Ticking / clicking / pinging? 2013 Q5.

[macvin]

Hi everyone,

I have a 2013 Q5 2.0T (metal intake manifold), with roughly 75,000 miles on it.

I am getting a ticking / pinging noise on acceleration with WOT. It's particularly noticeable when I'm driving next to a wall or structure and the sound reflects back to me. It sounds like a consistent ticking that is timed with one of the cylinders, almost as if I have a single injector that's considerably louder than the rest? That's what it sounds like anyway, but I'm not convinced that's it. I can't really hear the noise at idle or below half throttle, but it's present at WOT under harder acceleration. The engine doesn't seem to be behaving poorly or anything, and no CEL or engine codes are present. I haven't been able to replicate it while in neutral because I don't think I generate enough load on the engine.

Took it to the dealership today. Had the head of the service dept sit in my car and I replicated the noise for him. He said it was definitely coming from the drivers side, but he wasn't sure what it could be. He told me it'd be $198 for them to diagnose the problem for me, but said it's probably not worth having him investigate it because his first thought is that a spark plug is on its way out and that'd probably be what they'd do first anyway. His suggestion was that I replace those on my own ($15/pop for OEM plugs, easy job) and if it persists to bring it back into the dealership for further diagnostic.

A few things:

• I recently replaced my PCV valve and only noticed this after, but I don't think this is related to that... just coincidental, and perhaps present before and I didn't notice.
• I am using exclusively 91+ octane fuel, have changed my fuel multiple times from multiple sources to prove to myself it wasn't as a result of octane.
• I have just changed my oil to 5w-40 LiquiMoly molygen and it's still doing it. So it's not that.
• Sound only occurs in response to the throttle. No noise is present when coasting the vehicle.
• Used OBDII & VAGCOM reader - no engine related codes at all (just one minor code related to my air conditioning/heater).

I'm starting to think it could just be noise from the '5th injector' on the intake manifold... could that be it? To me it sounds just like an injector but considerably louder. The fifth injector is also on the drivers side of the vehicle so this would make logical sense.

Here are a couple videos of the sound (shoddy camera work, but turn your volume up and you'll hear the tick):

https://streamable.com/yylli

https://streamable.com/q8p95

Do you guys have any ideas what it could be? This is driving me crazy.

[kellin]

Almost sounds like an exhaust leak...

Could also be the PCV...did you over-torque it?

[kellin]

Also, don’t throw parts at it, at the dealership. Replace your plugs if it’s been a while since you last did it, and then take it to a good Audi Indy shop.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[macvin]

Thanks for the reply!

My initial thought was exhaust leak, but it's coming from the drivers side specifically. If it was an exhaust link I would think it would be more audible from the passengers side since that's the side with the exhaust manifold and turbo.


You know what, it totally could be the PCV valve. That would actually make a lot of sense. Did I overtorque it? I didn't think so, but perhaps? How would that lead to clicking? The bolts merely hold the valve housing to the block, my thought is that they shouldn't have an effect on the operation of the valve.

[SQive]

Occam's Razor

[macvin]

Occam's Razor

Sure, in which case the PCV makes a lot of sense. But I guess I'm also trying to understand the operating mode that would lead a brand new OEM PCV to cause this noise.. and how it might be fixed.

[macvin]

Alright, I figured it out.

It was the new PCV valve. Turns out, I ordered it off Amazon and despite it being marked as a "genuine VW Audi OEM component" on the Amazon store, it was not. I've replaced it with one made by Vaico from ECS Tuning and it works perfectly now. No ticking or clicking.**

[kellin]

Alright, I figured it out.

It was the new PCV valve. Turns out, I ordered it off Amazon and despite it being marked as a "genuine VW Audi OEM component" on the Amazon store, it was not. I've replaced it with one made by Vaico from ECS Tuning and it works perfectly now. No ticking or clicking.**

BOOM

[macvin]

Welp. I was wrong. It's not gone, noise is still there.

I thought it was gone but that's perhaps because it might have become slightly quieter? I don't know... it's still there.

I guess the next thing to do is to change the plugs...

[macvin]

Welp. I was wrong. It's not gone, noise is still there.

I thought it was gone but that's perhaps because it might have become slightly quieter? I don't know... it's still there.

I guess the next thing to do is to change the plugs...

Anyone think this could be related to the CV joint? I suspect it is...

...and if so, inner/outer? And where should I get a replacement for a good price?

[avimore]

Can't help you with a solution, but my Q5 started doing the same thing and it's driving me crazy. 2016 Q5 2.0T with roughly 35,000 km's. It had a 2-year service done a few months ago and it's completely stock apart from upgraded wheels and tires.

I've taken it to the dealership but I haven't been able to replicate the sound so they can't really do much. It doesn't happen all the time, but like yours, it only occurs in response to the throttle and I only notice it while driving near a place where the sound bounces back to me.

I'll update this thread if I happen to find a solution.

Good luck.

[vocabsr]

Hi, Did you figure out what the noise was yet? Thanks.