Strange noise when accelerator not depressed Audi A2 1.2tdi

[JohnL]

Sorry for being unable to explain myself in German!

 

The car is an Audi A2 1.2tdi with around 231,000km.

 

During a road trip I also started to get a whining noise when the accelerator is released but the car is in drive. I put the car in N on a downhill section and the whining disappeared and then started again when drive was engaged.

 

The noise disappears when the accelerator is pressed down.

 

Under breaking the noise disappears and starts again when the brake is released.

 

The noise varies in intensity but turning seems to make no difference. Also as the noise does not increase with speed and disappears in N I suspect it is not the wheel bearing (I think that the bearing was replaced less than 2 years ago anyhow). I also stopped and jacked up the front wheel and found no side to side movement in it.

 

The sound occurs with varying intensities in all gears. Also when reversing the car seemed a bit lumpy just as it starts off with the problem seeming to come from the front left wheel.

 

Here are a couple of video clips with the noise in. The second clip is very clear right at the beginning.

http://1drv.ms/1yC9LWu

 

Does anyone know where to start looking/have any ideas about what it could be?

 

How does the gearbox disengage the drive when coasting in the 1.2tdi? Is the noise from the gearbox?

 

John

Bearbeitet 22. Juni 2014 von JohnL

[slk-A2]

I think this noise comes from the gearbox. It very much sounds as if the gearbox whines. Imho you can exclude the wheelbearings, because the noise is gone, when the car is in N.

 

I advise you to put the car onto a car lift, start the car, engage the gear and reproduce the sound. Should the box start whining again, it is easier to localise the sound.

Bearbeitet 23. Juni 2014 von slk-A2

[JohnL]

Would you also rule out the Constant Velocity (CV) joints?

 

John

[Artur]

You need an overhauled gear unit. It's a familiar issue of the 1.2 tdi version: A2 1.2 Mein Getriebe heult - A2 Forum

Bearbeitet 23. Juni 2014 von Artur

[JohnL]

Is this something a local dealer can arrange?

Otherwise I am a long way from anyone who could do that.

[bret]

from reading the other thread, I think you'll find it's possible for a local specialist to do it, but whether they'll want to or not is another story. We can probably get a replacement 'box shipped to you without too much hassle somehow (ha, all these tourists going up north, not expecting snow in June...) but the replacement itself may be an issue.

 

How urgently do you need the car and for how much? I know you're in Tromsö, which isn't exactly around teh corner from anywhere.. even here, I'm not sure that there's a single specialist in the entire country that I'd trust with a 3L. Maybe in Sweden, Gothenburg? Oulu is the northernmost place I'd believe, but even then, I don't know of any specialists. Probably Hamburg is the closest, driving-wise (through to Helsinki, Ferry to Travemünde). I suspect it would also be significantly cheaper than doing it in Norway.

 

- Bret

[Romulus]

You might try user Redcreek who is in Umeå. He has a 1.4 petrol A2.

[Artur]

Is this something a local dealer can arrange?

Err, the local dealer should be able to sell you an overhauled gearbox, yes. But if he isn't a well known expert for the a2 1.2/lupo 3L, I wouldn't trust anyone if it comes for replacement.

 

The electronic manual gearbox with its electro-hydraulic valves, potentiometer, micro-switches, hydraulic unit, clutch cylinder, selector lever and so on, is much complicated and very, very rare.

 

Without consolidated knowledge they could do more harm than you can imagine. And/or you pay a lot of money in the end. We have a lot of stories to tell about.

 

It's not my intention to scare you the pants off. But it is a good advice to look for an 3L specialist. (Or to become a self-made one).

Bearbeitet 23. Juni 2014 von Artur

[slk-A2]

there is a gearbox on ebay.de, not too cheap, but overhauled, maybe shipment abroad is possible, one should ask the seller:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Getriebe-Audi-A2-1-2-TDI-5-Gang-FLE-/271506439630?pt=DE_Autoteile&hash=item3f370b7dce

[JohnL]

The other option I am looking at is shipping the car south to Germany and getting the work done whilst I spend some holiday in the UK.

 

Can anyone provide recommendations for dealers in Northern Germany who are reliable, reasonable and are experienced with the 1.2tdi?

 

The only dealer I know in Germany are Audi Zentrum Flensburg. They are close to Scandinavia for the drive home. I will probably head back to Tromso through Kristiansand and so Flensburg/Hamburg would be good!

