2.5 tdi Mystery Whine

[Phil G Watson]

Hi all, it's been a while since I posted , which is good news as the advice from the last post sorted the smoking/performance issue (MAF sensor).
I have a new problem with my 199,000 mile 2.5 tdi A4 B5 Avant ; a whine that seems to be at engine speed coming from I think the front, maybe towards the right side of the engine as you look at it.

Here's a you tube link to a quick video I uploaded YouTube

The whine is most prominent right at the beginning of the vid and when I move round and blip the throttle. Its the slightly deeper but quite loud whine.
Local garage says the front needs to come off to track it down and from what I've read it could be a tensioner roller?

The car has had New Turbo, Injection pump, ABS pump and breather neck in the last 30,000 miles. The power steering oil cooler fractured 8,000 miles ago and I lost all fluid on a short 5 mile trip before it was repaired.

Performance isn't affected but I'm fed up of sounding like a refuse truck or a bus ! Any thoughts?

Cheers

[Phil G Watson]

Anyone?

[spartacus 68]

Your video is private!

Regards sound, your garage are probably right about the front coming off. The 2.5 V6 sits tight in the engine bay, so determining if its a roller or tensioner pulley needs closer inspection. When was the timing belt changed? Should be done every 80k or 4 years, including water pump and thermostat. The bearing on a pulley or water pump can collapse, so check it out sooner rather than later.

[PaulF2.5TDi]

Hi all, it's been a while since I posted , which is good news as the advice from the last post sorted the smoking/performance issue (MAF sensor).
I have a new problem with my 199,000 mile 2.5 tdi A4 B5 Avant ; a whine that seems to be at engine speed coming from I think the front, maybe towards the right side of the engine as you look at it.

Here's a you tube link to a quick video I uploaded YouTube

The whine is most prominent right at the beginning of the vid and when I move round and blip the throttle. Its the slightly deeper but quite loud whine.
Local garage says the front needs to come off to track it down and from what I've read it could be a tensioner roller?

The car has had New Turbo, Injection pump, ABS pump and breather neck in the last 30,000 miles. The power steering oil cooler fractured 8,000 miles ago and I lost all fluid on a short 5 mile trip before it was repaired.

Performance isn't affected but I'm fed up of sounding like a refuse truck or a bus ! Any thoughts?

Cheers

The power steering on these are very funny about fluids and levels.
Mrs PaulF2.5TDis' car had cooler break, and once I replaced it I filled the system - with the correct fluid - and bled it. A good while later (couple of months +) it started to whine and groan. (As did Mrs PaulF2.5TDi )
I thought it was many things, but after a long time not tracking it down, topping up the fluid and working it lock to lock a few times cleared it!
It MAY be pump cavitation causing a whine - a long shot, but a cheap, quick fix if it is.

As Spartacus says, we can't run your vid so it's a bit hard to know!

[Phil G Watson]

Thanks for the reply Spartacus.Sorry, video should now be public !
Cambelt, tensioner and water pump done approx 35k, 3 years ago.

Hope the video gives you a clue, Cheers

[Phil G Watson]

Hi, thanks for the response, I'll certainly try what you've suggested, meantime I've hopefully made the vid public so please have a gander, Thanks.

[spartacus 68]

Listened to the youtube videos a few time, especially the section when you rev the engine, not the initial blip to throttle, but once the engine returns to idle, then you notice it. Strange one. As Paul suggests, check out the steering pump level. There's a definite whine as it returns to idle.

My brother has a 51 plate Mini and you can hear him before you see him! Suffice to say the steering pump failed which is a common fault. Got to be a cheap fix if its just fluid. Raise the front end if you're going hard lock to hard lock to bleed.

Not sure what else to suggest. Removing the bumper and putting the radiator into service position may be the only way to pinpoint the fault, but try easy fixes first.

[Phil G Watson]

Many thanks for this Spartacus, the fluid level is a little low I think.(do you check the dipstick level with the cap fully screwed home or just dipped in unscrewed?), will grab some green mineral fluid and give it a try.
Given the 2.5 is such a heavy lump, what would you recommend as the safest place to jack the front end off the deck, not just wheel changing jack locations I assume.
I have a 2 ton hydraulic bottle Jack, 1 ton scissor jack and a pair of axle stands.

Thanks

[spartacus 68]

The jack-up points are fine at the front. You just need the wheels slightly off the ground. Use the car jack at one side and the two ton trolley jack on the other. Use a cloth pad on the 2 ton jack point so as not to damage the sill.

Yes, the dip stick on the steering fluid should be screwed in, then removed to check level. The green fluid is Audi's own mineral fluid G002 000. Don't mix and match.

[PaulF2.5TDi]

It's worth going lock to lock with the cap off. If you are able, get somebody else to do it and see if the returning fluid is foamy - a sure sign of air.

These things can be a bugger to bleed, and the noises they produce can be bizarre - I had all sorts of strange groans!