New Mk3 TTS - Turbo Rattle - Audi Not Repairing

[356Speedster]

I'm currently having a battle with Audi UK and my supplying dealer over a problem with my wife's brand new TTS. It was supplied new on March 1st this yr and was fine for a couple of mths. Around July we noticed a rattle in the engine bay had developed.

The symptoms are a light rattle upon pulling away from standstill and driving gentle upto about 30mph. Above that road / wind noise take over and you can't hear it any more.

The car went to Audi in Aug but was returned with "no fault found".... still rattling. Due to holidays, availability at the dealer and international work travel, we couldn't get the car back to Audi until Nov and it's been there for nearly 3 weeks now.

The dealer acknowledged the noise, but couldn't find the cause. Two weeks ago, they replaced the turbo and told us it was OK. We drove it 100yds and found the rattle was still there and refused to take the car back. After we pushed, the dealer contacted Audi UK and this week we've been told that Audi are now aware of a problem with the new TTS in that the wastegate can rattle, but there's no fix.

Audi say the rattle isn't harmful (which I debate, as they can't articulate WHY it's rattling) and that they deem the rattle to be "of an acceptable level". We're not happy with this feedback and have refused to take the car back. Turbos shouldn't rattle and we shouldn't be expected to live with a brand new car that has developed a very annoying rattle.

Are there any other TTS owners out there who have the same problem? If so, what is your experience with having it investigated with Audi? I'm looking to gather feedback from others who have the same issue before speaking to Audi UK again. Thanks, PH'ers!

[anonymous-user]

Might be of interest..

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/1-8tfsi-and-2...

[356Speedster]

gottans said:

Might be of interest..

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/1-8tfsi-and-2...

Great post, thanks so much! It seems this is a know issue and Audi aren't resolving it..... at least there's some great commentary for me to consider when speaking with Audi next

[Rich_W]

356Speedster said:

gottans said:

Might be of interest..

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/1-8tfsi-and-2...

Great post, thanks so much! It seems this is a know issue and Audi aren't resolving it..... at least there's some great commentary for me to consider when speaking with Audi next

That link is largely irrelevant its dated 2010 (the bulletin) so not the same engine (there is a similar fix on smaller engine 8V A3s though.

356Speedster said:

After we pushed, the dealer contacted Audi UK and this week we've been told that Audi are now aware of a problem with the new TTS in that the wastegate can rattle, but there's no fix.

Firstly the dealer should have known that since day1. Its a known problem on the 8V S3 as well. Bulletin says the same "not a problem, don't repair"

But as ever its nothing to do with Audi UK and everything to do with Ingolstadt. They decide its ok, and that's that. You could take any brand new turbo from the shelf and it would do it to a greater or lesser degree. They are for want of a phrase, a design "concern" with regards to nvh. How much if any it limits component life no one outside the factory will know.

[356Speedster]

Rich_W said:

That link is largely irrelevant its dated 2010 (the bulletin) so not the same engine (there is a similar fix on smaller engine 8V A3s though.

Firstly the dealer should have known that since day1. Its a known problem on the 8V S3 as well. Bulletin says the same "not a problem, don't repair"

But as ever its nothing to do with Audi UK and everything to do with Ingolstadt. They decide its ok, and that's that. You could take any brand new turbo from the shelf and it would do it to a greater or lesser degree. They are for want of a phrase, a design "concern" with regards to nvh. How much if any it limits component life no one outside the factory will know.

The thread goes upto 2mths ago, so it shows a pattern and is clearly still affecting new cars. It's obviously something Audi are very well aware of, so it helps with our discussions.... let's see if it helps with resolution.

[Gren]

I get a very slight metallic sound when pulling away slowly in mine. I very rarely notice it (a handful of times in the year I've had the car) mainly as it's only noticeable without the stereo on and that almost never happens.

It's difficult to describe the sound. Whirring? Spinning?

Have heard similar stories on the TT forum but it's not worried me and I've not had a service yet so not been bothered to mention it at a dealers.

http://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=98&...

Edited by Gren on Thursday 15th December 09:34

[356Speedster]

Gren said:

I get a very slight metallic sound when pulling away slowly in mine. I very rarely notice it (a handful of times in the year I've had the car) mainly as it's only noticeable without the stereo on and that almost never happens.

It's difficult to describe the sound. Whirring? Spinning?

Have heard similar stories on the TT forum but it's not worried me and I've not had a service yet so not been bothered to mention it at a dealers.

