Air pressure issue in new s4 avant
Air pressure issue in new s4 avant
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Discussion

ndwall

Original Poster:

68 posts

155 months

Wednesday 1st February 2017
quotequote all
Picked up my new Audi s4 avant at the weekend. Still learning the car but having completed a few journeys now I'm experiencing an odd issue with what I think is an air pressure problem. After 10 miles I start to experience earache like your climbing a mountain, as has my wife when she was in the car. It’s almost like the sunroof or a window is open which they aren’t.

Anyone else experienced this and if so how did you fix it or should I just go back to Audi?

Any advice apprecated.

Thanks Nick

steve-5snwi

10,368 posts

123 months

Wednesday 1st February 2017
quotequote all
Is it brand new or used ? I thought there were vents in the rear bodywork that allowed for airflow, well I'm not sure about new cars but remember my focus did.

ndwall

Original Poster:

68 posts

155 months

Wednesday 1st February 2017
quotequote all
Brand new 66 plate with now 200 miles on the clock.

XMT

3,948 posts

177 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
Could it be the tyres bedding in?
I'd do a good 1000 miles and see if it changes or "burn" some rubber with some brisk driving.

Also check for the ride height looking too high, could still have the transporter blocks still in the suspension

Other than that it might just be the way it's meant to be. It's an Audi, they all ride harsh wink

ecsrobin

18,679 posts

195 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
XMT said:
Could it be the tyres bedding in?
I'd do a good 1000 miles and see if it changes or "burn" some rubber with some brisk driving.

Also check for the ride height looking too high, could still have the transporter blocks still in the suspension

Other than that it might just be the way it's meant to be. It's an Audi, they all ride harsh wink
Not tyre air pressure....

anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
I'd say back to Audi. Might find there's a vent or something which is supposed to be unblocked at PDI but hasn't been. Total speculation but can't think what else it could be. I assume you didn't have the same issue on the test drive? Maybe see if the dealer can arrange for you to drive another one and see if you have the same issue.

John D.

21,116 posts

239 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
XMT said:
Could it be the tyres bedding in?
I'd do a good 1000 miles and see if it changes or "burn" some rubber with some brisk driving.

Also check for the ride height looking too high, could still have the transporter blocks still in the suspension

Other than that it might just be the way it's meant to be. It's an Audi, they all ride harsh wink
Not tyre air pressure....
laugh

z06tim

558 posts

216 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
I would guess it's actually an NVH issue. It may be common to that particular model, although unlikely. Or, you may have a vibration problem somewhere that is solvable.

I'd try and pin-point what "might" be causing it. Is it a certain road, or speed, or gear. Do you both feel it when in driver and passenger seat, or is just the driver?

Then I would take it back to the dealer, and get simple things like wheel balancing checked and general condition of all the rotating parts.

If it is unique to that model, it could be due to stiff suspension, big heavy wheels and low profile tyres. You could try raising/lowering tyre pressure a couple of PSI from the book pressure to see if it subsides. It could be what you have found is a natural frequency of the tyre cavity, in which case a different brand of tyre (or change in pressure) might move it a bit. Worth exploring with the dealer (or on-line) if other owners have experienced similar.

XMT

3,948 posts

177 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
XMT said:
Could it be the tyres bedding in?
I'd do a good 1000 miles and see if it changes or "burn" some rubber with some brisk driving.

Also check for the ride height looking too high, could still have the transporter blocks still in the suspension

Other than that it might just be the way it's meant to be. It's an Audi, they all ride harsh wink
Not tyre air pressure....
no

gazza285

11,220 posts

238 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
Does anybody bother reading the OP anymore, or just jump to a conclusion from the title?

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

256 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
Must be 'Ignore the Original Post Day' today.

anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
XMT said:
Could it be the tyres bedding in?
I'd do a good 1000 miles and see if it changes or "burn" some rubber with some brisk driving.

Also check for the ride height looking too high, could still have the transporter blocks still in the suspension

Other than that it might just be the way it's meant to be. It's an Audi, they all ride harsh wink
Skim reading award 2017

littleredrooster

6,412 posts

226 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
z06tim said:
I would guess it's actually an NVH issue. .
...and I would guess that you are yet another poster who didn't read - or comprehend - the OP.

Adam_W

1,098 posts

230 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
Could try setting the climate control to recirculate and see if that changes things.

anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
Have you tried driving with one of the windows opened a little?

z06tim

558 posts

216 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
littleredrooster said:
z06tim said:
I would guess it's actually an NVH issue. .
...and I would guess that you are yet another poster who didn't read - or comprehend - the OP.
Or perhaps you don't understand what NVH is.

There are may vibration issues that actually become objectionable because they are frequencies that couple with the acoustic cavity in the vehicle. Basically the cabin is turned into a massive boom box. That will be the "pressure" issue the OP is talking about.

Perhaps do some reading yourself, before posting.

ndwall

Original Poster:

68 posts

155 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
Cor blimey, its all got a tad exciting. Thank you to the above.

So I didn't take my car for a test drive as new, did have fun in an s5 prior and didn't get the same issue however its a different car.

I typically drive on dual carriageway on most of my journey so 70 ish but also appeared on single back lane when you couldn't get above 60.

I'll try opening windows/sunroof slightly see if that helps. Also try turning the aircon off and putting recirc on.

Like the comment on something missed in PDI.

I will post of we find the issue as very weird and not something you'd expect from a 52k car. I'll give Audi a buzz today see what they think.

gazza285

11,220 posts

238 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
z06tim said:
Or perhaps you don't understand what NVH is.

There are may vibration issues that actually become objectionable because they are frequencies that couple with the acoustic cavity in the vehicle. Basically the cabin is turned into a massive boom box. That will be the "pressure" issue the OP is talking about.

Perhaps do some reading yourself, before posting.
Nice backtrack, apart from there's no noise or vibration been mentioned at all...

Gareth79

9,124 posts

276 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
gazza285 said:
z06tim said:
Or perhaps you don't understand what NVH is.

There are may vibration issues that actually become objectionable because they are frequencies that couple with the acoustic cavity in the vehicle. Basically the cabin is turned into a massive boom box. That will be the "pressure" issue the OP is talking about.

Perhaps do some reading yourself, before posting.
Nice backtrack, apart from there's no noise or vibration been mentioned at all...
Not mentioned, but I'm reading it that a low frequency vibration could be perceived as an air pressure change, which is plausible.

Tuvra

7,926 posts

255 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
No help here but my 3 door Golf R suffers with serious air pressure issues, you put the drivers window down above 60-70mph and it feels like your head is caving in, open the other window a tad and it settles down to normal. Never really experienced this in any other car, can be a bit unsettling when you floor it forgetting about the issue boxedin