reid01

My brand new A4 1.8T Q has 1100 miles on it. After about 100 miles I noticed that sharp turns and parking lot maneuvers at low speeds (under 15mph) produce an unnaturally loud noise that comes from the front of the car. I am aware that since the car has all-wheel drive, it may not be as quiet or smooth when attempting low-speed turns as a comparable FWD or RWD car, but the noise is not befitting of a brand new $30,000 car (all-wheel drive or not!). Can anyone provide me with some insight as to some possibilities of what this is? Thanks!

user 7208203

do you have your steering wheel turned all the way to one side? If so, that would be the power steering pump straining...fyi...holding the wheel in that strained position for more than a few seconds is bad. (mentioned in the manual)

It might also be a poorly lubricated CV joint. (somebody else had this issue). If this is the case, you will only hear it while rolling. (the steering noise can be made while not rolling.

Hope you can narrow it down.

Projekt 8E

Don't hold it all they way to one side. He was going on his 3rd pump BTW!!

reid01

If I make a sharp turn at low speeds in neutral or with the clutch held in everything is silent, but whenever I start giving it some gas it starts making the noise. Also, it is not from holding the steering all the way to the left or right. My car's problem happens when wheel is not locked either way, it has something to do with whenever the engine power is being applied to the front wheels (it is a quattro, though).

woofpup

I've noticed it once or twice in my 3.0 but only when giving gas hard from a stop with the wheels already turned (i.e. punching it after waiting to make a left turn). It's sort of a groan that I was told on here is normal for quattro cars in that situation.

Yours is continuous through the turn though and in slow manuevers?

reid01

Maybe you had the same noise, maybe not. All I know is that my noise comes regardless of the amount of throttle--it could be 10%, 50% or 100%. Since it doesn't happen with the clutch engaged or in neutral, I am guessing that it has something to do with whatever it is that brings power to the front wheels.

KR's A4

Get the same noise, I think. I wouldn't worry. Blame it on quattro, big tires, even a/c compressor.

Coralaudi

I started having a similar sound (not quite a grinding) about the time I took mine (2002 A4) in for one year service. I was told that sometimes their fluid is not filled quite as high as it should when manufactured. I haven't had the sound since (I assumed they'd topped off).