A4 2.0 FSI Engine Failure

[roflynn]

Can someone help please? Last night I was on the motorway when the engine power suddenly failed. When I pulled over the engine won't start. The starter just seems to spin. It's a 53 plate 2.0 FSI with 106k on the clock. The cambelt was changed at about 95k. Everything else works on the car. ANy ideas?, Rob. I live in NW London

[Crasher]

Any luck finding the problem?

[roflynn]

i tried to start the car this morning. The starter works but doesn't crank the engine. I can hear it whirring but nothing else.

[elPaulio]

Hi there,

If you can hear the started whirring but not turning the engine would that not point toward the flywheel not being connected?? Not sure how it is connected internally, Crasher will know, but if the bolts sheared then you would loose power and as the started motor is usally a tooth gear onto the flywheel then you would get those symptomes when you try to start it I would think!!

Just my thoughts :D

Paul :biglaugh:

[Crasher]

Unfortunately that sounds like cam belt failure.

[roflynn]

Thanks guys. It's gone into the Audi dealer for them to run diagnostics. No doubt they will quote something crazy to fix it. I have a warranty direct policy so keeping my fingers crossed it will be covered!

[roflynn]

Hi - any advice would be appreciated. My car was brought into Audi Finchley Road. Seems the cambelt tensioners failed and that in turn caused failure of the cambelt. Audi say I need a whole new engine at a cost of about 4k. Does this sound right? I'm not a mechanic but could see no visable damage to the engine and heard no noises when the enigne failed. The car has a full Audi service history and cambelt was changed 25 months ago and 30k miles ago. Seems strange that such a key part fails and results in total engine failure when the car is properly maintained. Thanks, Rob

[Crasher]

That is what your description sounded like to me and they don’t make any noise when they go apparently but I have never experienced it, I am just going on what people tell me when we have ones like this dragged in. From your original post you said it had done 11K on the new belt and so I would have said you should go back to whoever did the cam belt, but at 30K and 25 months you have no chance. Did they replace just the belt or belt and tensioners? When this happens the least you can expect is eight bent valves, probably a written off head and possibly piston and con rod damage which means a complete new engine. If your car has an AWA engine, £4k is about right but it may be more if they find it needs a clutch or anything else.

[roflynn]

Thanks. Audi Finchley Road are going to contact Oxford Audi who changed the cambelt. Audi Finchley said if they changed the tensioners at the same time then i may have a case against them but the warranty for the work is 2 years and its now 2 years and one month! Just to clarify - the mileage is now 106k. The cambelt was changed at approx 76k, 2 years and one month ago. I've just checked my warranty direct policy and apparently it covers wear and tear. So fingers crossed but they may find a way to wangle out and not pay. Even if it's covered I'd still need to pay 50% of the parts as the mileage is over 100k. If i can get a new engine and only pay 50% of the parts and no labor then it may not work out too bad. Trying to look on the bright side! Rob,

[Crasher]

That is very surprising. The trouble is the two year warranty on genuine VAG parts is not usually negotiable but I didn’t realise it had been done at Audi and they are good people and will normally help in circumstances like this. If they don’t then the warranty just may help this time as that isn’t wear and tear, it actually collapsed and the policy should cover it.

[roflynn]

thanks Crasher, I called into the dealer today on the way home. Looks like the parts are 4k and the labor is about 1k. If warrantydirect will cover it they will only pay 50% of the parts as the mileage is over 100k. This still leaves me with a 2k bill to pay. I will try and see if Audi will contribute some of this as even the dealer admitted it the cambelt should not have gone again after only 30k miles and the 2 year warranty is just up. The car has been looked after by the main dealer and the cambelt has gone twice! The dealer told me the engine they will replace is reconditioned and not new. Does this sound right? Would have thought i should get a brand new engine. thanks, appreciate your help. Rob

[Crasher]

The AWA is no longer available new, only as a recon exchange unit but these are of impeccable quality and are guaranteed for two years. £5K so more like it to me and to be honest I would have quoted nearer £6K as I would insist on a clutch, flywheel, water pump and some other parts that I consider it wrong to not replace. Genuine, the flywheel is £526 alone. For some peculiar reason that engine is listed as not coming with a cam belt set up or water pump which is odd.

[roflynn]

Thanks crasher - definitely owe you a pint!. I'm still left with a 2k bill even if warranty direct pay the labour and 50% of the parts. I'm thinking i may argue that the cambelt replacement 30k/25months ago was not fit for its purpose and Audi should contribute to the costs. It must have been faulty in some way if it failed so soon. Also, the car has only even been to a main Audi dealer and is maintained as per their guidelines. The fit for purpose argument must surely be valid. Reckon I have any hope??? The thought of a 2k bill kills me!!!! Out of interest - would i notice an improvement with the new engine? I guess in a way it will be a better car? Thanks, Rob

[Crasher]

It can’t hurt to argue over it, you have been loyal so they should take that into account. It would be nice if the warranty company and Audi got together to sort it out for you, you could suggest that. A new engine will feel quite tight and use more fuel for a while but will be quieter as those FSI units can be noisy at high mileage.

[roflynn]

I don't know the difference between the FSI engine and a regular one. Is it an issue if they don't replace it with an FSI? Is the FSI not better?, thx, Rob

[Crasher]

The new engine MUST be exactly the same as thee original, is the code AWW? If you don’t know, PM me the reg number.

[roflynn]

Hi, the reg is BT53 VJV. Not sure about AWW. thx, Rob

[Crasher]

It is an AWA as I said previously; don’t know why I put AWW later on. Anyway, the unit is Audi part number 06D 100 031 DX and the exchange engine (block and head) costs £2563.20 inc. VAT and VAG UK have two in stock. It must not only be an AWA but also an AWA for cars prior to the 2005 changes and also for a manual gearbox. You just can’t mix and match engines like in the old days.