I purchased a 2003 A4 3.0L quattro with 74,000 miles on it about a month ago. The car seemed to have been taken care of and all maintenance has been kept up with and done at the dealer and all recalls were taken care of. No later than a week of having the car though I've noticed several issues (maybe I'm just paranoid). I've searched and searched other posts with similar topics but most dealt with the 1.8 so I thought I'd start my own thread.

First off, the first cold day after buying the car it started making a loud whining/whirring noise especially when breaking and turning, it's really bad when pulling into a parking spot and pulling up to stop light. I checked my power steering fluid and it had bubbles in it. I've since taken it to the dealer who topped the fluid off and said they couldn't find anything wrong. Noise still persists but doesn't happen all of the time. Power steering doesn't seem to make all the much noise when at a stop, only when I lock the wheel will it makes some noise. Serpentine belt looks brand new. I've seen there have been a couple of technical bulletins on the brakes at low speeds for this car, don't know if that could be the cause for the noise but it does seem to kind of drag if I'm slowing down and take my foot off the accelerate (may be normal though due to weight of the car I don't know).

Second, I've noticed a bit of rough idling when in gear and in park. If I'm at a stop light and put in neutral it completely goes away. I checked and all 6 ignition coils were replaced at 70,000 miles so I wouldn't think that's the problem, also I'm getting no codes, no check engine light. I've read that it could be the snub mount or engine mounts? If it were either of those would putting it neutral stop the rough idle?

Third, I've noticed two blue puddles where I park my car both towards the front by the front wheels. I know my headlamp washers don't work but I've never tried spraying any fluid while sitting in my parking spot. My first reaction was brake fluid since I was already concerned about the brakes which I checked the resovoir and it looks completely empty yet I'm not getting any lights telling me it's low. When is the best time to check the brake fluid and what color is it?

Overall the car just seems noisy, I'm going from a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue which was fairly noise but that's to be expected given it's age. I get noises when starting as well that goes away after 10-15 seconds or so. I also got my oil changed and after 1000 miles it was already almost a quart low, should it burn oil that quick? It's not leaking that I can tell and the when I got it changed the tech said everything looked great under the car.

I love the car and I'm really hoping it doesn't turn into a money pit but I'm having more problems out of it then my Oldsmobile that I fully neglected, I'm talking 7,000 miles between oil changes with non-synthetic and overall treating it like crap. Sorry for the book but I'm new to Audi and I don't want to have to get rid of the car!

 

Couple of updates.....

I took a closer look at the spots on my driveway, they actually match up perfectly with the wheels and I guess it's just dirt, it just looks blue and first glance on the pavement. Other than that there is not a drop of anything else and it's parked there about 12 hours a day.

Also, I left out on the rough idle that it only does it at about 1000 RPM's and under, when you first start the car it sits at about 1200-1300 and runs smooth. After about 5-6 seconds when the idle slows down is when the vibration starts.

 

maybe a vac leak. and the blue liquid might be a leak in ur hose to ur front washers. The squeal might be ur ps pump going bad. U also might want to check what brand coilpacks they replaced ur car with cuz coils have a tendancy to go bad in audis and if they arent replaced wtih the right coil the problem will continue to occur.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure what brand was used, it was done at the dealer though so I'd hope they would use the right brand. On the power steering it only seems to do it when its 50 or colder or out, today was nice and I didn't notice any noise, the rough idle happens cold or hot.