Should I Buy?
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
Should I Buy?
Hey everybody, I'm new here. I'm looking at picking up a 2001 A4 Avant with just barely 70k miles on it. I just went to see it today, and everything looks great. Timing belt changed at 60k, turbo replaced ~1000 miles ago, oil looks good, no leaks anywhere. I only have a few concerns.
I've never driven either a turbo or AWD car before, so these issues may just be from my inexperience. I've been told to watch for turbo chatter. With the hood open both just after startup and after about a 15 minute drive, i can hear what sounds like a very very slight chit chit chit chit, possibly from the turbo I don't know. Again, I could barely hear it unless my head was right next to the engine.
On the AWD side, there was a mechanical feeling from the driving that I've not experienced before. Not really a grinding, not so rough as a grinding, but something somewhat similar yet smooth. It's hard to describe the feeling. Again, this may just be how the AWD feels, I've not driven one before. I do remember something similar in a friend's Forester, so this may be it.
Also, there was pretty significant oil in the exhaust pipes. The owner says that the turbo blew and was replaced about 1000 miles back, and that when the previous turbo blew, it released loads of oil into the exhaust. Would there still be oil in the exhaust after this? Does the exhaust/cat need to be replaced?
One more minor concern is the trip computer LCD; it's missing a lottt of pixels. What kind of cost is it for replacing this? Is it easy to do myself? I'm certain this is covered in many places on here, I just figured I'd ask just because.
If this helps any, here is the ad.
2001 AUDI A4 AVANTE STATION WAGON
• Style: Station Wagon
• Model: A4 Avante
• VIN: WAUKC68DX1A130778
• Mileage: 69523
• Owners: 1
• Transmission: 5-Speed Automatic
• Engine: 4 Cylinder, 1.8 L Turbo
• Exterior Color: Champagne
• Title: Clear
• Condition: Used. Few very minor body scratches and door-dings. Scratches on rear bumper. Good tires. Very good interior – no splits or tears.
Computer text display has some defective characters.
Comments: Used mainly by mom for groceries. This 1.8L turbo has nice power. Meticulously serviced with synthetic oil.
Features & Options
4-Wheel ABS
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Quatro All Wheel Drive
Electronic Stability Control
Aluminum Wheels
Good Tires
Power Steering
Power Windows
AC -- Climate Control
Rear Defrost
Leather Heated Seats
Lumbar Control
Am/Fm Stereo
Adjustable Steering Wheel
Alarm
Sunroof
Auxiliary PWR Outlet
CD & Cassette Player
Child Safety Locks
Power Door Locks
Cruise Control
Air Bags, Side And Side Head
Fold-Down Rear Seats
Intermittent Wipers
Front Reading Lamps
Illuminated Visor Mirrors
Power Side Mirrors
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
Trip Computer
Homelink Remote System
I've never driven either a turbo or AWD car before, so these issues may just be from my inexperience. I've been told to watch for turbo chatter. With the hood open both just after startup and after about a 15 minute drive, i can hear what sounds like a very very slight chit chit chit chit, possibly from the turbo I don't know. Again, I could barely hear it unless my head was right next to the engine.
On the AWD side, there was a mechanical feeling from the driving that I've not experienced before. Not really a grinding, not so rough as a grinding, but something somewhat similar yet smooth. It's hard to describe the feeling. Again, this may just be how the AWD feels, I've not driven one before. I do remember something similar in a friend's Forester, so this may be it.
Also, there was pretty significant oil in the exhaust pipes. The owner says that the turbo blew and was replaced about 1000 miles back, and that when the previous turbo blew, it released loads of oil into the exhaust. Would there still be oil in the exhaust after this? Does the exhaust/cat need to be replaced?
One more minor concern is the trip computer LCD; it's missing a lottt of pixels. What kind of cost is it for replacing this? Is it easy to do myself? I'm certain this is covered in many places on here, I just figured I'd ask just because.
If this helps any, here is the ad.
2001 AUDI A4 AVANTE STATION WAGON
• Style: Station Wagon
• Model: A4 Avante
• VIN: WAUKC68DX1A130778
• Mileage: 69523
• Owners: 1
• Transmission: 5-Speed Automatic
• Engine: 4 Cylinder, 1.8 L Turbo
• Exterior Color: Champagne
• Title: Clear
• Condition: Used. Few very minor body scratches and door-dings. Scratches on rear bumper. Good tires. Very good interior – no splits or tears.
Computer text display has some defective characters.
Comments: Used mainly by mom for groceries. This 1.8L turbo has nice power. Meticulously serviced with synthetic oil.
Features & Options
4-Wheel ABS
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Quatro All Wheel Drive
Electronic Stability Control
Aluminum Wheels
Good Tires
Power Steering
Power Windows
AC -- Climate Control
Rear Defrost
Leather Heated Seats
Lumbar Control
Am/Fm Stereo
Adjustable Steering Wheel
Alarm
Sunroof
Auxiliary PWR Outlet
CD & Cassette Player
Child Safety Locks
Power Door Locks
Cruise Control
Air Bags, Side And Side Head
Fold-Down Rear Seats
Intermittent Wipers
Front Reading Lamps
Illuminated Visor Mirrors
Power Side Mirrors
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
Trip Computer
Homelink Remote System
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 911
From: Saint Petersburg, FL
DUDE!! Me and my wife totally went and looked at that very same AVANT!!! I didn't drive it, but I'm sure the tick tick tick is possibly clutch chatter. We didn't like the color so much in person, so we didn't feel the need to drive it.
The pixel problem is very common, so expect to see it if you look for more audi's.
The pixel problem is very common, so expect to see it if you look for more audi's.
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
Clutch chatter? It's an auto...
Is this 'clutch chatter' a bad thing, anyway?
I wasn't sure about the color in theory, but I thought it looked quite nice in person. Really any other color would be preferable, but you go with what you can find, right?
Is this 'clutch chatter' a bad thing, anyway?
I wasn't sure about the color in theory, but I thought it looked quite nice in person. Really any other color would be preferable, but you go with what you can find, right?
Tech Slut
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,150
From: Jersey Shore
Im willing to bet that the ticking is the lifters, a very common thing for 1.8t's. I'd ask the guy if you can bring it to a mechanic to have it looked over. It'll cost you around 50 bucks and potentially could save your *** in the long run.
Thread Starter
|
Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
From the research I've done, the lifter noise is pretty loud and violent, like marbles in the engine. This is extremely quiet, and not nearly as fast as the videos of the problem I've seen. Again, I could barely hear it. Do you still think it's the lifters?
