New owner - 2003 "noggy blue" S4

[TrinityS4]

Hi All

New to the forum, bought an S4 today, very happy with the car, goes well and sounds well

Just a quick query......

On driving home from Glasgow to Norfolk, I hit the A1 and there was a lot of start/stop traffic. After a while, there was significant clutch judder and I couldn't engage first gear (was ok up to the A1) had to be pushed onto slip road, where I was able to engage 3/4/5 gear, and slip the clutch in 3rd to get moving.

Was ok once moving, floored the accelerator in 6th at low RPMs but clutch wasn't slipping. Now my question or theory lies with possible clutch fluid leak or clutch master cylinder (or equivalent) and was just getting the feelers out really to see what peoples opinions might be.

I spoke to the seller, who is a great chap and has offered to help out with any repairs, i'm hoping it's a master cylinder really

Perhaps someone can advise where the location is of said cylinder, to add there was no leakage on the floor of any description, and to add, there was a recent gearbox fluid flush.

Thanks for any help

P.s. awesome site

[JimGreen]

As you mention that it won't go into gear, it does sound like either your clutch "Slave Cylinder" or "Master Cylinder" has started to fail. Not sure what would cause the juddering though, this could suggest you have an issue with the pressure plate.

Go for the easy things first, Slave, Master, Pressure Plate (The last is a transmission drop though).

[Ian_C]

Sorry to hear this. Hope you didn't buy it private! Clutch + dual mass flywheel + cylinder + pipework + labour +vat is 2k on the receipt in my service history. Clutches are unfortunately a sore topic on the 4.2 litre S4 and RS4

[TrinityS4]

Ok, thanks for the info, yep bought private, took it for a good run beforehand and no issues, albeit a little bit of clutch judder, but car was was to start with ?? Anyway, going to get it looked at by either a merc/vw specialist or I have a merc mechanic who looks after my vito and A class, hope it aint the clutch though

[Ian_C]

Hope it isn't for your sakes too bud. Test drove a 900 quid B5 A4 Avant quattro a few months back as a snotter, but it had the dreaded judder when the clutch was depressed at idle, crunch into first, pointless buying it as a clutch and flywheel would have cost as much as the car itself

[TrinityS4]

I used to own a Mk4 golf and had a dodgy flywheel (dual mass) noted by that "inbalanced" feeling when somethings spinning, the S4 doesn't feel or sound like that, so hoping it is the slave cylinder.

[caiss4]

Sorry to be the harbinger of doom but that sounds like a broken clutch plate caused by a knackered DMF. Been there, done that, get ready for the thick end of £1700.

Thing is, a week after the pain you've forgotten all about it

[TrinityS4]

Going to have it looked at this week, so will know then

[JimGreen]

Parts Prices from Audi are :

Dual Mass Flywheel £950.00
Pressure Plate was around £130
Clutch Plate was around £130

Pressure plate and clutch plate are both exchange... and above is what you'll end up paying having handed over the old parts.

[TrinityS4]

Ok, thanks for the heads up

[caiss4]

Any update?

[TrinityS4]

Hi no not yet, been working a lot recently, in fact car is parked up still, will endeavor to sort and update over the next fortnight.

[JimGreen]

I was chatting with a fellow S4 B6 owner and he was cringing at the prices I paid for the parts from Audi, he said I would have got them WAY cheaper from EuroCarParts. Worth a try, but don't know if they will be Genuine Audi or not, but to be honest I'm sure they'll be just fine even if they're not.

[Ian_C]

It's not worth the risk. TPS are a safer bet, maybe GSF, but I wouldn't expect Euros to provide a genuine flywheel. Could try one of the specialists like MRC, APS, QST, RAC or Fontain? They will almost certainly be able to get genuine parts cheaper than you and I can with their accounts with Audi and TPS etc and do you a good deal on 'supply and fit'. When its 8-10 hours labour to strip and rebuild the car, its just not worth compromising on the flywheel. I have nothing against Euros, but you pay for what you get, a half price flywheel from them is a false economy compared to the real thing. Can you imagine having to do the job twice......

[monodude]

Yeah you need to be selective with the Eurocar parts...they normally offer a top of the range OE part... like Lemforder for suspension joints (This is the company that makes the OE stuff, they normally come with the Audi logo/part number removed) I think the clutches Euro car parts do for the S4 is LUK clutches.

Cheers

Al