 

Also what kind of cost does a gearbox or refurb run to in Germany these days?

 

I guess I could also get the GRA activation done if the car was in Germany.

 

 

John

[slk-A2]

I would not recommend taking the car to an Audi dealership. They often are not experts on the 1.2 TDi and their prices are horrendous. I do not know 3L Specialists in Northern Germany, but if you're planning to travel to the UK, you can just as well go to one in the Netherlands.

 

This is one: http://diensten-vakmensen.marktplaats.nl/a/diensten-en-vakmensen/auto-en-motor-monteurs-en-garages/2671-ejr-autotechniek-lupo-3l-specialist.html?previousPage=lr

[JohnL]

I am flying to the UK but was looking for places that the car could be shipped to. I have doubts about it making all the way from Norway to Germany under its own power.

For example when I got back from the trip where the noise started to get bad I moved the car around 50m and even in first gear you could hear an unhealthy whine.

[bret]

ah.

 

Getriebedienst Altona understands Gearboxes, but I don't know that they're 3L-experts.

I would have thought there would be one in Berlin, which is around 2h south of Rostock...

 

- Bret

[JohnL]

A "used" gearbox from the local Audi dealer here is €3600 excluding labour and any other extras. I guess getting the car south would probably save cash even after covering the transport costs.

 

Considering they wanted €480 to change the operating rod on the gangsteller I doubt the labour costs would be that good.

 

How much does a gearbox typically cost in Germany?

[Romulus]

3L specialists (mainly in Germany) can also be found in Liste von Werkstätten, die sich mit dem 1.2 TDI 3L gut auskennen - A2 Forum

 

Three Danish specialists are also mentioned. Next to those I would think that Dyhr Automobiler in 9330 Dronninglund (north of Jutland) has some 3L competence. In the past they were involved in PPO (vegetable oil) conversion of diesel cars, including Lupo 3L, together with Velkommen til DAJOLKA

If it helps you I could try to arrange a contact.

[JohnL]

All help is gratefully appreciated.

I am trying to find out what options I have to ship the car out of Tromso.

I think a 1000km+ drive with a damaged gearbox would not be wise. Hopefully it is fixable as is!

 

I guess it would be cheapest to ship to somewhere near a port/freight terminal.

 

Would you guys advise against driving (in so far as is possible) until the repair is done?

 

John

[bret]

Trailer rental from here is €55 / day. Oulu is 6.5 hours @ 80km/h, Muonio is another chunk; Kilpisjärvi is 165km from you, right?

 

Rental costs for a Yeti from Monday 30th 1600 to 0700, Thursday 3rd are of the order of €400... which includes a towbar and should be enough towing capacity (weight 420kg + 900kg A2 = 1400kg total, shouldn't be an issue).

 

With that, you could be in Helsinki. Sunday's ferry (6th July) to Travemünde is another €500 for you and the car.

 

Car + trailer = 200 + 400 =600€; 3000km converts to around €500 in fuel. €1600 therefore to get to Travemünde. It makes sense to get the car onto and off of the ferry under its own power if possible, without, it starts getting very expensive very quickly. I asked about this once for the guys with icetrack and it was horrendous. I'm of the opinion that the price here is probably as good as it's going to get. So I'd check the replacement / fixed prices next in DE..a 3 second google search says €1000 for an overhauled one. I'd be surprised if the replacement takes more than a day - €750 max. €100 / hour for Audi specialists is relatively cheap these days, I think. So €1k+750+€1600... less than the price of the "new one". But not *that* much.

 

- Bret

[JohnL]

Thanks for that! I am looking to see if the cargo line from here to the Netherlands has any capacity. It may be cheaper as I think it is not high season for fishing and cargo mainly goes north.

 

From southern Norway to Europe for a vehicle delivery company is 3000-4000NOK and so hopefully loading the car on a cargo ship should not be too much more.

 

I think time wise a trip through Finland towing the car does not fit in as well and so will see what options I can find. As the cargo routes from here mainly go to the Netherlands I am tempted to go for Lupo3l Specialists in the Netherlands.

