A4 2.0T Chriping Noise from Timing Belt Area on Cold Start... What to do?

[realex]

Hi all,

My GF's 2007 A4 has this loud chirping noise after you start the engine and it is cold. It goes away after a few minutes. It sounds exactly like this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8SZUt74CAo. The car only has 41k miles on it and it started doing it a few months ago. We took it to a local shop that specializes in VW and Audi and they ended up washing out the area of the timing belt. The noise went away completely for about 6 weeks but just came back again. I have been reading different threads on this but I was not able to find a definite reason for this noise. Many have brought up that it could be the timing belt tenisoner but what can be done without having to do the whole timing belt job? This should not have to be done at 41k miles. How serious of an issue is this and what can be done to fix it? Can a tensioner be replaced without the whole timing belt change? Thanks in advance for your thought.

Alex

[yeoj112689]

The timing belt is not supposed to be replaced until around 110k miles according to audi.

That being said, it does not mean it may not be the issue. Read these..

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=chirping+belt
and
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=chirping+belt
and
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=chirping+belt
and
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=chirping+belt
and
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=chirping+belt
and
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=chirping+belt
and
About 400 other threads... if you do not search people will flame the shit out of you. Just a heads up.

[realex]

Thanks for the quick reply. But that is my point, I did search these threads before and no one seems to have a definite answer to why this noise happens. Some have even mentioned that they replaced the TB tensioner and it still came back so before I spend in excess of a $1000 to get this fixed, I just want to get some info on anyone who has had this issue and got it fixed maybe without doing the full TB job or find out if this is even a serious issue that needs to be fixed. I know a TB problem can ruin the engine but some said they have driven it like this for years without any issues.

[yeoj112689]

Well I can understand why that could be a scary thing, my old car (dodge stealth) had its timing belt break and it destroyed my engine. Causes the pistons and valves to be out of time which in turn causes them to collide and destroy each other and the bores which pretty much means a complete engine rebuild if possible, if not replacement.

I am not sure if these engines are interference engines but I would assume so.

I had to say it but most likely when 100 other people have the same noise as you with the same symptoms then most likely its the same thing. I read most people say it has to due with a belt. If its the timing or accessory seems to be up for debate but there is one thing you can do the find out. Take off the accessory belt and start it up. Sure it will not run with the proper items but if it still makes the noise you can see that its not the accessory belt.

If it is in fact the timing belt tensioner (like many people believe it maybe according to the search I did) then some people just live with it, but in my opinion its cheaper to spend the money to either get it fixed or fix it yourself because it ends up being something major and you let it get the breaking point, most likely it will cost your 5 times as much as it would to get it fixed now.

You said the car only has 41k miles. Check with audi to see if your extended warranties have been replaced (free fixes for the shit they messed up) and when its in there mention the chirp. Maybe able to get a free diagnosis of it!

[LJO]

Serpentine belt?

[yeoj112689]

Serpentine belt?

Accessory belt = serpentine belt

[AJacksA4]

Hey thats my video!

I actually had the problem fixed last week by the stealership. After replacing the serpentine belt/tensioner pulley, the sound didn't go away. Only disappeared once engine warmed up. I thought it must be timing belt related and rather than pulling the front clip, draining coolant and all that fun stuff I took it in under CPO.

A quote from the service invoice:

"Verified Concern. Removed upper timing cover and found rear cover rubbing on pulley. Need to start with cover and recheck operation."

"Removed cam sprocket and lower timing cover to remove and replace inner timing cover. No more squeaking heard after cover replacement."

So it sounds like my issue was timing cover related??? My car's been quiet ever since and the problem is fixed. If yours sounds like mine then I'd look into the timing cover as well.

[yeoj112689]

Hey thats my video!

I actually had the problem fixed last week by the stealership. After replacing the serpentine belt/tensioner pulley, the sound didn't go away. Only disappeared once engine warmed up. I thought it must be timing belt related and rather than pulling the front clip, draining coolant and all that fun stuff I took it in under CPO.

