Flask

Picture this; you are in a house on the first floor and someone is running a vacuum cleaner on the 2nd floor just above your head. ok ... familiar with that sound?

Now picture this; A4 1.8T going down an interstate about 70+MPH. I hear the sound of the vacuum cleaner on the second floor (although it's a little lower pitched). Is this the normal sound of the Turbo or Quattro? Not worried ... just curious.

First new Audi, if you couldn't tell...

RickM

Quattro doesn't create any noise that I'm aware of, and the turbo creates noise only during boost (and then it's not a "vacuum cleaner roar" as much as it is a sort of a whine). So if you're talking about a continuous low roar, it was probably neither of those things. The sound you describe would more likely be road noise. Was this by any chance on concrete pavement, rather than asphalt? Concrete is a typically lot noisier.
And if you have the sport package, that'll marginally increase that kind of noise.<p>Rick
99.5 A4 1.8TQMS silver/onyx
97 A6Q Wagon black/taupe

Double Half Cap

Does it sound like blowing over the top of an empty Coke bottle? I too have this problem on MY 2001 1.8T. Few Audiworlders who have taken the delivery of their A4's have similar observations. It's not just A4's. 2001 TT's share the same problem. Apparently this is due to a faulty valve and Audi has not made any announcement in terms of what it's doing to fix this problem. Depending on the dealer, most of them will not acknowledge this problem.

I share your pain....

What year is your car?

mpuzach

Do you hear the noise regardless of whether or not the sunroof is open? I've noticed that different speed / sunroof position combinations can produce some very strange and loud noises.<p>mpuzach
2000 A6 2.8Q Tip
Racing Green/Tungsten Gray
Conv Pkg/Cold Wthr/Xenons

audi49

With the AC on & at certain (higher I believe) rpms, there appears to be a resonance between the two cooling fans up front. This may be what you're hearing???

Tom

Flask

It's a 2001. Just took delivery on Saturday.

Don't get me wrong. The sound is not bothering me at all. I was just curious. My guess was that it was part of the Turbo. If it's happening to many 2001's maybe there was a change in the Turbo to give it the extra 20HP.

I really love this car!!!

I'll drink a coke tonight and let you know if it matches the sound 8-)

Flask

I think the turbo is the correct answer. It is not continuous sound and the "whine" is a pretty good description. I really don't think it's road noise.

I did tell the dealer about a noticable hesitation around 2200-2400 RPM in 1st gear (Tiptronic). It got better when I filled the tank for the first time.

I'll keep an eye on it and let you know what happens ...

Maybe the sound and hesitation are related...

EdP

ordered me a replacement. They have been recently redesigned.

Flask

That's a possibility as well. It is a low variable pitch whine.

Yesterday on the ride home, I decided to keep the radio and interior blower off and listened to the sounds (it was 92 degrees, so this was a real test for me).

The sound is more noticable when you are pushing the car hard. After turning the ignition off, I noticed a "winding down" sound - similar to a jet aircraft shutting down its engines. Is this a better clue?