A4 B6 problems

[doc]

Hi all

I thinking of buying an A4 B6 auto with the 2.0 motor. It's a 2004 model with 105k. Is there anything I should look out for and what are the more common faults?

thanks in advance....Doc

[jamesdavid]

Howdy mate!

By the sounds of things i d say your looking at an ALT motor with a Multitronic gearbox setup. A few problems can occur with these honestly most of them relate to lack of servicing or incorrect servicing.

I would insist on the service books, make sure your major services (60k and 90k) have been done by an audi dealer (best option)

60 is air,oil,fuel and pollen filter with spark plugs and gear oil
90 is timing belt service.

If you can, make sure the gearbox has genuine audi gear oil in it, i have heard of small workshops just putting dex in, that will kill the gearbox in no time. These boxes great as they are (near infinite gear ratio) need the correct oil to operate properly.

Gearbox control units were pretty common, essentially, over time small amounts of swarf form in the system and collect on the gearbox travel sensors, what this does is distorts the reading of the sensor and it will throw a code for the gearbox, more than half the time a gearbox code will be due to this reason. A new control unit fitted will cost approx 2,800 from memory, may be more, you can get the control units repaired but i cant put a time frame on how long this may 'fix' it. I believe the company who repairs them may be called 'Injectronics' in melbourne.

Also if the incorrect grade of engine oil or the incorrect oil filter (inadequate micron filter rating) is used dirt and debris forms in the sump and blocks the oil pickup which eventually starves the motor of oil and seizes it. I ve seen timing belts snap due to valve gear seizing, camshafts snap due to seizing, not good.

You can usually tell if the pickup is blocked, especially on a cold day, start the car, if you hear a loud rattling noise from the valve gear then your oil pressure is inadequate and this problem has most likely started, id steer clear.

Often you can clean the sump, pickup and pickup tube and rerun an oil pressure test and it can help but other times its already too late.

Other things like oil leaks in the 'half moon' seal can occur, this is at the back of the engine and requires the timing belt off, rocker cover off, cam girdle off, cams out chain tensioner out replace the seal and re install everything, big job for just the seal, i d do it with the timing belt as it has to come off anyway.

There is a coolant flange at the back of the engine (houses the coolant temp sensor) which can leak or crack (which i had the other day).

I know i have probably turned you off the car, i m sorry, honestly they are good cars, IF they are looked after. I don't mean to turn you off of them but there are a few things and unfortunately they usually cost quite a bit if something goes wrong.

[doc]

Wow. What a reply. Thanks for putting in the time to answer my question.
It's more for my daughter as it looks like her Mk3 Golf Cabriolet will be written off next week when it's assessed. I'd had just finished repairing the hail damage and 2 weeks later she gets shunted causing about $6500 damage to a car only worth about 8500.

I'm fairly up with the VW's having also had a Mk4 Bora (only sold it as I needed a ute) but was unsure how the Audi's went. I saw an A4 quattro the other day and fell in love but my daughter being on her P plates can't drive a turbo.

I really appreciate your input. Thanks again...doc

[jamesdavid]

Sorry to hear that mate. Main thing is that she is ok! But from what you have said it would be better to write it off than repair it unfortunately.

Does your daughter have her manual license? I have been with audi for awhile now and from memory the only manual problem i ve had was a older b5 rs4 v6 twin turbo and that was just a clutch plate.

I know they aren't all that common but you can get a 2.0l in a manual, as long as you keep up the servicing using correct grade oil and correct filters you should be fine.

Honestly id stay away from the multis outside of warranty, but i am a manual kinda guy, love them, had an auto hated it lol. And yes, i love the quattros too, i would love a b7 2.0l turbo quattro manual

[doc]

No, she doesn't have a manual licence unfortunately but I am very mechanically minded and have serviced trans in the past.
It is a shame about the cabby. Even the panel beater said it was in fantastic condition and I agree.
We're just looking around and don't find out until next week if it is written off. She was going to get rid of it before it was bent any way so I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.
Not sure exactly what she wants but does want to go a little bit bigger than the cabby. She has mentioned a Holden Crewman, the twin cab ute but that's one extreme to the other. She will have to get what she's given as 'guess who' will be paying for it.

cheers....doc

[jamesdavid]

That certainly is one.extreme to the other. But i guess the good thing with holden/ford is that they are very cheap to fix. hence why i have a tf rodeo at the moment. Well she is pretty lucky then and should be happy with what she gets i had to pay for my first car.

Hope it all goes well mate

james

[spud75]

If you can I would avoid the early B6 2.0's. I have heard reports of some of them can use a bunch of oil. Admittedly AUDI says the engines are designed to use a lot of oil, and 1l per tank is not excessive. Personally, I think that is ridiculous. I have a 1.8T B6 and use about 1 L per 12 months. More If I drive it hard. 2004 should be OK. I agree with James, the manuals in the VAG line are a sweet box, and too often overlooked. Good luck.

[reco]

The 2.0 ALT engine usese a lot of oil, the CVT has known problems - TCU failure and clutch wear.

I have read somewhere that the 1.8T A4 is P plater approved due to the low power to weight ratio (110KW vs 1500KG). You might have to check with your local transport department