A quote from the service invoice:

"Verified Concern. Removed upper timing cover and found rear cover rubbing on pulley. Need to start with cover and recheck operation."

"Removed cam sprocket and lower timing cover to remove and replace inner timing cover. No more squeaking heard after cover replacement."

So it sounds like my issue was timing cover related??? My car's been quiet ever since and the problem is fixed. If yours sounds like mine then I'd look into the timing cover as well.

At least it sounds like it could be an easy fix! Pull the cover and see what happens! Easy and free!

[CVTwhatadumidea]

I have this exact issue myself. Is there a diy on removing this cover?

[yeoj112689]

I have this exact issue myself. Is there a diy on removing this cover?

This is a TUT for the timing belt change, I am sure you could avoid alot of the work stated.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=timing%20belt

[camyz125]

Mine does it too. 2007 6mt with 60k.

If you have to remove the cam sprocket to get to this inner cover, I doubt its an easy fix??

[camyz125]

Looks like you have to remove the front clip and everything to access it, so might as well do the whole timing belt job while we're in there. I wonder if this results in excessive wear to the timing belt, possibly causing premature failures??

[your daddy]

pretty sure it is the belt itself. not the cover. the new ones a new material. when they washed it the residue was washed. mine did it until i did the timing belt.

[AJacksA4]

The only parts they replaced were a the t-belt cover and a bolt. Unless they didn't state it on the invoice. I don't think the front clip was removed, I have a shit load of wiring for all my led's running to resistors and such and they were all untouched.

I was confused that it was the cover but hey, the sound is gone

[yeoj112689]

Belts do not squeak...

the pulleys are what makes the noise, they squeak until they heat up and expand.

As for the rubbing, not exactly sure why it does that but assuming it stops when warn for the same reason.

[camyz125]

Hmm. Really wish we knew what the ultimate cause was... It's a pretty weird noise to have.

[realex]

Just spoke with a mechanic who used to work for a dealership and opened up his own shop recently and he said that a service bulletin was issued on this problem and it has to do with the water pump. He said something about the seals being on too tight which causes the squeeky noise on startup. So maybe everyone who had success doing the TB change also had the water pump replaced which makes sense. Sounds like this issue is not that serious and is more aof an annoyance than something crucial that needs to be fixed right away... I'll still take it in to have him look at it.

[IISAINTS]

Realex- your pretty much hitting the nail on the head. Either the seals can make noise by being too tight or the seals can seep just enough coolant to cause noises in some cases. After working for Audi for two years I have seen and fixed a few cars with this issue. Typically you do the water pump with the TB anyways.

[bryonm]

its an absolute horrible noise to have until it all warms up. same thing with my car, had it all checked out everything looked fine as in tensioner and the belt. good thing i read this thread

[rongeur]

I have had the chirp noise from the timing belt area some 45k mi, now at 80k mi and has not changed. Predictably there on start and gone once warm. It is likely a roller or pump as said above. Probably from accumulation of fine dust in a roller bearing. I have lived with it with no problem and plan to do the TB change soon which I predict will solve the problem, at least for a bit...

Take the two Tork screws out from the upper timing belt cover and it will slip out with gently upward pressure, make sure belt is in good shape, you can blast out with some air and try to locate which component is causing the sound.

Honestly, it is common to this model and not an indicator for failure in majority of the cases.

[CVTwhatadumidea]

I have had the chirp noise from the timing belt area some 45k mi, now at 80k mi and has not changed. Predictably there on start and gone once warm. It is likely a roller or pump as said above. Probably from accumulation of fine dust in a roller bearing. I have lived with it with no problem and plan to do the TB change soon which I predict will solve the problem, at least for a bit...

Take the two Tork screws out from the upper timing belt cover and it will slip out with gently upward pressure, make sure belt is in good shape, you can blast out with some air and try to locate which component is causing the sound.

