Hi all,

I have noticed that I am getting a lot of wheelspin in my S3. Whilst I realise the cars are not permanent 4 wheel drive and therefore likely to spin a little while the gadgetry sorts out the power distribution, it does feel excessive.

Has anyone else noticed much wheelspin?

I have ttq225 and havent spun the wheels once, apart from some fun in gravel, and I do not have the lightest of right feet!!

What are you doing to get the wheels spinning? ie how are you launching the car. Also what tyres do you have, how many miles on them and what pressures areyou running?

Graham

Hi Graham,

the road surface has been a little damp recently and my driving style has been moderate, not too agressive e.g.

If I pull away gently in first then accelerate hard into second, I am getting front wheel spin until I back off the power.

The tyres are the standard UK Bridgestone running at 28-30 Psi pressure.

Rod

Hi

I have an S3 and have not experienced any wheelspin.
I have to admit to not pushing the throttle through the floor until I get into 3rd gear.
But you should not experience any wheelspin unless you have had it chipped.
Take it to your dealer and see if the Haldex clutch has any errors.


Andy

Hi Andy,

What! You've not booted your S3 in 1st, 2nd, 3rd... :) !?

It's the first thing I'd do if I was lucky enough to have one.

In fact I'd love a ride/drive in one! Any offers?

Alan. (UK, Greater Manchester Area)
'99.5 A3 1.8T MS Silver

Andy,

I did just that this morning and the diagnostic shows a Mechanical Fault with the Haldex clutch - does this mean that I have no 4 wheel drive ability, it would certainly explain the excessive wheel spin and torque steer ?

This is on top of the naff gearbox which is already booked in for replacement next Wednesday.

Any advice, have I just got a lemon ?

Rod

You should give it a try. I picked up my car from the dealer and did my first 1st-2nd-3rd half an hour later, although they told me to wait until the car is at least 400km old.

Instructions: Just stop at a red light, wait for green, let the others move first, hit the accelerator, when you reach 3rd gear look at your rear view mirror and see all others fade away, sit back and smile :)

Great feeling,

ravenx
'00 Black S3

P.S. Alan, I enjoyed our "oily" discussion and am still going to forward your case to the tuning specialist. If you ever decide to have holidays in Turkey, you are always welcomed to give my car a try.

If it is quite new, then you could ask for a swap. I did it with Fiat, when my Tipo 2.0i 16v had a serious gearbox problem among other minor problems. They took my car and gave me a brand new one.

If I were you, I would contact Audi Germany. At least they should extend your warraty period.

I just hope, that I won't have to face similar problems. Please keep on posting any new developments.

ravenx
'00 Black S3

take you up on that offer.

Turkey is always a country I consider for my summer holiday destination. The reason I didn't go last summer was probably because of all the Earth quake trouble. But, may be this year.

Thanks,

Alan.
'99.5 A3 1.8T MS Silver

My S3 is 6 months old with 9000 miles covered.

Audi have arranged collection later this evening (they are loaning me an A6).

My car will be having a new gearbox and various others bit done next week.

Even after all this trouble, it is still one of the finest cars on the road

Sorry to hear about your problems, but thank god for 3 year warranty. Make a lot of noise and see what they are willing to offer.

For 28K everything should be perfect!

I don't think the German's build lemon's but they do seem to have 'Friday' car moments.

I have a couple of 'problems' with mine at the moment.
A 'parp' emits from the exhaust frequently when accelerating or when I have reached my speed.

Keep us updated on your progress.

Incidentally who is your Audi dealer?

Take it easy.....

Ive not noticed any real wheelspin on mine even with 250bhp. Something must be wrong.

Still as some have said Audi are struggling a bit. At least they now admit to Bose/Xenon Hi Fi problems. Mine will be on its 3rd Headunit tomorrow.

Have to say after all the write ups on the gearbox my S3 has a great box. Must be the luck of the draw, which it shouldnt on such an expensive car.
I know why my Scooby is Number 1 in the JD power and the Audi so far behind.

Jonathan

I can hear engine revs thru the speakers in CD Changer mode, but there are not other problems, yet.

Any other problems?

ravenx
'00 Black S3

I must be in the wrong business!! Working for the second largest computer company in the world.

I wish I had both cars as you guys do! One for early Sunday morning on a quiet B-road, and the other for just a bit later on.

To quote from "Life of Brian"..."You lucky, lucky, bastard(s)"!

Alan. :(
'99.5 A3 1.8T MS Silver

I know you guys are mainly talking about S3 4wd wheelspin, which is surprising to me, to say the least. I thought, with the S3, it was medium revs, slip the clutch, let it out and just plant your right foot to the floor!!! And say goodbye to most things behind!

But the bog standard FWD 150bhp 1.8T A3 is also "good" for wheelspin and hopeless for traction. The basic "traction control" system EDL "Electronic Differental Lock" is the worst form of "performance" technology I've ever come across!! (Apart from nothing at all, like on he old Vauxhall Astra Sport 2.0 16v I used to have).

In the UK at the moment, road conditions are very damp, and the front wheels spin very easily. But the EDL is practically useless, when you would think it would be in its perfect conditions. You tend to hear the ABS(EDL) kick-in to try and control the spin, but it's crap. You end up doing it yourself - i.e. trying to keep the power constant, and balancing/adjusting (sliping) the clutch to control the spin. Quite good if you like doing controlled 10 metre wheelspins, but not good if you want to get of to a quick start in the wet.

I can now relate to one of the early posts on this A3/S3 forum by Marko Litmanen and his Wett A3 1.8T 1.0Bar, 195bhp.

Marko - it must be really difficult to get traction at this time of year!!

If any other A3 drivers experience the same traction problems, lets discuss it! Maybe there is a solution.

Regards,

Alan.
'99.5 A3 1.8T MS Silver

I even got them to check EDL had actually been fitted to my car! I couldn't believe how bad it was!

It's worse in the dry I find, in terms of juddering I mean. In the wet the wheels spin more easily, so I don't think it comes through the transmission quite as bad.

You can certainly get heads turning when you're just spinning up the street! Trouble is, speaking personally, I must have a look of shock/embarassment on my face for anyone watching. Cause half the time it takes me by surprise. :))

You can also get the EDL twitching on the exit of bends, such as when flooring-it out of a round-about. Because the inside wheel is scrabbling for traction, the EDL kicks in, even though I'm probably doing about 30mph (and the rest). I wondered what was happening when that first happened! :)

Alan
'99.5 A3 1.8T MS Silver

And what about the crap traction control that cuts out above 15mph ,only designed for snow use apparently!

A3 1.8t '99 volcano black