Picked up a new/used 99 A4 today. While driving home in a "snow flurry" read=SNOWSTORM, the car started to exhibit bad behavior. At first it was pretty subtle, as it was windy like no other and I was getting pushed all over the road, but in retrospect, this behavior was happening. Anyway, my best description is: Cruising along at40 mph or so, first I would hear this strange grinding, rhythmic growl, then the car would do a pretty hard lurch to the right, then left, then the noise would get louder for a second, then the back end would go back and forth, like the car was shaking its ***. Now, in a snowstorm, on questionable tires, this was somewhat unnerving. When I got home Idid a quick visual, found nothing. Anyone else ever experienced this sort of behavior? Oh, and it did seem to go away once I got to dry pavement and could go 75 again

thanks!

travis

 

Does it have Quattro or is it FWD?

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Guess that would help....it is a Quattro.

 

Did a through visual today, didn't get to drive because I was blocked in, and found nothing out of the ordinary. Anyone got ideas?

t.

 

Was there any pulsing or change in the feel of the brake pedal when this noise happend? Is your ABS or BRAKE light on? Im thinking it is ABS module/ABS sensor related. Usually if the module is bad, youll get the abs and brake warning lights together and no abs functionality. If you have a bad abs sensor(s) then it would cause the abs to activate randomlyresulting in the grinding sort of noise and other symptomsyou describe.

 

The ABS light never came on, BUT the light for brake pads is on and has been since I got it. I knew it needed pads when I bought it, would that make a difference? I'm going out now that I have dry pavement and see if I can duplicate the problem or hear any odd noises. Hopefully not!

t.