on the tach, i.e. around 700 rpm.  Using VAG-COM not long ago, I
logged idle speed at between 640 rpm and 680 rpm, mostly around the 680 rpm
mark.  When I was test driving, I noticed that the new 3.0 engine idles
higher, ~800 rpm IIRC

>and a "rattling" noise on cold start up
>(possible cam adjusters?).

Aha, another one!  I have posted about this before, welcome to the 'club',
although I will be leaving it within the next month or so.  Audi has twice
replaced the cam chain tensioners, with redesigned ones, in my 2.8, but the
noise still persists.  So far the reports that I have been keeping track of
indicate that the noise only occurs in '98 and early '99 2.8s, mostly
'98s.  My suspicion is that not only have the tensioners been redesigned,
but also the heads, or there was an early production problem with the
heads.  Audi agreed to replace the heads in my A4 with new ones during the
Arbitration Hearing I forced them into.  I won't have the chance to verify
that this solves the problem, since some $$$ incentives, combined with
other factors, will see me in a new 2002 3.0 A4 some time next month.

Do you know if the cam chain tensioners were replaced in your car when you
had it in?  Is the engine still making the cold start noises after being in
the shop?

>After 4 days in the shop, I got it back last night.  The service
>representative had told me that they think they fixed everything, but that
>he thought there seemed to be a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust.  He
>wasn't sure if this was anything to get alarmed about, so he suggested that
>I take the car for the weekend and call him on Monday about it.  On my drive
>home I noticed that there seemed to be a huge amount of smoke coming out -
>with a weird smell too.  It doesn't smell like burning coolant or oil - but
>it is definitely a new problem.  The other thing I noticed was that the oil
>temp seems higher than usual.  Before it used to max out at about 200 deg. F
>(as shown on the gauge) after a good bit of high speed driving.  Not it
>shows 225 or so after only a relatively short trip.  Coolant temp maxes out
>at the same point as before - directly halfway between C & H.

I have no insight here, except that it is not unusual for there to be
unusual odours after a service, especially if the cam chain tensioners were
replaced.  Oil spills, cleaning fluid, etc.  However, if this is coming out
of the exhaust, when it wasn't before?????  I can think of no logical
reason for higher oil temps.

>BTW - idle speed still seems low.  Idle also seems slightly rough (could be my
>imagination).

Nope, see my comments above.

>Does anybody know what the cause of the smoke and/or increased oil temp
>could be?
>
>TIA.
>
>-Mark Rice



Stephen Kormilo                            Silver '98.5 Audi A4 2.8QM
		   Coming Soon :-)  Silver 2002 Audi A4 3.0QM
Instructor, Electronics Technology
Red River College
Winnipeg, MB
CANADA

email: skormilo at rrc.mb.ca
OR
           stephen at kormilo.ca