I got my car back from my second service today.

99.5 1.8TQMS, 9588 miles

1.) Control Arms:

Squeaking (chirping, whatever you want to call it - it sounds like the same high pitched noise a sewing machine makes). My car emits this noise when driving over small abrupt depressions in the road (such as sizable cross road cracks that haven't yet been tarred)

This is the second time I've asked the dealer to fix it (last oil change too) and once again they returned my car saying that they couldn't hear the noise on a test drive and they couldn't start fooling with it until they KNEW a problem existed. I therefore took the mechanic on a ride with the windows down and demonstrated the extent of this PITA. The dealer is now convinced there IS a problem (albeit they seem to have no idea wher to start besides thinking the noise is coming from "something metal on metal in the front suspension"). They are planning on further investigating the problem when I bring my car in to get my head gasket replaced. Which brings me to problem number 2.

2.) Head Gasket

Upon completion of my last oil change, the dealer informed me that the rubber head gasket seal was defective and I was leaking a bit of oil. They replaced it and expected that all would be fine. This time they once again found that the car was leaking oil from the gasket (am I using the right word - gasket, or is the aluminum part just the head?). They think there is a flaw in the aluminum (it is somehow porous) and will replace it when the part comes in.

QUESTIONS:

Should I be worried that my 9500 mileold car is already having engine work done?

Although the oil leak was present b4 I installed my APR ECU, could it have been aggravated by the addition of the tuned ECU?

If it matters, I used the OEM dyno oil until 5000 mile and then went to Mobil 1 5W30.

Thanks for your help guys,
Mark

99.5 1.8TQMS APR

1) Are you sure they didn't say "valve cover gasket"? It is much different than a head
gasket ...and tons easier to replace. My 97 2.8 had a valve cover gasket that leaked
a bit...and was replaced twice. Speculation was that it was caused by Mobil 1 oil. BTW,
I would not call this engine work...replacing valves or a camshaft would constitute engine
work to me. I don't even know if I would consider getting a replacement turbo what I
call "engine work". It is outside the engine. Well, IMHO anyway.

2) Control Arm bushings....this is a known problem that doesn't pose any "real" safety
issues...it is more of an annoyance. Many people have had this diagnosed and fixed.
Some people had to wait over 4 weeks for backordered parts though. I hope you are
the lucky one.

If you have any other questions...let me know.

Steve S.
97 2.8QM

is still pretty easy. A new valve cover would cover all the bases to make sure your's isn't warped and causing the leak. The control arm thing is really surprising at this low mileage. Are you sure that's it? I'm sure the archives are full of info. to make a pretty accurate diagnosis. Yeah this stuff is all a big PITA but none of it major stuff. Hang in there until all is like new again.

1. Yes, I believe he did say valve cover gasket. At least I'm alsmost positive that's what they replaced the first time. The key factor that could indicate WTF I'm trying to describe is that the first time they replaced a rubber seal, and this time they are going to replace the aluminum part that the seal is adjacent to. Does this help describe the part? I have a VERY basic understanding of engine construction so I'd appreciate any assistance you could give.

2. I know the CA's aren't a safety issue but it just bothers me to buy a $30,000 car and have it sound like an '82 Camaro w/in six months. People walking on the sidewalk in my neighbourhood hear the chirping outside my car and turn their heads to look - it sounds like a delivery truck or something. I can't even hear it when the windows are up, but from an exterior soundpoint, it's really loud. Most of the stories re: this issue that I've read on the A4 board have been temporary fixes, with the squeaking/thumping/creaking coming back again.

Don't get me wrong I love my A4 like no other car on the road ('cept maybe an S4), I'd just like to figure out the best way to go about effecting change (i.e. control arm redesign/recall).

So, any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers :-),
Mark

have the cover replaced. Hopefully they can figure out what, exactly is the root of the problem. The low mileage is odd, eh, but yesterday I read of someone expreiencing the same problem at around 4000 miles!!!!!!!!! I'm hoping it's not the CAs, becuase all of the "solutions" that I've read about in the archives are just stopgap measures that must be repeated.

You're right, they are just PITA problems, but it would be nice if my ass was pain free for a while, knowhatimsayin?

Cheers,
Mark

What do "WTF" and "PITA"stand for?
Is it a kind of far eastern's bread of sumthin? just kiddin :-)

WTF - what the "four letter word starting with F and ending with K"

PITA - pain in the "three letter word starting with A and ending with S"

Steve S.
97 2.8QM

The valve cover gasket goes between the valve cover and the head. The head gasket (which is not rubber) goes between the head and the block. A blown head gasket causes a loss of compression and is a much more serious problem than a leaky valve cover gasket.

Kyle

Havn't had to pull the A4 apart, but on the 5000TQ the PVC returned to the turbo inlet.

The head cover on my 99.5 "looks" really awful too. The casting is clearly inferior and there are excess-metal protrusions from the seams. You can see it by peeking through the oil-filler cap. That is not necessarily a bad thing, don't be alarmed if you see flaky metal. As long as the cover is functional, the oil filter should trap any metal particles that break off . . . provided that they are small enough to go through the oil passages.

I used to work in engine R&D but that was a long time ago and the correct metallurgical terminology escapes me . . . computers and programming can really hollow out your brain. :)

I can only guess that when the service manager was standing in front of you trying to form a response to your question about the squeaking he went into some reversionary mode that only allows 3 answers:

1). They all do that.

2). We don't know what you're talking about.

3). Bring it back again and we'll see if we can find it. (repeat often, especially when customer is out of warranty)

If they say they don't know about the control arm problem they are, without question, not being up front with you(OK actually they are lying).

Bill Shaffer

but on most cars you don't even get that much.

"You modified your car...it is not covered under the Audi warranty anymore!"

I personally get the "We can't duplicate the problem" response more than any other.

Steve S.
97 2.8QM