Hey guys, so i recently got an 1998 Audi a4 2.8l with a replacement engine. The car was running fine until just a few days ago. Since then the car doesn't sound or pull like how it did when i just bought it. To what i'm aware of, the computer for the car hasn't been set (can i set this with the vag-com?) and my gas value needs to be replaced. I also believe my timing belt hasn't been replaced and is off on its timing. Below are links to videos of how my car looks and sounds when i cold start it. Please give me advice on what i should do to fix my problems.

My car has an 84 thousand miles (replacement engine) and 133 thousand original miles. I hope everyone has broadband connection. Please excuse my language in the video...

Cold Start ; Please allow the videos a few minutes to load.
http://www.computersharp.com/nickt/DSCN4732.MOV : 100 megs : original File
http://www.computersharp.com/nickt/DSCN4732.wmv : 32 megs

20 megs, 1 to 2 minutes later this is how the car sounds
http://www.computersharp.com/nickt/DSCN4733.MOV : 30 megs : original
http://www.computersharp.com/nickt/DSCN4733.wmv : 8 megs

30 megs, After 5 Minute
http://www.computersharp.com/nickt/DSCN4734.MOV : 30 megs : original
http://www.computersharp.com/nickt/DSCN4734.wmv : 9 megs

60 megs, After 8 Minute: car is now being reved up... The smoke that comes out of the car is very thin white smoke... It was hard to capture with the camera
http://www.computersharp.com/nickt/DSCN4736.MOV : 60 megs : original
http://www.computersharp.com/nickt/DSCN4736.wmv : 27 megs

 

been set? get the codes pulled and poast them here. could be a blown head gasket...but i doubt it...

hgow many miles are on it and have you ever had the timeing belt replaced? when you drive it, does it drive normally or does it drive like ****?

could be burning oil. find someone that knows what that smells like and see if they recognise it.

you may have an oil leak.

 

When i went to the company that put in the replacement engine into my car, they told me that they didn't set the computer in the car to sync with the engine because they didn't have the equipement to do it. All i know for sure is that, when i bought the car it was running like a dream for like a week, now its a nightmare. The car itself runs, it just sounds really shitty and it doesn't pull anymore. As for the timing belt, i have not gotten it replaced nor do i believe the dealer has replaced it. The car's replacement engine is 84 thousand miles and the car has 133 thousand origional miles.

It will take me a few days to recieve the vag-com, until then is there any other way for me to check whats wrong with my car? I will get someone to check the oil engine smell this weekend.

Thanks,
Nick

 

The ECU is easily reset by pulling ther neg battery cable off the terminal for 5 minutes.

It will take about 40 miles to completely reset.

If any codes come back, you def. want to scan it and fix it before driving it.

I looked at the first video, the bad noises (kind of hard to hear, but....) sound like the timing is off. that means you probably have a broken tensioner, or belt missing teeth.

just a guess, mine sounded bad like that when the tensioner broke, but mine was a 1.8.

 

Is it safe to buy a timing belt kit off ebay? Is the one below ok?

Ebay Link

With my car making smoke and the weird noises around the engine, u guys don't think its anything too serious????

 

The sound sounds like a bad cam tensioner or a stuck lifter. The area you pointed to is where the camshaft adjuster is on that bank. The spots where you were pointing to smoke was in the area of the camshaft adjusters. Those seals tend to leak quite often. You may want to pull some of the covers off and see if you can see oil leaking out. Also try to isolate the noise with an automotive stethascope.

 

Also i forgot to metion. I heard a rattle when you started it. That was most definatly the sound of a camshaft adjuster.

 

would it be a difficult diy job to replace the camshelf adjuster?

 

Where did you get the used engine. Usually shops or salvage yards have some sort of warranty on the salvage parts (eg 30 days or 3 months). Check the paperwork.

Next, try to find where the smoke is coming from. Could be as simple as some oil spilled on the exhaust manifold, or could be bad gasket at the exhaust manifold, or even a blown head gasket.

Get a vagcom and check for engine codes and post them here.

 

Yes they do have a 30day warrenty on my engine. The dealer (supercars unlimited in east brunswick nj) bought the engine from AAA Management Inc. in monreo NJ and got it installed at GC auto in east brunswick, nj. I went to all 3 companies 3 days ago to bug the crap out of them to replace stuff that was wrong with my car but they all just pointed fingers at one another, blaming each other for a mess up that they weren't resonable for. I believe thats like a way for them to limit their liabilities... SO what do u guys think i shoudl do?

I should be receiving my vag-com sometime this week. I will post codes as soon as i get it!