[s-cars] New S6 owner / engine noise

Tue May 9 15:46:44 EDT 2006

Eric,

it doesn't sound like lifters. I'm thinking you could have a CV joint
failing and one of the bearings in the CV joint is making the noise.
OR you have a failing wheel bearing which would be under load at the
same time as the CV joint.

The CV joints are pretty close to the engine, only move when you drive,
and are under load when you are acceleratting. I would suggest that you
put the car up on jack stands, have an assistant accelerate the engine
while you hold a wooden broom against different areas that you believe
the sound is coming from with the other end of the handle up by your
ear.

The wooden handle will work like a stethescope and should help you
isolate where the sound is coming from. 

Welcome to S-car ownership

HTH
Chris

--- Eric Rechlin <quattro at rechlin.us> wrote:

> Hello everybody,
> 
> I know this is long, but I didn't want to leave anything out.
> 
> Ten days ago I purchased a 1995.5 Audi S6 Avant.  It's silver on
> black and has 
> about 147,000 miles.  I've been looking for a car like this for two
> years, so 
> I am happy to finally own one.  It's currently completely stock;
> we'll see how 
> long I can keep my wallet buried.
> 
> I have been reading this list for over four years (since before the
> switch to 
> Audifans), even though I have not had an S-car of my own.  My parents
> bought 
> an S6 sedan in 2002, and although I rarely see it (I live on the
> other side of 
> the country), the list has still been helpful in diagnosing problems
> for them.
> 
> Unfortunately, now I have a problem of my own that needs to be
> diagnosed.
> 
> About 24 hours after I bought the car (after which I'd driven it
> about 1,200 
> miles, from Wisconsin to southeast Texas), I noticed a tapping noise
> from (or 
> near) the engine, and I've been hearing it in the week and a half
> since.
> 
> There is no noise when the engine is idling with the clutch
> disengaged or the 
> transmission in neutral (either when standing still or moving) --
> only when 
> the engine is connected to the wheels and the car is moving.
> 
> I haven't yet noticed the sound right away after I start the engine,
> but I 
> always have been able to hear it within a couple minutes.  Even when
> the 
> engine is plenty warm it makes the noise.
> 
> I do not know how to best describe the noise.  It is kind of like a
> metallic 
> rubbing/tapping sound.  The frequency is directly proportional to
> engine 
> speed, and my wild guess is that it is probably on the order of 10
> taps per 
> second.  I can hear it the best in the 1500-2500 rpm range.
> 
> I have yet to hear it in first gear.  It seems to make the most noise
> when the 
> engine is not being quickly accelerated, and it is probably loudest
> in fifth 
> gear around 40 mph.  I can usually hear it in fourth and third (and
> sometimes 
> even second) gear as well, but it's not as pronounced then.
> 
> I have not yet found a competent Audi mechanic in Houston, or I would
> have had 
> it looked at by now.
> 
> I searched the archives (the Audifans search feature didn't work so
> well, but 
> I was able to search the four years of archives I have on this
> computer), and 
> came up with a few ideas.  I checked the spark plugs, and they all
> seem tight 
> (couldn't get them any tighter with reasonable force).  Some might
> say it is 
> valve lifters, but it doesn't happen at idle and doesn't go away when
> the 
> engine is all warmed up, so I don't know if it meets the criteria.  I
> wouldn't 
> consider myself even a remotely competent mechanic, though, so I
> wouldn't put 
> any faith in my guesses.
> 
> The oil hadn't been changed recently (it had been 8 months and 7,000
> miles), 
> though the previous owner had been good about maintenance, so I had
> the oil 
> changed on Saturday (10w30 regular oil), but that didn't affect the
> noise. 
> There's plenty of oil in the engine -- it's at the max level on the
> dipstick. 
> I've filled up with gas (93 octane) twice in the 9 days since the
> noise 
> started.
> 
> The good news is that the car passed inspection, including the
> emissions test, 
> on Saturday.
> 
> The previous owner, located in Evergreen, CO, seems to have always
> made sure 
> everything was done as needed.  They spent over $15,000 in repairs
> over the 
> last three years, and things like the clutch, timing belt, hydraulic
> system, 
> and engine accessories are all practically new.  I do see, however,
> that the 
> lifters have never been replaced.
> 
> Does anybody have any suggestions?  I hope to at least have some
> ideas before 
> I take it into a repair shop that surely knows less about the car
> than this 
> list.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Eric Rechlin
> 1995.5 S6 Avant
> 1991 100 quattro 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> S-CAR-List at audifans.com
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> 

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