Whining noise in 5th gear only

[gordongecko]

Hi all, I've got an April 08 Audi S3 with 9000 miles on the clock. A couple of months I noticed it was making a whining/whirring noise in fifth gear and fifth gear only which is quite loud. If I downshift to 4th or up to 6th the noise stops completely. If I take my foot off the accelerator when in fifth it also stops. As soon as I press on the pedal again the noise starts again.

In the past 2 months the dealer have had the car for >4 weeks total. Initially they said they couldn't hear anything, then I went for a test drive with a mechanic and they acknowledged the problem. First 2 weeks they changed the driveshaft on advice from Audi UK and that didn't solve the problem. Then I took the car back and they stripped the gearbox down and changed the fifth gear (which they said looked slightly worn) and gave it back to me today saying the problem has been fixed.

Well I took it out on the motorway and I can tell you the whine in 5th is still there, so I am going to have to take it back yet again once I call them. Does anyone have any idea what it may be? All help would be appreciated. Other than the whine there is no noticeable effect (performance etc) and as I said all other gears are ok... weird right?

[jascars]

Hi all,
gordongecko, I drive Mar 2005 A3 S-line (DSG) with 59k and have been having a similar problem involving the noise you describe. My problem started in 5th gear only a few months ago, but now happens in all the higher gears (4-6). Is yours a manual or DSG?

Just to further clarify the problem; at around 1800rpm when the car is 'pulling' there is a whining noise or a quiet fan belt type noise. I have taken the problem to an audi dealership twice and demonstarted the problem with a technican in the car...twice. He said it sounds like an auxillary drive belt (not sure what that is) coming from the right side of the engine when sat in the seats and so he tightened the belts up accordingly. The second time they thought it was the exhaust bracket causing resonance and so replaced that item.

All that and the noise is still with me. I hope my efforts to solve this fault may help you, unless you have found a solution by now. If so I would appreciate knowing as it is just an annoying problem which does not effect the performance.

Thanks in advance.

[gordongecko]

Hi mate, mine is a manual. The noise is in 5th only, although recently may have started in 6th as well, I am not sure if I am imagining it.

The dealership told me they have 2 other 2008 S3s with the same problem, one which was brought in to them and another which they heard themselves when they were test driving a car a customer had brought in with another problem.

The car is back in with the dealer right now so they can take another look, I have not heard back yet (it's been a week)

I found someone on another forum with exactly the same problem, his dealer changed the whole gearbox and he said they problem went away

Whatever it is it seems as though Audi don't have a clue, but it's definitely some some of part/manufacturing defect given the number of people with this problem (although as yours is not an S3 and given its age and your description of the problem I am not sure if it's the same issue to be honest)

If/when I hear back will let you know what happens and if it's been fixed, but so far a new gearbox is the only thing that seems to work. If your car is not under warranty would not bother though, like you say its not affecting performance!