Hello,

I have just recently purchased a 2001 A6 2.7T and the car has been running great until tonight. Earlier on today I heard a sound like a dragging underneath the car. I pulled over and looked and did not see anything below the car abnormal. I then parked. Just a short while ago when taking off I heard the dragging noise once more for a second or two then a clunk and nothing. Now at mid rpms and occasionally at other times there is a metal rattling or clanging underneath the car, almost directly below the shifter. Now its somewhat steady with mid rpms while occasionally getting a bit louder over bumps. Its too late at night right now but Im thinking an exhaust related issue, my dad believes a drivetrain issue. Im wondering if an exhaust hanger may have fallen off and maybe causing the pipes to rattle against each other. Is this feasible? Anyone else ever had similar issues? Im hoping not but could this be drivetrain related at all?

Please help!!!

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I hope it's just your exhaust system, but I fear it sounds like (by your description) it is clutch/flywheel related.

mine has a rattle/grind type noise from under driver front. just picked up from dealer. had new torque converter installed. sounds like exhaust heat shield rattle. i am going back to dealer tomorrow.

From this last description, you may be right. I hope it's the heat shield. Fingers crossed.

[sm=smiley20.gif]

Hmm .. that is definitely something I will check. One thing we have now noticed is I have a clear thin fluid dripping off the bottomside of the car. I compared a sample of engine oil and the that was much darker so its not engine oil. Im starting to wonder gearbox and cringing. I did read that some of our trannies were sealed. Is this true on my 01?

Any ideas on quickchecks or troubleshooting?

I will try these tommorrow morning since it is too late now. Thank you promptly posting back to me! And thank you for the welcome!

PS I guess I should have noted that I have the automatic tranny ... sorry!

Ar eyou sure it's an oil drip. Could it be water?

Maybe because Id rather assume so but I think its more of a water consistency but it does smell like a fluid of some sort. And it is a bit slippery but smells nothing like the engine oil or antifreeze. Almost a sweet smell actually. Could this just be runoff from the undercarriage? I didnt have the heating/cooling system on long at all, would it still to this moment be running off? Would that be a normal thing?

Could be. That's why I asked.

Try putting a piece of white paper under the drip so you can get a clear picture of it's color and consistency. Water will eventually dry out; any oil will leave a greasy stain.

Yeah we did the paper trick and thats what I had just smelled so its definitely greasy. Not evaporating at all. Guess Im driving the Eclipse to work tommorrow AM and I'll check my poor new cars condition afterwards with some sunlight.

Thanks a bunch for all the help! I'll post my results tommorrow.

Peace!

Good luck!
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Ok I took the car to my closest Audi dealership and they found the "Right Outer CV Boot" and the "Propshaft Seal" both needing replaced. They said this was causing the bad leak.

They also could not replicate the rattle noise, so Im more than moderately scared about that. The cost of replacement wasnt too awfully high but high enough for me to call the original dealership I purchased the car from and let them know what I thought about it. So they are going to replace the CV boot and look into the Propshaft Seal issue free of cost.

Ive been without my new baby for more than 4 days and it feels like an eternity. I will update one final time when I know that everything is up to snuff in case anyone else ever has similar issues.

Thank you all for your help!

- D

If they can't seem to replicate the problem, then it probably isn't your tranny. Although I find it hard to believe that something, so prominent to you, cannot be discovered by the tech. Oh well... It may very well be part of the exhaust, as you suggested.

SOunds like the CV joint to me. You probably already had it fixed, but mine did the same thing....same description. I had to drive it with my mechanic in the car, with the drivers door ajar to get him to hear it. Noone but me could hear the damn thing. First two time I took it in, noone heard it. SO yeah, if you have not already fixed it, I would be pretty sure the CV replacement will fix the trouble.

Well the dealership I bought the car from supposedly replaced the entire axle but were unable to find the leak. The leak is still there and its almost every 10 secs it drips so I seriously fail to see how they could not find it. As far as the axle replacement ... I think they lied because the joint still grinds like hell when I really get on it. Needless to say the car is not going back to them for service and despite what every else has been telling me Im going to hang onto the car and just get it fixed at the Audi shop. This car in its exact shape, options, color and all around cleanliness was almost impossible for me to find. I had to drive 3 hours just to see it since there were none closer. So Im just going to pay and get it fixed since I love it so much!

I will make one last post just as soon as I know all is resolved but I thank you for all your guys help!

Also I would like to ensure that my car indeed has enough tranny fluid and would like to add if not. Is there a writeup or something on how to check the fluid and refill?

Peace!
D

Did they even take the time to check the Cat's? Sounds like what you are talking about. As for the "leak" could it be your a/c drain? That fluid at times, even though it's water, comes out semi-greasy ( not always ) just a thought. Seems that if it were a true leak, there would be signs where it's leaking from.. < shrug > I'd tell ya to come by, but you might be a ways away..

Steve

p.s. The Cats's have a 8/80 warranty...