zerosimple27

Ok so tomorrow I am more then likely buying a 2002 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro with sports and winter packages included. First of all I have heard the infamous fact that Audi is very expensive to upkeep and have a set of notorious problems that each year car is susceptible to having. I was just wondering if anyone would be so kind as to let me know what I should be on the lookout for when viewing this car. The car got a new timing belt and water pump 30,000 miles ago and the car is at 114,xxx miles. Also it has an automatic transmission. So just let me know guys, and thanks for the help.

MaxD

Well, there are many better informed folks than me here, but the frequently mentioned concerns seem to be:

• Timing Belt/Water Pump (because failure is catastrophic)
• Control Arms (might be concern at mileage you're describing)
• Sensors: ECT, CTS, MAF, O2
• Diverter Valve, N75 Valve
• Ignition Coils (almost certainly already replaced in car you're buying, but...)
• Coolant Flange (cracks, leaks)
• Sludge (causes litany of long-term problems, and is pretty common in cars of your vintage)
• Solenoids (doors, locking system seem to go bad)

I would say definitely check for sludge, at minimum under oil fill cap (valve train) or better still remove Valve Cover and look at whole train, mechanic with fiber optic camera might be able to get you definitive info.

Fortunately, most of the things listed above are good DIY candidates.

Can you get your hands on full service records? Worth their weight in gold.

If I were buying today, here's what I'd do:

• Thorough leak check (oil, coolant: Run the car til it's good and warm, and look/smell for any leakage)
• Sludge check (the more thorough, the better)
• Locking/remote test
• Ignition coils condition/age
• Timing belt (loose? wear?)
• Multiple keys! (These keys are freaking ridiculous to replace, if they only have one key, knock $300 right off the price)
• Turbo boost check (stock should deliver about .8 bar)
• Turbo sound (watch out for the dentist drill of death sound)
• Check for uneven tire wear (especially front tires inside edge of tread)
• Service records careful review — If the original owner was following the prescribed 10,000 mile oil change with the original too small filter, they probably got sludge.
• Manual or Tiptronic? If Tiptronic, test in all modes
• Any smoke/fog/fumes from exhaust
• Brake condition
• Dash warning lights? (CEL, EPC, etc)
• VAGCOM - If you have or can get your hands on VACGOM cable and software, plug it in and see if the car is throwing any codes.

zerosimple27

Thanks for the reply, all the info is going to help me out alot, I looked at the car today but didnt check the tiptronic function or the coolant flange, but the coil packs were replaced, and everything else seemed in great shape on the car

ECS Tuning-Audi

Check this link out it has a TON of helpful information.

B6 A4 Wiki

Jason