emkay

I have a '98 A6 2.8Q with 55,000 miles. When the engine is warmed up, and the car comes to a complete stop, I get an strong, acrid burning smell coming through the dash air vents. I even saw a little smoke blowing through the vents the other day. The odor completely stops when the car is moving. The engine temperature and coolant temperatures are normal.

My mechanic can't seem to find an oil leak (which he presumes is the problem)...today, on my second attempt to get it repaired, all he did was put die in my oil to try to trace a leak.

Has anyone else had a similar symptom?

QCRAZY

Common problem but the fix varies...

1) Valve cover gasket
2) Cam seals
3) Cam adjuster
4) Cam position sensor

Mine had smoke from the passenger side (sound familiar?). After replacing BOTH valve cover gaskets and cam seal the smoking went away. However, the thing still "stunk" at stops. Next they replaced the driver's side cam adjuster...no change. Then they replaced the passenger side cam adjuster. THIS FIXED IT!!

I'm at 60k miles!!

They never touched my cam position sensor, but I've seen another person (w/ a 2.8) with the EXACT same problems get his car fixed with the cam position sensor (and valve cover gasket).

P.S. My first trip in to the dealer I got the dye treatment!! Still didn't help them find it any faster!!

HTH!!

Stoney

Better keep driving, then! (sorry)

dhoerl

My wife's 1999 A6 had a similar problem. I finally went to the garage after she had come back from a long trip, and I could smell it in the garage. I opened the hood, and I used a flashlight to look between the engine and the car body. On the passenger side I could clearly see smoke rising. I think the flashlight made this easier to see- the smoke is not dark - more like a vapor. Looking down with the flashlight I could see dark spots on what I believe is a catalytic convertor shield (maybe the cat itself).

Anyway, we took it to Audi. Seems it was a cam shaft seal or something like that. The service tech told me that the head is aluminum but this seal is partially steel - so you get different expansion rates. He implied that this is happening to many Audis.

The car had just gone out of warranty, but the dealer fixed it under warranty. This was good as they have to lift the engine partially out of the car to fix the problem. I think it would have cost between $1K - $2K if I paid for it. If you don't fix it, you risk a car fire!

Good luck. Use the flashlight at night to look for rising vapor - I think you will find it will help.

johnz

Just had valve cover gaskets replaced today. 49000 miles.Same smell. $400.

QCRAZY

Item #7....

<img src="http://catalog.exist.ru/pic/parts/VAG16493.gif">

POLA367

Mine suffers from this also there is a TSB on the NHTSA website, Dealers will replace everything..but from others on the forum I bet this is your cause

QCRAZY

Do you know exactly were this is located?? Is it the same thing as the cam adjuster??

QCRAZY

Item #13....

<img src="http://catalog.exist.ru/pic/parts/VAG14305.gif">

TIA!!

DTMfan

Anyone know if the factory has remedied the problem (an updated seal that doesn't warp)? Or are we expected to perform this same repair every 50-60kmi?