A4 2.0 TDI 170 rough Idle and white smoke when warming up

[kieffyt]

Hi Guys, Its been a while since I provided an update from my side. But thank you to everybody that has contributed to the post. It looks as though many people have benefited.

Unfortunately I haven't

I've had the following replaced on my car, not because of this issue but they have just failed.

EGR valve.
DPF.
Oil Pump assembly (that hurt!)
Injectors.
And I have taken it for a tune. The cam timing was adjusted as this was a little out, or something like that.

And the difference this has made!? none!

The mechanic suggested that maybe there is something wrong with the injectors, over fueling, but I explained that the problem was there before they were done and it made no difference once they were.

I’m at a loss as to what to do. I live in Kent if somebody has any good suggestion as to where to take it. To be honest I might just put up with it, I’ve had the car 5 years now maybe it’s time to change to something that isn’t an Audi.

[leerwlnd747]

I have had the problem of poor running idle and white smoke when cold. I also have the control emissions amber light on as well. Would this be a different problem than the cam belt timing than people have been posting about?

[thebirdman]

Since you first noticed this problem after having the timing belt changed I still think this is almost deffinatley the cause. I have worked on pd engine that has had a cambelt changed and run perfectly for a while and then started to be problematic. Since I knew this work had recently been carried out I disregarded it and carried on spending a lot of time checking through everything else until I was running out of ideas. The upshot is that I decided to check through the cam timing and found that it was not set correctly even though the correct tools could be fitted. Make sure the belt is tensioned correctly as the cam timing is absolutely critical on these engines. It ran perfectly afterwards, by the way. Good luck, I hope you get it sorted.

[Gregsmith0]

I have the same problem, white smoke when engine is warming up and slightly erratic idling, once it is up to temperature it's perfect no smoke etc, I too had a cam belt and waterpump change and it didn't happen before, started straight after the change.took it back to the garage and they are saying the timing is perfect, took it to audi Coventry and they have checked it and say the timing is perfect but for £340 they will strip down the head and take a look, I declined, do you think Avon tuning can sort it, they offer a mobile service and travel as far as Birmingham. My car is an audi a4 2.0 170bhp. 57 plate

[Lee3600]

Hello all. I have an Audi A4 B7 Special ED 170bhp (125kw) 2007. I haved a smoking problem. When cold on start up a bit of smoke then the engine warms up (about 2-5mintues) then the engine start to rattle around (like its not running on all injectors). My brother had the same Audi with the same problem. He has spent over 3k to find out what's causing the smoking. (New turbo,injectors,intercooler,full service(coz wrong oil 10/40w) 5/40w. Pdf cut out and program out. And still has the same problem. That's what you get if you don't listen to your younger brother. On my one I went to main dealer Audi budget fuel injector seal £12.34. I got a new cam belt as my one was wron out. I spended a whole night in the grage ive change the injectors seals, and the manfold gaskets and gave a little clean in the egr etc and the cam belt and after few hours got the front end back on turned her over and it was still smoking but not as much and not white it was mixed white and black. I went on the motorway over 200miles came back home and no longer smoking. Now it's time to have it remapped lets see how much I can pull out of it. My brothers case is till on I've did the same the fuel injectors seals etc but still smoking. I'm going to look into this my self because these audi main dealer don't know anything if the compter tell them something they changed even doe its new part. Dumb dumb.
I've taken the head off and it seems to had a lot damage of oil. Values where leaking cy.4. Oil pump was gone. Turbo was also gone. As to much oil and seal where warn out therefore oil ends up in intercooler then manifold egr gets stock. I've changed all I need too. Now a waiting game.

[Calasp]

Hi I’ve recently bought a A4B7 Avant Quattro 170 that has started doing this the day after i bought it he obviously warmed it up for the sale, on cold start and idle it runs rough and bellows our white smoke ,what is this VCDS procedure called so I can put it to the V.A.G specialist who recently changed the Cambelt for the last owner????
Also could the remap he’s had done be causing this as there is no proof of the remap or paperwork of it

Edited by Calasp on Wednesday 22 August 14:37

[Calasp]

00161wj said:

I've said this numerous times on here. The cambelt pins fit in the lugs with a fair bit of adjustment either side. The timing needs setting up exactly with the engine warm via VCDS. The belt doesnt need to come off to do this minor adjustment, its a 2 minute job once the engine is warm.

Does anybody know what this VCDS procedure is called

[Calasp]

Anybody???

[Calasp]

00161wj said:

I've said this numerous times on here. The cambelt pins fit in the lugs with a fair bit of adjustment either side. The timing needs setting up exactly with the engine warm via VCDS. The belt doesnt need to come off to do this minor adjustment, its a 2 minute job once the engine is warm.

How???

[Belle427]

I believe its called the torsion value.