p_gliddon Posted September 7, 2010 Report Share Posted September 7, 2010 Audi S3 1.8T common faults/ buying check list Hopefully it may be of use to have a list of common S3 faults in one place. Based on experience on my car that I’ve owned for 6 years and/or research through these forums. I've noticed a large number of these faults in the last couple of months hence I decided to write a list, feel free to add to it. Apologies for any inaccuracies in advance. Shocking how many common faults there are for an Audi… My car is an Audi s3 1999 8L, APY engine (pre facelift) 87k, 11 years old Part Common Fault Solution Age Mileage Window Clips Plastic clips that run up and down on regulator are prone to fatigue causing window to malfunction and not close. Replace with A6 metal clips 5 34k Waterpump Plastic impeller prone to failure causing overheating and damage to thermostat Replaced with metal pump, replace thermostat if overheating occurs 7.5 59k Concert Stereo volume EPROM memory is ‘write only’ memory which fills up every time volume is changed. When EPROM is full, every time volume is adjusted it will go silent or full volume Repaired by OE Electronics, Salisbury 7.7 62k Backup battery in Alarm Siren Siren battery stops holding charge which leads to car alarm going off. A sign is 3 beeps from the rear passenger side before siren continually sounds. Remove or replace alarm siren. Some have repaired this unit. 7.7 62k Heat shield for cat Bolts holding heat shield rust and break off causing a rattling exhaust noise Replace bolts 7.7 62k Front ARBs Plastic collars break off. These collars butt up to the mounting bush. Part from Audi has been updated. Replace entire ARB 8.7 73k Track rods ends and wishbone bushes Prone to wear out. Wishbone bushes crack. Replace part 8.7 73k Roof rail corrosion Sealant along weld line joining roof to quarter panel breaks down and allows water in and hence corrosion Respray both sides covered by warranty if less than 12 years old and not neglected 9.7 80k Brake Vacuum Hose Vacuum pipe connecting brake servo to inlet manifold uses a hard plastic which cracks at joints from heat cycling Replace part 10.7 86k Rear springs Rear springs corrode and then snap at the base Replace part 10.7 86k Diverter Valve Lumpy cold running and low boost problems. Test by removing, pushing diaphragm up then placing finger over vacuum tube on top. Diaphragm should stay put else needs replacing Replace with OEM P/N ending 710N 10.7 86k Brake light switch on pedal Prone to fail overtime. Throws a fault intermittent fault code and eventually brake lights stop working. Less common on facelift models Replace part 10.7 86k DIS dead pixels DIS pixels fail overtime 5 34k Glovebox lid hinges Hinges snap over time Replace glovebox lid. 9.7 80k MAF Rough running at idle, running rich, running lean, cold start problems, poor mpg Test 1 - Disconnect MAF and default MAF values will be used. Engine will run better if MAF is faulty. Test 2 - Log Block 002 using VAG COM. MAF values should be 0.8xengine BHP. Reset ECU with MAF changes Clean with electrical cleaner or replace MAF. Reset ECU. 10.8 87k Rear wash wipe Pump running but water not coming out of rear wash wipe Check jet is not blocked and then check pipe joins through the car by running pump and looking for leaks. Joint under the bonnet LH side tends to be first to come apart. 4 26k --------------------------------------------- Common Faults not yet had: Xenons pointing towards ground Sensors on nearside suspension front or rear can fail, or motors within headlight. If it’s the motor normally only one light is affected Replace sensor or headlight motor Rust along lower door trims Door panels rust behind lower trim Some have claimed on warranty Clutch pedal switch Causes car to over rev when the clutch pedal is depressed Replace switch Clutch pedal Plastic part of pedal prone to failure Coil Packs Early models used Hitachi coil packs and few failures. Hitachi packs replaced by bosch part which is prone to failure Replace part Venturi vacuum pump Can clog up with oil from the oil breather (this might only be on A3) Can be cleaned or replaced Breather / vacuum pipes Prone to failure overtime from heat cycling Replace affected pipe Clutch/ clutch slave cylinder & flywheel Clutch slave cylinders can fail, leaking fluid over clutch. Both slave cylinder and clutch require replacing if slave cylinder fails. If clutch goes maybe worth replacing slave cylinder at same time Thermostat Can fail with age or if waterpump impellers fail and engine overheats. Plastic impellers can travel round engine and get caught in thermostat preventing to open and close correctly. Temp gauge no longer sits bang on 90 deg. Coasting downhill tends to drop below 90. Replace part. Ensure battery is disconnected as thermostat is directly behind live connection on alternator Coolant Temperature Sensor Early models used a black sensor which are prone to failure. Uprated part is green. Causes poor running. Temp gauge become erratic, check values on block 011. Replace part. Open then close header tank to release pressure before changing. Door sensor microswitches Switches cause DIS to indicate door still open after it has been closed Microswitches need realigning Front Sus Top Mounts Top mounts wear out causing knocking noise Remove suspension, Replace part Oil dipstick Plastic outer of oil dipstick becomes brittle and cracks. Sometimes broken parts can fall into engine. Replace part Ignition Barrel Fail overtime Oil sump pick up pipe Pickup pipes can become blocked with grit like material. Thought to be worse on BAM engines or engines running longlife servicing. Drain oil, remove sump, clean oil breather pipe or replace (£12), reinstall using audi sump sealant. 3 bolts particularly difficult to reach Rear ARBs Same problem as front although less common, collars within bushes snap at the ends and entire ARB has to be replaced. Some have found ARB needs replacing after rear springs have been renewed Replace entire ARB Coolant Level Sensor Sensors can fail overtime and indicates low coolant on DIS. Cabling to the switch can come loose from plug Clean sensor or replace. Replacement involves whole new header tank Fuel Pump Relay The fuel pump relay is located under the driver’s side kick panel. Remove the lower panels to gain access to the relay box. When the fuel pump relay goes remove the lower panels to gain access to the relay box. When the fuel pump relay goes bad it will trigger many fault codes with electrical shorts to ground. The fuel pump relay is also used to turn on the injectors, and will show injector short to ground failures. If you open your door you hear the pump kick on, if the pump no longer kicks on, and you experience these codes repeatedly, replace the fuel pump relay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetrolDave Posted September 8, 2010 Report Share Posted September 8, 2010 Additional faults I had on my 8L S3 (bought in September 2000, and px'ed in May 2003): Yaw sensor Failed in wet weather, causing ABS light to come on and ESP & ABS to be disabled. Hazard switch Failed, causing indicators to all flash unless held in with masking tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted September 8, 2010 Report Share Posted September 8, 2010 Top thread Going sticky... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nardo3001 Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Haldex control unit failure 60 000kms - replaced Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukka Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Hi has anyone experienced steering problems. I've recently got loads of play in the steering, I've changed arms and track rod arms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted January 26, 2013 Report Share Posted January 26, 2013 I thought Audis were well built? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Hi has anyone experienced steering problems. I've recently got loads of play in the steering, I've changed arms and track rod arms. Recently had them changed or changed them your self? Was everything tightened correctly and wheels OK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt blowen Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 my a3 has had most of there problems!! top thread+++ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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