Radiator fixation points for 1.4 AUA petrol engine - radiator assembly flapping

Tomscar said:
Hi MTL, do you think it will cause any issues being able to move ... would it be designed this way to allow expansion across the width??
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I do not know. But before clutch replacement I have noticed this, when I was starting to move, because the clutch grab point was not linear. It was creating really annoying knocking sound because of this. And so I have immediatelly put a screw that holds it nice and tight. I was quite shocked when other A2 owner told me, that this is the same on his car. Because this is really not normal. But there should be a reason why this was designed like that.
So now I will probably remove it or maybe first check through 7zap if there is some kind of holder missing. I really do hope that not all A2s have this flaw due to one assembly worker taking parts home :)...

Tomscar said:
but an interesting observation by MTL nevertheless
🧐
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:) Many colleagues tell me that I am to precise and I should not bother with little things. But they really do annoy me... :eek:
 
mtl said:
I do not know. But before clutch replacement I have noticed this, when I was starting to move, because the clutch grab point was not linear. It was creating really annoying knocking sound because of this. And so I have immediatelly put a screw that holds it nice and tight. I was quite shocked when other A2 owner told me, that this is the same on his car. Because this is really not normal. But there should be a reason why this was designed like that.
So now I will probably remove it or maybe first check through 7zap if there is some kind of holder missing. I really do hope that not all A2s have this flaw due to one assembly worker taking parts home :)...


:) Many colleagues tell me that I am to precise and I should not bother with little things. But they really do annoy me... :eek:
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Now you've highlighted this it would be interesting to see if there was a reason behind the design, I can't say I've noticed any noises or knocks relating to this but will listen for it in future ... hopefully others will join in the debate and come to a conclusion 😀
 
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Good Afternoon,

Just checked, my FSI radiator flaps about at the top left too.

Agreeing with Tomscar's post#20, the moulded peg and adjacent big hole in radiator housing were designed for some big rubber support (like the top right) which was dropped at production time for some reason.

Also looks like a pair fixings along the top edge of the radiator housing was designed, two slotted holes just ripe for clips and dropped, even two little peaks in the top edge of the housing to keep the clips in place?, why they are 25mm off centre god knows.

Odd Radiator Fixings.jpg



The picture somehow makes these peaks look in the horizontal plane but they are in the vertical plane.
Andy
 
Andrew said:
Good Afternoon,

Just checked, my FSI radiator flaps about at the top left too.

Agreeing with Tomscar's post#20, the moulded peg and adjacent big hole in radiator housing were designed for some big rubber support (like the top right) which was dropped at production time for some reason.

Also looks like a pair fixings along the top edge of the radiator housing was designed, two slotted holes just ripe for clips and dropped, even two little peaks in the top edge of the housing to keep the clips in place?, why they are 25mm off centre god knows.

View attachment 98736


The picture somehow makes these peaks look in the horizontal plane but they are in the vertical plane.
Andy
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Hi Andrew, possibly some of these lugs could be for the intercooler on cars with a turbo ... just guessing though 😀
 
So yes con confirm the same on 2001 AUA. Sorry, the picture is a bit naff but smack bang in the middle of the green circle is an empty hole just like yours.

EB80F9E8-95CD-47C2-ACD5-4B7A68304002.jpeg
 
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Thinking about this I could speculate that this is by design. A bit left field but in early jet aircraft design it was discovered - sadly by experience - that by making things too rigid, fatigue and catastrophic failure could occur. I wonder if this was the intention here
 
birtyA2 said:
Thinking about this I could speculate that this is by design. A bit left field but in early jet aircraft design it was discovered - sadly by experience - that by making things too rigid, fatigue and catastrophic failure could occur. I wonder if this was the intention here
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If that was the case, you would expect them to the same on all variants of the A2. I have changed the condenser on a 1.2Tdi and it's certainly not mounted in this way.

RAB
 
RAB said:
If that was the case, you would expect them to the same on all variants of the A2. I have changed the condenser on a 1.2Tdi and it's certainly not mounted in this way.

RAB
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Yes that’s a good point. It would interesting to see if a late AUA say from 2004 or 2005 is also found to be in the same state. That would make it a consistent omission. Then it may just be a manufacturing defect that Audi didn’t consider serious enough to resolve on the affected models or indeed if it may have not even known about If it didn’t cause issues.
 
birtyA2 said:
Yes that’s a good point. It would interesting to see if a late AUA say from 2004 or 2005 is also found to be in the same state. That would make it a consistent omission. Then it may just be a manufacturing defect that Audi didn’t consider serious enough to resolve on the affected models or indeed if it may have not even known about If it didn’t cause issues.
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Excatly this today came on my mind today.
Mine is a 2000 model year, so maybe it would be great if we could get also info for 2004-2005 BBY engines. Because according to my info AUA was replaced with BBY for later model years ;).
 
mtl said:
Excatly this today came on my mind today.
Mine is a 2000 model year, so maybe it would be great if we could get also info for 2004-2005 BBY engines. Because according to my info AUA was replaced with BBY for later model years ;).
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Oops yes you are right petrols of that later period would be BBY, my bad
 
The radiator joined to the inter cooler on diesels using two plastic lugs and rubber donuts. Plus there are screws in the fascia panels and cowlings around the front of the inter cooler to divert air. I suspect the hole is for one of those.
 
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