1999 Audi S3 sounds like a diesel on startup

[hugepiece]

i've recently bought an S3, it runs fine but when it starts it sounds like a diesel for a second or two then settles down. I thought it may have been the cambelt tensioners but have had the belts, tensioners and waterpump changed but it still does it. Anyone got any ideas?

[monkeyhanger]

Perfectly normal for a 1.8T so don't worry about it.

[hugepiece]

ok cheers, it just sounds awful. I had a normal 1.8t a couple of years back and that never did it so I assumed that something was wrong. cheers for the info, that makes me feel a bit better. It is wierd as it runs and drives perfectly apart from that!

[cronk-flakes]

Same on the A4's. Common thing, shouldn't be common, but it is.

[hugepiece]

cheers, is there a cheap(ish) way to resolve it?

[Gren]

How they're meant to sound I'm afraid. Doubt there's a way to resolve it or at least I've never heard of one.

Why bother for those first 1 or 2 seconds. Just start it when nobody is listening.........

[UpTheIron]

My S3 is the same...in fact a couple of people have asked if it is a TDI! Must be something about my cars - the Tuscan doesn't sound so good at tickover either!

[motorwise]

as said they all do it - just make sure you keep the oil in good condition and bang up to the top line on the stick

[hugepiece]

ok cheers all. i suppose its only going to be an issue when I come to sell the car to make way for another TVR

[f1btn]

hello thats the aux air valve opening for intial fast idle as others in the thread have quoted it is normal but my 1.8t only does it when its very cold and not at any other time if you think there is a problem with it then i would ta;lk to audi as a customer odf ours has had it replaced under warranty.

[rralston]

UpTheIron said:

My S3 is the same...in fact a couple of people have asked if it is a TDI! Must be something about my cars - the Tuscan doesn't sound so good at tickover either!

Snap! Test drove an S3 yesterday - sounded like my A3 T-Sport on start up, but then again my Tuscan sounds like a bag of spanners until it is warm!!!

[DHA]

My old S3 and A3 1.8T did that. Iirc its the hydraulic tappets that causes the noise.

[hugepiece]

im gonna try some wynns hydraulic tappet treatment, ive been told it has worked wonders for other cars (non vag) with came issue. I'll update when i've tried it!

[audidoody]

Had a 1999 S3 for three years. Always sounded like a diesel on start-up. Don't worry about it!

[osteoadam]

i am assuming that this is usual on my audi tt 225, as its the same engine!