It's a metalic tinkling noise.... the best way I can describe it, is it's like a light heat shield rattle. The cabin is generally quite well insulated, but once you've tuned into the noise it's very obvious, even above the stereo. If we open the windows, it's a lot louder.

I'm seeing more comments on the issue, including a number of people who have raised it with Audi UK too. It's disapointing to hear it's a more common problem than first thought, but Audi aren't fixing cars. I've yet to see confirmation that anyone has had this fixed, without having to replace parts themselves with aftermarket components

[JonV8V]

If Audi don't have a fix and nobody seems to have had one done by them, what do you want to happen? You either have to take the car and live with it or try and reject the car. I don't see as you having another option.

[playalistic]

Golf R is the same. 15k miles in and no issues, obviously that's early days in what you may expect of the lifetime of the vehicle.

[356Speedster]

Now that we're looking into the problem more, I'm seeing a lot of unhappy owners and a potential BBC Watchdog interest.... I'm staggered VAG haven't resolved this yet and are telling owners to accept the noise. We're looking at our options now, but I'm glad to have asked the question as what started with Audi pretending they'd never heard of this problem before and trying to fob us off, has shown to be just the oposite.

[Rich_W]

356Speedster said:

The thread goes upto 2mths ago, so it shows a pattern and is clearly still affecting new cars. It's obviously something Audi are very well aware of, so it helps with our discussions.... let's see if it helps with resolution.

Good for you.

I don't care that the early 2010 cars have had problems and there's a fix. That's not in doubt. You're talking about a SPECIFICengine in a specific car. (the TTS/S3.The bulletin is not "just any car" it's VERY specific.

But as above, if Audi won't do anything about it, simply because fitting 100 different turbos isn't going to improve things as it's a characteristic of the turbo they use. What do you expect to happen? They aren't going to say "Ok we'll fit something else"

Just try to reject the car. Failing that, sell it.

[Dr G]

I know the noise you describe and it appears S3s almost universally do it (I don't personally find it annoying). It would be annoying if it was an undiagnosed fault but knowing that it's characteristic for the engine and isn't a doing any harm surely is peace of mind enough?

[TomScrut]

playalistic said:

Golf R is the same. 15k miles in and no issues, obviously that's early days in what you may expect of the lifetime of the vehicle.

Same here 17k miles and has done it since day one. I just presumed it was a characteristic of the engine since it did it from new

[SuperchargedVR6]

356Speedster said:

Now that we're looking into the problem more, I'm seeing a lot of unhappy owners and a potential BBC Watchdog interest.... I'm staggered VAG haven't resolved this yet and are telling owners to accept the noise. We're looking at our options now, but I'm glad to have asked the question as what started with Audi pretending they'd never heard of this problem before and trying to fob us off, has shown to be just the oposite.

You know how it will go. VAG will appease the Americans first - the market whose butt they lick the most, and then lastly the UK - the market whose butt they kick the most.

Life was much simpler back in our 2.0 G60 / 16V Turbo days, eh?

[the-photographer]

Wow, is this still a problem?

Although a different engine, this problem was first noticed on MK6 GTI and EA888 engines fitted to similar cars.

Here is the clip
http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204...

And before/after
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvHeXQh2Fts

[Rich_W]

the-photographer said:

Wow, is this still a problem?

Although a different engine this problem was first noticed on MK6 GTI and EA888 engines fitted to similar cars.

Here is the clip
http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204...

And before/after
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvHeXQh2Fts

Bit underlined!

Too simple for you to understand? Lets talk about problems on DPFs for all the fking relevance it has to the engine and turbo fitted to TTS/S3

[JonV8V]

Rich_W said:

the-photographer said:

Wow, is this still a problem?

Although a different engine this problem was first noticed on MK6 GTI and EA888 engines fitted to similar cars.

Here is the clip
http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204...

And before/after
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvHeXQh2Fts

Bit underlined!

Too simple for you to understand? Lets talk about problems on DPFs for all the fking relevance it has to the engine and turbo fitted to TTS/S3

Happens on my wife's BMW too..you'd have thought they'd learn.

I think it's less a problem with a turbo and more a characteristic

[Slippydiff]

Teccy in the first YT video says the clip is $75 bucks !!!!!
Thought that must be a mistake, but a Google search turns up 2 on eBay at £21 & £23 respectively !!!' That's an expensive
clip ! !