How many folks have had these type of problems after 120K: Audi A4 1.8T 2001 (NJ)

1. Alternator failure (2nd one replace every 5 years)
2. MAF Sensor failure (2nd one replace every 5 years)
3. Oil Cooler failure (Oil in coolant)
4. Expansion Tank cracks (new tank added, but cap neck expanded and leaked, on 3rd)
5. Front driver side speaker foam cracked at seam.
6. Vacuum generator /Check Valve separated and leaked.
7. PVC hose totally fell apart.
8. Front headlight burned out
9 .Rear tail light burned out
10. Information center pixels not on
11. coffee cup holder cracked
12. Oil Breather tube totally falls apart.
13. Replaced all vacuum hoses due to the cloth ones falling apart.
14. Coil packs fail every 15-20k
15. Timing chain tensioner leaks (2nd round)
16. Rear coolant flange warps and leaks...converted to studs, a larger o-ring and permatex
17. Rear transmission seal leaks
18. Engine mounts wear out, to a point the down pipe cracks.
19. Down pipe at flex cracks.
20 Out tie rod ends fail.
21 inner tie rod failure driver side.
22. Blinker relay fails...

Overall it is great there is a forum for this car.....

 

Most of those sound pretty normal. When you buy replacement parts, do you typically go with OEM parts or aftermarket parts? Things like coolant flange are MUCH better when using an OEM part.

Not sure why your coil packs aren't lasting though. What plugs/gap are you running?

Can chain tensioner can leak if sealant and gaskets are not applied correctly or the surface wasn't clean enough prior to installation of new parts.

 

The pixelated LCD... failed vacuum and PCV lines and a busted speaker is something probably every B5 owner went through.

I am still baffled as to why the coilpack, MAF and alternator are getting changed every 2- 2 1/2 years.

Sometimes it pays to go cheap on parts but not on all parts.

 

Headlights and tail lights at 130,000? You call that a problem? And tie rod ends? How long do you think those will last? How long did it take you to do the vacuum hoses? 15 minutes and $5?

But the alternator...I'm like MetalMan, I wonder where you're getting your parts. I've seen lots of cheap rebuilt alternators fail quickly. But it's not a common B5 failure. My dear departed 96 A4 had 271,000 miles, and my current Hibby in my signature has 193,000 miles...original alternator in both of them.

 

Coilpack = Genuine Audi - right from the dealer....r there better out there?

MAF = Bosh

Alternator = 6 years...1st one audi = 6years, 2nd one=6years from local rebuilder, have 3rd one in...lets see in 5 years.

 

Mtroxel's right; the car's 12 years old; spread those repairs out and it's not that big of an issue in my opinion. But all those alternators going bad isn't normal, and like mtroxel, I've never done one thing to the alt in my '96 at 240K miles.

 

One other Item....what is the typical life of the shocks/struts around the car.. I think I am due....I do go in and out of NYC on a daily basis.

 

stop looking for something to fix. take the path. your suspension is the last thing to fix after all else is fine.

 

I live in Queens in NYC and with these roads you should be happy if a brand new set lasts you a good 30-50,000 miles.

 

With the alternator you have to question if the whole thing is failing or just the voltage regulator. The brushes in the regular can definitely wear out and I don't think there is anything unexpected about that. I'm assuming that the 271,000 mile car at least had the regulator replaced once or more?

Unfortunately it's not very easy at all to replace just the regulator without removing the alternator, although I saw one thread where someone claimed to do it. So you still have to take the damn thing out to fix it.

LCD problem is just a dumb thing in the B5 due to poor manufacturing. It's criminal that Audi didn't ever fess up to it and issue a recall.

I also had the blinker relay failure ... that is also just dumb, that should have never failed.