Magnet

Thanks Steve, I would have thought that most of the basic ‘inspection’ principles would be much the for most models - belts vs. chains excepted. Kind regards, Gareth.

You can’t do any harm in trying, but see my earlier comment. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Top mountings??

Hello Mohammed, Bit late now, but I used ATF ( automatic transmission fluid) fir spraying over squeaky joints not silicone spray. Probably too late to overspray it now, since the silicone will prevent absorption of the ATF. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Steve, This gives the recommended service intervals, but not the schedule. I’m pretty sure you posted a schedule of the work to be carried out ( inc. belts etc.) some weeks ago. I’m being lazy and not wearing my more elderly brain out! Kind regards, Gareth.

Worth bearing in mind Andrew, this certainly isn’t the job where cost is King. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Just as an aside - a family member had the belt assembly renewed on his non-Audi using a water-pump-included kit from a well respected aftermarket supplier, starting with D. Just had to have the water pump ( and belt, Incase) replaced after 6K miles due to a failing bearing. No, the belt wasn’t overtensioned. I always recommend using a main dealer pump for peace of mind even though dearer in the short term. I respect that opinions on this may vary on this.

Hello Martin, Did you do a search after? If so, and you can’t find it, PM SteveQ and he’ll find it far quicker than I will. Kind regards, Gareth.

Tried any independents Andrew?

Hello Alastair, Does the white smoke smell of excessive diesel? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mussa, If you intend to start the car and just leave it ticking over for a few minutes then you are likely to deplete the battery even more. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Darwood, Varta and Bosch are reputed to be from the same factory and simply branded accordingly. To all intents and purposes, they are one and the same battery. Exide are reputed to be good. Energiser?? Not seen these as car batteries, but seem to be quite prolific in the cheap domestic bulb market and for domestic dry cell batteries. It could just be be me, but I associate that make with budget quality. Kind regards, Gareth.

Price Will please? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mussa, This would be typical of a below par battery. It may resolve itself with some use, but if it’s still running on its original battery then it sounds like it would benefit from being renewed. A personal viewpoint:- I’d be much happy to live with a non operative s/s system than living with it, so it wouldn’t bother me at all - I would see it as a bonus. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Corey, The OP hasn’t returned to the forum since 2 days after he posted this. Probably best to send him a PM - and chance he still has the same e-mail for alerts. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Dave, I’m glad your engineering experience has stood you in good stead. I too am from the school of engineering, but mine points me to respecting that any piece of noisy machinery is trying to tell you something. Let’s hope your luck holds out. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Darwood, I’ve always used Varta/Bosch - their 4 or 5 year warranty grade. Fortunately, we are blessed with a number of on-line battery retailers here in the U.K. Canada-?? Just a thought :- 16 year old vehicle needing an AGM battery -? Kind regards, Gareth.

Good on you Nikki. All thinks being equal, the routing had to be wrong. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dave, I wish I could share your optimism regarding failure not being too imminent. Any degree of chain rattle under any condition should be treated with the greatest respect and urgency in my book, if jumping teeth is to be avoided. Your call obviously. Kind regards, Gareth.

Have you shopped around - main dealers, independents and trusted local garages in your area Andrew? I mention main dealers, since they sometimes have offers on such jobs. If so - personal opinion- avoid the free MOT gimmick! Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dave, Chain/ tensioner wear is not uncommon on 8 year old vehicles across a number of marques. If this were mine, my main concern would be to get this sorted very urgently to avoid catastrophic failure - sorry about that, but any delay may be regretted. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Martin, SteveQ did list on one here within recent months. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Zia, See post earlier today. Let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Apologies, just spotted your response.

Matching label/ part numbers on both belts then?? Old belt in tact and complete at a a single break point, and measured like for like on old and new?? Belt makes as a matter of interest? If yes, to the first two questions, then obviously the routing is wrong - assuming old and new tensioner and idler are a match. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Nikki, You are of course at a disadvantage of not having been able to do a sketch of the old belt routing prior to its removal - which is the normal procedure. Did the belt come with the snapped belt? Of course, if so, you could check old against new. Re. Parts Shop confirming the belt you have is indeed the correct one, this may benefit from independent confirmation. What make belt did you buy? For most of the main aftermarket belt manufacturers, you should be able to make contact with their technical section and confirm correct fitment via. reg. no. and/or VIN. Really worth doing. Alternative if you are convinced you have the correct routing, would be to buy a belt from a main dealer. Belt only should suffice, since you will know whether you have like for like tensioner and idler. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Nikki. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ray, Re tyres and harsh ride:- I think that the ride with any 35 profile tyre on a car built with sports suspension is going to be ‘harsh’ irrespective of brand - you just don’t have sufficient shock absorbing rubber to benefit from comfort. Moving to 17 inch wheels will allow higher profile and help to some extent. Other considerations:- have you checked whether the current tyres are XL? - or run-flat. Either of these will add to ride harshness. Non- folding mirrors:- worth obtaining a build record from a main dealer via. the VIN. This will tell you whether the car was built with folding mirrors, but are no longer working. It has been said that VAG equip all their vehicles with such motorised mirrors ( your age of car?) and all you need to do is to have them coded to operate. This is new to me and would be great. I’m not having that confirmed with our non-Audi, but…. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mike, Would I be surprised that a 3 year old 27K battery on a s/s equipped car is starting to fail? - No I wouldn’t, based on hard experience of non-Audis doing that just out side the 3 year warranty, and particularly since your car is likely to have sat around unused for possibly months during Covid component supply issues. As said, simply testing battery voltage with a multimeter is meaningless. Yes, coding will necessitate diagnostics generally only held by main dealers and independents. Kind regards, Gareth.