Honestly, it is common to this model and not an indicator for failure in majority of the cases.

Has doing this gotten rid of the noise for you... I mean your reference to removing the cover and blowing out it with air?

[rongeur]

Has doing this gotten rid of the noise for you... I mean your reference to removing the cover and blowing out it with air?

I believe that suggestion came from someone at a meet up, he said it was normal and just needed a blast from an air compressor. I compressor less but I have taken my upper cover off when installing my drakes VC to inspect and there is quite a bite of fine dust in there, belt is in great shape though

[fly300kts]

Visual inspection of the timing belt once the top cover is removed won't tell you if the belt is in good shape or not.
Timing belts don't wear like any other belt

Phil

[jiggysmb]

I have this problem every 30-40,000, it ended up being the tensioner the last 2 times. I just let the dealer do it since they were doing warranty work already but I think it was around $200 to replace.

[4rings5stars]

Just an FYI, if you're going in to replace on TB related part, just replace them all. Not worth the potential headaches down the road.

[Cherub]

Same issue for a while. Getting ready for an upgrade anyway, so not stressing here

[AJacksA4]

Well I said earlier that the dealership replaced the timing cover and the noise went away. That was true, but only for 2 days. The noise came back loud as ever and I set up an appt with the dealership again. They replaced the timing belt relay roller and the noise is gone again. I also got my $85 CPO fee back from the first time so it was a win-win for me. Just hoping this is the fix and the sound wont come back.

[Acme]

I had this last winter (to a point where it was doing it all the time, cold or not), got the TB replaced at the dealer (with all related items), and the chirping sound is gone. But yeah, the sound isn't coming from the belt itself, it's probably a pulley or tensioner. The tech didn't know (of course). I had to replace the TB anyway...

[rongeur]

Well I said earlier that the dealership replaced the timing cover and the noise went away. That was true, but only for 2 days. The noise came back loud as ever and I set up an appt with the dealership again. They replaced the timing belt relay roller and the noise is gone again. I also got my $85 CPO fee back from the first time so it was a win-win for me. Just hoping this is the fix and the sound wont come back.

CPO covered at TB replacement for you? I wonder if i would have similar luck?

[AJacksA4]

CPO covered at TB replacement for you? I wonder if i would have similar luck?

I think they just replaced the TB roller, but yeah I believe CPO covers the belts. I'd say its definitely worth asking


On a side note I passed by someone starting up their B7 this morning and heard their car chirping lol. Seems like a pretty common issue.

[Acme]

CPO doesn't cover belts. I checked and asked (here and at the dealer). How the hell did you get them to do that under CPO????

[AJacksA4]

CPO doesn't cover belts. I checked and asked (here and at the dealer). How the hell did you get them to do that under CPO????

Really? If I remember correctly my service rep told me belts/pulleys are covered. Turned out to be a roller so they covered it. Maybe my dealer just likes me???

[Acme]

Really? If I remember correctly my service rep told me belts/pulleys are covered. Turned out to be a roller so they covered it. Maybe my dealer just likes me???

Belts are wear and tear... As I said, I asked my dealer, did some research, and asked here and was told by a member who happens to be working at a dealer that it isn't covered. Rollers are covered. If they only replaced that part, it makes sense.

[rongeur]

Eh, at 81k i have to do the whole belt job, replacing one roller would be a waste of time.

[PNW Avant]

My timing belt was replaced by the dealer at 42k under warranty because of this noise.

[AJacksA4]

^^^ Lucky guy

Belts are wear and tear... As I said, I asked my dealer, did some research, and asked here and was told by a member who happens to be working at a dealer that it isn't covered. Rollers are covered. If they only replaced that part, it makes sense.

Makes sense. My rep may have made a mistake saying belts are covered, but yes, they replaced just the roller. At 43k my timing belt should be good to go for a while.