Audi A4 2.0 TDi irregular chattering and coolant loss

[robinbanks]

Hi all

Wonder if I could get some opinions on this:

IMG_1545

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Yesterday, would start, but then engine shut down immediately after starting. Bit of throttle when starting and it fired up and stayed running

Glow plug light blinking but seems erratic; if the car is still it flashes on off on off about every half a second, but going over bumps/g forces cause it to extinguish for slightly longer or flick on and off like some loose connection is starting/stopping the regular flashing

Coolant seems to be leaking from the front of engine/ timing belt cover, maybe a litre a week but this car is less often used

There is an irregular chattering noise audible over the engine note, that sounds like when a bearing is worn

Water pump bearing/seal knackered? If so perhaps best not to run the engine til it’s replaced? Not sure when the belt was last done

Couldn’t tell if the wisps on the video are steam or smoke, btw

 

[Belle427]

Be careful as the timing belt may have or could jump a tooth if the pump is shot. Water pump leaks are very common.

 

[Mottie]

As above, sounds like water pump. Also worth checking the clutch on the alternator pulley.

 

[robinbanks]

I didn’t have time to do it so put it into a friendly local garage

Guy there took a quick look and said “hmm, water pump pulley looks a bit of an angle.. leave it with us”

When I picked it up he said “bloody hell, it was a good job you towed it down; I reckon the impeller was just about the only thing keeping that in place. I cleared the codes because there was a ‘crank and cam position sensors disagree’ - timing was 2 teeth out”

So, yeah, lucky escape here I think; that engine probably wasn’t far off trashing its valves..

Thick end of 600 quid later..

Looks like the F Type R purchase will have to wait a few more years

 

[Belle427]

Was it a full cam belt and pump change for that money?

 

[robinbanks]

Yeah, I wasn’t about to get into just changing the pump, though the belt looked fine (I’ve bought cars before now with an unknown history and ended up changing a timing belt that looked like an alligator’s back.. this one looked practically new; I think it’s only done about 30k since it was done, but wasn’t my ownership)..

Buut, you can’t really tell by looking, and in any case if the bearings in the pump pulley have collapsed after such a short space of time, perhaps the kit used then wasn’t so great, or perhaps some components weren’t changed..

Better to get it all swapped at the same time and then you haven’t got any unknowns, plus any subsequent problems are on the garage, no arguing about “well, you told us to only change this but but it’s that other bit that wrecked this bit and ruined your engine, not our problem”.. Go with their recommendation if you want their warranty?!

Price included all the ancillaries and the diagnostics/reset (that are always a bit money for old rope, 70 quid for connecting a connector and pushing a button, but cheaper than my time buying a dongle and faffing around setting it up) for the position sensor codes and another one/a bracket about swirl flap positioning

Rival garage quoted a hundred less for the belt change, so seems about on the money, plus these guys sponsor my kid’s football team so in indirect way of contributing to his hobby too I reckon