humming/buzzing sound when car stationary

[mick_thomson74]

Had my B8 RS4 18 months now (car approaching 3yr old). Noticed a fairly constant electrical humming/buzzing like sound with the engine on and car stationary (stereo off). Sounds like it's coming from below the tunnel that houses the s-tronic lever. It momentarily disappears as I cycle through P,R,D,N but comes back within a second of selecting the new position. Audi looked at it and said it was hydraulic vibration from the transmission causing it and normal when oil is hot (even told me they heard it in another RS4 they had in at the time - could be BS). Noise disappears as soon as car is moving. Don't get this on a cold start - only after running car up to temp. Car runs good but frustrating noise to endure in stop / start traffic if not listening to the stereo. Has anyone else noticed this with their RS4?

[doodlebug]

Yes, and it is normal, though I cannot recall exactly what the cause is.

[geoffdunk]

I don't get it. I'll double check but I'm pretty sure, I hate rattles and squeaks etc. so would have noticed by now.

[Surrey Sam]

I'd say that's certainly not normal to experience a noise like that.

Forum member Cola mentioned having their gearbox replaced to cure the problem!

Thread link - viewtopic.php?f=61&t=111940

[doodlebug]

Promise, it is normal. There was a thread on this a couple of years back.

[Surrey Sam]

Promise, it is normal. There was a thread on this a couple of years back.

The one I believe that you're thinking of is this - viewtopic.php?f=61&t=107022&hilit

If you then read the one I linked previously - which is a later thread. Cola had the gearbox replaced in the end, which finally cured the noise.

Here's the sentence that I'm referring to:

...the original gearbox was replaced as a complete unit after 8 months old due to a hydraulic whine which couldn't be diagnosed/repaired, again Audi technical dept and Audi Germany were involved and the solution was a brand new gearbox.

[doodlebug]

Aye, that's the one. Cola was at the extreme end!

[mick_thomson74]

Think I'll book it in again for another look as this noise was not apparent when I bought the car and is noticeable every time the car's warmed up. Expect Audi will still state it's normal and if they do I want the issue noted on their system now so that if a failure results while out of warranty in a few months time then I have some grounds for getting it fixed. Also expect a bit of difficulty negotiating that one but have had bad experience in the past with a 997 Gen 2 PDK failure after Porsche worked on the car. Can't stand buzzing noises from a transmission at idle on a top of the range motor like the RS4. Combined with knocking DRC when cold I'm not enjoying this car like I should be. Absolutely flawless s-tronic A1 1.4L as a second car so I know how the Audi RS4 should be. Will post an update later if I manage to get this resolved (Audi told me this is common/norm on RS4s). Thanks for responses.

[innercry666]

Push very hard with Audi to get it fixed whilst in warranty. A colleague of mine has an A6 with a clutch issue that he went to Audi with a fairly well known issue and they fobbed him time and time again until it was out of warranty. Now Audi claim that there is an issue with the clutch and it needs replacing at his cost!

[rspj]

I bet people said about drc knocking when car is in warranty come back saying nothing wrong and bet once out of warranty and you say still knocking yes sir is a problem you right that be x amount now you out of warranty but if you said about should be log on service book they should repair at there cost I think

[geoffdunk]

I've checked mine and can confirm mines certainly does not make this noise.

As for the DRC, mine was knocking within the 1st year, had a shock replaced, re-gassed and a software update and hasn't knocked since. Bury St. Edmunds Audi freely admit that the DRC should not knock and it requires dealers putting the effort in for the customers.

[mikeyw]

I had the same - took it to Listers and their master tech checked and said their was a tech notice about the noise and how to fix it, and fix it they did. Suggest you get iut into te dealership. I cant sadly recall what they told me the issue was now though, sorry, but the noise has gone now!

[Graeme4130]

Mine went through a stage of doing it. I had it down as the fuel pump, but it seems to have stopped now

[Chrisjones2]

Did anyone find a solution for this as I have the same problem on my rs4 ?

[mick_thomson74]

Yes I had this fixed. The garage had to order some vibration suppression rings that fit on the s-tronic pipework under the tunnel. Never been an issue since. Aberdeen Audi fixed mine if the garage needs any pointers on how to fix it.