1.4 Diesel rattles when cold

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

MalcH

Member
Hello everyone.

I have a 2001 1.4 TDI SE which has been great. 70,000 miles and only two services, although they insisted on replacing the cam belt on the second one at 62,000 miles (Ouch!). Overall I get about 56 mpg and have only had to replace two tyres. Talk about cheap motoring!

The last service was in June and now the weather has got colder the car has developed a rather noisy rattle which then disappears once it has warmed up. It's a bit difficult to diagnose as by the time I get to the dealer it's gone. Booking it in means waiting a couple of weeks for availability on a courtesey car and then hoping it will be cold enough, after leaving it overnight, for the noise to be there in the morning. If ambient is above about 8C there is very little noise.

Has anyone experienced a similar problem of have any idea what might be causing it? I wonder if it is tappet rattle as a result of the cam belt replacement but really don't know.

Will much appreciate any advice about what is best to do.

Many thanks, MalcH
 
Are you saying it didn't rattle before the last service? (in the cold I mean)

Like most diesels, they always sound worse in the cold, however I do find the A2 is a little worse than others - or maybe thats just mine

Kaine
 
Just for reassurance... we've a 2002 TDi SE, with 70 thou on the clock, same here 2 services, four tyres (I like them to be the same!) same mpg's, we had the cambelt done, and yes now it's cold it's noiser at waking up!


I think all Dirty Diesels are like this.

bba
 
Ours hasn't had a cambelt change yet, but is noiser when starting in very cold weather - sub 5degC.
 
I wouldn`t worry if I was you, I was told on purchase that my Audi A2 tdi90 would be noisy on starting, and it always has been, noticeably more so since the winter has arrived. But it disappears as the engine warms up.
 
My TDi 75 always used to 'clack' a lot when cold. It would go when warmer. I thought it was just the EGR valve under normal operation. As it turns out, the car was in for something unrelated and the Audi service manager noticed it. He offered to take a look and found that a bracket holding the EGR valve was loose, meaning that the valve itself was clonking around. He fixed it there and then. Ever since, much quieter whatever the temperature!

Phil. TDi Sport, silver, with Climate and OpenSky.
 
I know what MalcH meens as my 1.4 TDI does the same thing.
It only happens when very cold and goes when the car has warmed up.
It is not an engine noise(i am a mechanic and am all to to aware of diesel knock when cold).
The noise is worst at around 2000rpm and can be made to come and go by "playing" with the engine revs whilst at a standstill.
I too thought it was a bracket or perhaps even a inner body panel but have been unable to trak it down.
I have sort of come to terms with it but every now and then it still drives me MAD!
Ah well i, suppose if we all had perfect cars we would have nothing to moan about.

Dorian[24]
 
Dorian,

The symptoms you describe are exactly those fixed by my dealer. The noise comes and goes with the throttle as the speed of the exhaust gases passing through the EGR valve fluctuates. As the car warms up, so the EGR valve is used less and the rattle disappears.

Beat up your dealer!

Phil. TDi Sport, silver, with Climate and OpenSky.
 
Phil,
Thanks for that i'll take a good look around the next time i have the bonnet off!
I'm glad it fixed yours as i know how annoying it can be.

Dorian[24]
 
Hey everyone,

I own Grey A2 1.4 TDI from 2003 that also has the rattling when cold effect. Is it possible to repair it yourself? Where is the ERG-valve located? Is the one thing on the car thats not perfect.

Thanks in advance

Steve
[24]
 
My 2003 TDi Sport sounded like a right tractor the other day, but it was -2.5.
Soon settled down when warm.
Most Diesels are like this, if this happens above say 3 deg. it may be a fault with a glow plug. look carefully before spending loads on new glow plugs, every diesel I have ever owned has had the same problem develope from escort vans, transits, maestro, montego, brava pickup, A4, diesel engines vibrate a lot and the cable from the control unit to the first glow plug has snapped at the ring terminal to the glow plug bolt, it took 5 mins and a crimp terninal to fix all of them once found apart from the maestro where the wire had short circuited and burn out the relay and balast resistor which cost me £350 in parts!

Look at the exhaust when first starting from cold are they very sooty? problem with modern diesels is the high pressure injection systems and direct injection mean they will start without glow plugs and the cats in the exhausts remove the tell tale soot to a great extent.

Watch out, this wire problem is a real earner for the trade, the fix it then tell you it was glow plugs, control unit etc! You thank them thinking they have done you a good job as it now starts fine and they have charged you a mint for a new terminal. To be fair many diagnose it coreectly as a glow plug problem and only find the loose wire when they strip off the covers etc to fit the new glow plugs several will fit the parts they charge you for anyway it's just the cowboys who will fix the wire and charge you for a set of plugs!
 
Well i had the bonnet off the other day and took a good look around but could not find anything obvious.There certainly didnt seem to be anything amiss around the egr area(bit of a b****r that as i had high hopes of finaly getting to the bottom of this).
So last Monday i bit the bullet and left it with my local dealer with a request to finaly,once and for all fix the damn thing.(They had tried last summer but without any success).
The mechanic phoned me at home that night to get as much info as possible to help him with the fix,a good start i thought.
Well just over a week later and i have just spoken with the foreman and they still havnt been able to locate the fault,although not from lack of trying.
As they say,it is so loud that it ought to have a big red arrow pointing to it,but so far no luck.
The engine and subframe have been out along with all the various sub-assemblies,but nothing has been found.
This in a way makes me feel better in that it wasnt just me missing something simple.
Anyway ill keep you informed if and when they finaly get to the bottom of this, just incase anyone else has the same problem.

All the best Dorian[24]
 
Dorian, perhaps try advising your dealer to call mine, Exeter Audi. 01392 222525.

They fixed mine without prompting! The car was in for something else and the service manager noticed the problem. This is my first diesel and I thought it was just normal for a diesel.

Phil. TDi Sport, silver, with Climate and OpenSky.
 
Phil,will do, although i mentioned that someone on this site had had the same fault fixed by another dealer and they were less than interested. Ill try again though!

Cheers Dorian[24]
 
Hello everyone,

My car is going to the dealer tomorrow. They are replacing a valve. I don't have the specific spec of the valve but if the problem disappears, I will let you know!!!

Cheers Steven
 
Steven, Hope it fixes yours.
If it does, can you get as much info as poss so i can tell my dealer.

Thanks Dorian[24]
 
Hey all,

I've just drove my repaired A2 when he is cold at a temp of 3° Celsius and no rattle. So I think my problem is solved. They replaced the whole valve system around the ERG system. They also checked if there where any onther pieces that could rattle.
I brought in the car the night before so the could test at morning temp. I was lucky it was - 5° Celsius that morning en the rattle was even there when the car was at his normal temperature. And the great news it was fully repaired under warranty and for free. [23]

And by the way, my replacement car was an vw passat TDI and hmm when you drive an other car then your realize how special and fun an Audi A2 is.

Greets

Steven
[24]
 
I'll let you know! Have told my dealer today.
I think they are so desperate now they will try anything.

Ah Well...........

Dorian[24]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top