Right, so I picked up a 1998.5 A4 2.8 quattro 5-speed a few weeks ago, couldn't drive it for about a week because of a shoulder injury from a crash, and since I have been able to drive it, I've only been able to drive it down the street (it can't be more than 2 miles each way) to work and back, so I know none of these problems are from something I've done. Buuut, since I'm still a sort of newbie when it comes to Audis and I'd like to get the car in full working order a) before the limited warranty runs out (not that I really expect to get any money out of it...). and b) before I take the car on any long distance road trips. I'm asking all those gurus out there to help me figure out what some of these parts might be, and how much they may cost to replace with oem/worth-while aftermarket parts.

OK, so the number 1 most obvious problem is the cars reluctance to start. Symptoms: Turn the key, the car will start to turn over but won't fire and after a second at most it just stops until you wiggle the key a bit and it starts after a few more seconds at the most. At first I thought it was the starter, but it doesn't seem to have any problem engaging and then starting once it's going to start. I now think it's either a dead or dying battery (if you turn the key to the 'accesories on' position without starting the car the voltmeter reads about 10v and when the car is running it reads an even 14v (which I assumed to mean that at least the alternator is working) or a messed up ignition switch.

The number 2 problem (the number 1 once you get the car started) is the horrendous whining sound the car makes. It took me all of three minutes to figure out that the power steering fluid was low. Very low. I started checking for leaks at the resevoir and it took me a-whole-nother 2 minutes to figure out that the smaller hose leading off the bottom of the res. was loose enough to pull off with one hand. I didn't really continue scouring those hoses much more because I figured that was a big enough leak to cause the drop that I saw.

Problem number 3: Oil leakage! Once I started driving the car I checked the oil level too and found it to not even reach the dip stick. Six full quarts of mobil1 and a new oil filter later the level was just a hair above max (before running the car at all) and 2 days later the level was just barely to the MIN level. A quick cursory check under the car showed oil all over the alternator and oil pan on the passenger side of the car. After looking around a little more I found a larger diameter hose just above the oil pan, oil filter and what I think is the oil pump on the drivers side of the car just below the engine that looked like it had bubbles all over it. It feels kinda squishy and spongy to the touch, and there is definetely oil coming out of it as my fingers were covered after touching it. I couldn't see where it was going to or coming from, buuuuuuuuuut.......

[align=left]Minor miscalculation: Problem number 4 While trying to figure out where the hose lead to I saw a silver box shaped peice with the Audi logo just above the hose and attached to the bottom drivers side of the engine with a fairly large rusty hole in it towards the bottom front corner of the box. I really need help trying to figure out what this part is, because I generally think of anything directly bolted to the engine as critical, and big rusty holes (about big enough for 2 or 3 figers to fit in) usually aren't healthy. It's the metal cover part over the exhaust manifold, and while there is a bit of rust I looked at a friend's car (99 A4 2.8) and it had the exact same oddly shaped hole... [shrug] That was the thing I was most worried about, so, yeah...
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And some less critical (read, things I hardly even care about) problems are that the cruise control doesn't work (yes, yes... I know.), and I just realised how long this thread is, so I'll stop there until the rest actually starts bothering me.)

So yeah, I'll try and take pictures of some of the hoses and parts that I can't identify tomorow when it's light outside, but any help you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated!

edit: I tried taking a picture of the alternator covered in oil, but it didn't really come out (too dark, i'll wait till morning), but it does definetely look like the oil was dripping down from above.

 

OK, I'm pretty sure the loose power steering hose is the res to pipe hose (it's 'straight', smaller in diameter than the other and has hose clamps/fittings down the length of it...), which would mean that it should be sucking, right? Which shouldn't result in leakage, right? Although that would explain the frothy bubbles in the res after running the car. Although it wouldn't explain what all the greasy fluid under the p/s res is... damnit

As for the oil leak, once again it was pretty dark, but is the oil cooler in the general area above the alternator, possibly more towards the driver's side?

 

Damn, I hope you got a real good deal on it, it sounds like a lemon, but.....

1. the first problem, reluctance to start, you pretty much called it, bad ignition switch (search)
2. PS hose is easy to fix, and make sure you use the right c11 fluid for it, its not normal power steering fluid, its a mineral based one.
3. Oil leaks, your just going to have to inspect closer and repair any leaks found.

Good luck!

 

power steering reservoir bubbles are due to the air getting into the oil and getting pulverized and forming a froth.. suggest you clear the leak first, for me also it happened and p/s oil was like black sludged frothy and whining sound fortunately i didnt have a leak

 

Meh, not really... But my parents wanted me to buy the more expensive one from a dealer because they thought it would be more reliable, so they chipped in a bunch.

I don't know if it's a lemon, I think it just needs some serious hose overhaulage...

Is there like a full silicon hose kit available that anybody knows of? I'm fairly certain that would fix like 89% of the problems

 

Well, most cars from a dealer come with a 30day or 60 day or 1000miles or whatever warranty.
I would take it back to the dealer before the warranty expires, and make them fix the problems. If they are not willing to fix them, tell them they can take their piece-of-shtt car back since they wont honor the warranty.
Honestly, these sound like failry serious issues that they should have repaired already. I would try that route first, and see if you have any luck. Especially if you paid top dollar for the car, it should be in top-dollar condition.

 

Yeah, I talked to a few shops today about bringing it in to have it checked out...

The dealer supposedly inspected the car with the sale, so my plan at the moment is to pay the $30 or whatever to have somebody look at it and if it wouldn't pass inspection I'll be calling the dealer and telling them that I'm filling a claim with the attorney generals office if they don't refund the money.

The car did come with a bit of a warranty, but it's with a company that has already been sued by countless amounts of people for just taking the money and never paying for anything that they supposedly insure. The only couple cars I looked at from dealers all had the same exact warranty, so i guess there's not much of a choice.... At least not in this area.

 

cruise is either the cc module or the switch on the column. I replaced the combo switch in my 98.5 when the headlights stopped working and the cruise control started working immediately. $140 from ecstuning.com

 

If the voltmeter reads 10V with a light load, not cranking and lights off, you need a new
battery.

 

Yeah, tested the battery and it's a tad on the low side... I'll probably replace it in the spring, but with a fully functional battery the car still did the weird stuttering, so I'm pretty sure it's the ignition switch. I'll see what they say once I get it to a shop.

I also got a chance to look around a little bit more and fiddle with some of the hoses, and it really just looks like it needs all new hoses and the leaking will stop. Above everything that had oil on it there was a hose that looked like it had bubbles on it and was either soft and spongy to the touch or was kind of gummy and sticky (depending on which it was. I don't know what each had in it, but I'm assuming most had either oil or coolant).

While the only hoses that seem messed up are the ones running oil (plus the one clamp on the p/s res), I think I'll do a stainless brake line kit, P/S hoses and I guess I'll just find some silicon hoses to replace all the hoses that are about to blow out jsut to be thorough. Could come out of this only a few hundred down...

Oh, and I got a friend to let me check under his 99 2.8l and while the part in question was slightly less rusty on his car, the same oddly shapped hole was there. I was also able to get a serial number off of his, and I'm pretty sure it's just a cover for the exhaust manifold and that the hole is supposed to be there. Really stange, though. Both holes were kind of shapped like Texas and on both pieces in both cars the only rust was around the holes.