 

John

[Romulus]

I also am a frequent reader at the Dutch Saabforum. Quite some old Saabs have been imported to the Netherlands from Scandinavia by Saab lovers. Some tips that I distilled from there:

 

• Find a transport company that has trucks driving between Holland and Scandinavia with fresh goods like vegetables and flowers. Often these trucks go back empty, lacking return freight. When the car is rolling it could be transported, assuming a loading dock present at start and destination. I see fees reported by members from € 400 for Helsingborg-NL. Example companies: Welkom op de site van JP.Vis & Zn. or Transport, Logistics and Air and Ocean freight Wim Bosman Belgium
  
  
• Sinke Car Transport is a specialised Dutch company familiar with this task: Sinke Car Transport Service is your vehicle for the transport of damaged cars - from other requests I expect the tariff for Tromso to NL will exceed € 1k.
  

 

 

I inquired about the VAG workshop Dyhr Automobiler in Dronninglund being competent with 3L specifics. I will update here when I know more.

 

 

 

Another Dutch company with a good 3L reputation (actually a very good reputation on VAG as a whole, especially TDI) is JB Autoservice The owner is also present at this forum: Getriebeumbau 1,2l TDI auf Handschaltung - Seite 5 - A2 Forum

[JohnL]

With Norway being outside the EU carting the car back in the back of a regular truck is complicated. Norwegian authorities really do not like people doing this.

 

Also I have the impression that most fresh ware is delivered to southern Norway and then sent up the country by a dedicated domestic food carrying company.

 

From Drammen with a dedicated car transporting company is 3500NOK and from Narvik to Drammen is an additional 2800NOK or so but the stretch from Tromso to Narvik costs as much again. The road is quite hilly and so not an ideal test for a compromised box.

 

I am just waiting to find out from the company a final fixed price from Tromso to the Netherlands and where in the Netherlands they deliver to.

 

The logistics are truly horrendous. I have an offer from a shipping company who will ship from Tromso to Eemshavn. They will only carry cars in containers (on a RO-RO) ship as in the past so many cars have been damaged. To compound this problem they have no 20ft containers and you are required to strap your own car down in the container. And this was for a "special" price of €1500.

 

I have sent some mails to the companies above just in case!

Bearbeitet 25. Juni 2014 von JohnL

[JohnL]

I am looking to be able to get the car from door to door for €900-950 which does not seem too bad. I guess hauling it myself would cost more as in Bret's estimates.

 

That plus the work is less than a reconditioned box (without fitting or any other expenses) here in town. More importantly the quality of the work will be as I want!

 

Are Audi still making new boxes for the 1.2TDi? The dealer here indicated only reconditioned boxes were possible. New boxes do appear to exist with an updated part number.

 

Does the EX as opposed to E revision mean the box is rebuilt?

[RAB3L]

Hi John,

 

X is the exchange price whereas E only will be a straight buy. Gearboxes will be the same and as new.

 

RAB

[JohnL]

Rab,

 

This is what I assumed. Both have the same price on the old pricelist I was shown but the non-refurbished boxes are not available.

 

The car was thankfully picked up this morning and is on its way to Holland.

 

I feel that the guys there will do a good job and I'm looking forward to being reunited with my fully functional car.

 

It is a very expensive issue but even so I can't fault the car and I guess on over 230,000km on Norwegian roads and in Norwegian winters it is doing well!

 

Currently in our town petrol is over €2/l and diesel is at most €0.20 lower.

 

It makes the gearbox worth the investment as a long term investment!

 

John

[bret]

sheesh, those prices are horrendous. I'm feeling it @ €1.75/l for petrol...

 

How long's it going to take to get there and be fixed?

 

- Bret

[JohnL]

That is a very good question. The shipping company have given me a quote and taken the car. But they have only charged me from here to Drammen thus far...

 

It is going by truck to Narvik and then by train to Drammen (for next years ice circuit the train from Narvik to Drammen is around €250 but northbound is around €6-800 so maybe useful for shipping cars back south)

 

From Drammen I have no idea of the specifics. But I hope it arrives within 7-8 days. Once in the Netherlands it is not such a rush. I am aiming to get the car back to Kristiansand and southern Norway for around the 1st August.

 

The guys in the Netherlands have a box in stock and so it will not take so long!

 

It certainly has been a challenge to get this organised and I expect more until I finally take the car back!

 

John

[Romulus]

It's been over two months now... hope the car is (on its way) back?

[Romulus]

It's been over two months now... hope the car is (on its way) back?

It's been over a year now... hope you've been driving around happily for a while since?

[herr_tichy]

Letzte Aktivität: 10.08.14 17:45

 

Send him a PN.