Checking Stuff Before I Buy
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1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6
Checking Stuff Before I Buy
So before I buy an A4 tomorrow. What should I check first. I've heard checking for oil sludge, that the timing belt has been change, and something about a cracked cv boot or something. Can anyone give me any ideas on how to check for these things? Is there anything else I should check? Should I beware of some sound or the way it drives when i test drive it? Thanks for your help guys.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 470
RE: Checking Stuff Before I Buy
ORIGINAL: bentframe
make sure the suspension is good....worn control arms will squeak, tie rod ends will clunk when you hit bumps, cv joints will click during low speed turns (if you're on the gas), open up the oil cap to look for signs of oil sludge (this is especially important with the 1.8Ts)...do the same for the power steering fluid, as well as the coolant. sometimes people top them off or refill them with regular fluids and that can cause big problems including sludge issues....test the cruise control, the switches are known to fail (typically it's an easy fix, a good way to knock a few bucks off the price ). make sure the sunroof is fully functional as well as windows (check each door's switch individually)..listen on the freeway for a humming/grinding sound for failing wheel bearings..oh, and leave the radio OFF during the test drive, test the speakers before or after driving....also consider the mileage on the timing belt, they need to be done every 60-90k miles....search the forums, there are TONS of threads on all this stuff...
make sure the suspension is good....worn control arms will squeak, tie rod ends will clunk when you hit bumps, cv joints will click during low speed turns (if you're on the gas), open up the oil cap to look for signs of oil sludge (this is especially important with the 1.8Ts)...do the same for the power steering fluid, as well as the coolant. sometimes people top them off or refill them with regular fluids and that can cause big problems including sludge issues....test the cruise control, the switches are known to fail (typically it's an easy fix, a good way to knock a few bucks off the price ). make sure the sunroof is fully functional as well as windows (check each door's switch individually)..listen on the freeway for a humming/grinding sound for failing wheel bearings..oh, and leave the radio OFF during the test drive, test the speakers before or after driving....also consider the mileage on the timing belt, they need to be done every 60-90k miles....search the forums, there are TONS of threads on all this stuff...
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6
RE: Checking Stuff Before I Buy
haha. Yeah thanks for your help so far. I guess it would have helped to put what I'm buying. It's a 1999 A4 1.8T Quattro. It's got 90k on it. I'll get it for $8000. It's in perfect condition. Is this a good deal??? Any other hints on what to check on? Heard ALOT about faulty timing belt...
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,354
RE: Checking Stuff Before I Buy
Take it to an independent VW/Audi mechanic and pay him to check the car.
If you don't know what you are looking at, you are only fooling yourself by checking it yourself.
Get receipt for a timing belt change if he says he did it. otherwise you are looking at 600 to 1000 to replace it ASAP before the car explodes.
If you don't know what you are looking at, you are only fooling yourself by checking it yourself.
Get receipt for a timing belt change if he says he did it. otherwise you are looking at 600 to 1000 to replace it ASAP before the car explodes.
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