A6 Avant 2.5 TDI AKE - Faulty adjustment by Audi!

Hi everyone,

I've now driven about 12,000 km in my (used) 2001 2.5 TDI A6 Avant with Tiptronic transmission. A friend recently told me that it doesn't seem to be running quite right. Since he's an expert, I'm inclined to believe him. Also, the fuel consumption is too high (between 9.5 and 13 liters).

So, I started looking for errors.

1. LMM: Result: Cleaned (not from Bosch, but from Hitachi).
2. Measured values checked using VAG-COM (target values according to...). 'List in the forum' also fits about.
3. Motor control checked, as suggested in this forum. AHA!

The previous owner had the timing belt replaced at an Audi dealership (it was a company car), but the technicians replaced the timing belt using MARKINGS instead of using alignment pins and dowels.

What can I do now?

The timing belt has approximately 25,000 kilometers on it, while the car has 149,000 kilometers.
The motor control is not working correctly, and I would like to correct it.
Audi messed things up (although it will be difficult to prove after a year).

Can I now demand revisions from the guys (it's been about a year, and the order came from the previous owner)?
Or do I have to pay for it myself and complain about it?

Do you have to disassemble everything from the front to adjust it? Or is it enough to just remove the timing belt cover and then adjust the camshaft pulleys?

I would be very grateful for assistance, both technical and legal.

Hello,

-> worked with markings.

Why shouldn't the settings be correct? You said your air mass readings are accurate. Even if the camshafts are slightly misaligned, it shouldn't make much of a difference in terms of performance. Usually, something like that manifests as poorer starting behavior. A misaligned fuel injection pump could potentially cause issues. It can also be indicated by white smoke and rough idling.

-> Consumption

why is it too high? With the 2.5 automatic transmission, it is not impossible to consume between 6 and 13 liters, depending on driving style. (Check the owner's manual under 'city consumption'). (When the system is in operation, the pressure is usually even higher.)

Sure, I will translate the text from German to English and provide only the translation. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.

Try removing the timing belt cover on the V6 simply !
It's quite complex with the V6 engine due to space constraints (hence the markings, perhaps). It's hard to get to everything. Basically, anything is possible.

Best regards, Manuel.

Hi Manuel,

Thank you for your help. Here are a few additional points:

Fuel consumption: I have never managed to achieve a fuel consumption below 9.5 liters, not even on country roads at 100 km/h. The fuel consumption in the city is always around 13 liters, even when driving gently. Audi's stated figures are 6.4/8.1/11.4 liters (as indicated on the vehicle's sticker). Okay, so I find the difference between 13 liters and 11.4 liters to be quite significant. I only achieve 6.4 liters if I go from the accelerator to the brake .

By the way, I found the timing marks by simply removing the covers from the timing belt. It takes approximately 10 seconds on an A6 Avant AKE.

Does it take longer with the Passat?

The tip about the starting behavior sounds good: I've noticed exactly those symptoms. Also, I'm missing about 15 km/h in top speed (205 km/h instead of 219 km/h according to...). According to the VAG-COM system, the actual speed is approximately 225 km/h, instead of the expected 240 km/h.

If I remove the covers, will I have a good chance of success?

No, without putting it into service mode, you won't have a chance to disassemble anything.

Check the fuel injection start, boost pressure, and mass airflow sensor, and then, if you find nothing wrong with those.
Can you check the timing?
Please provide the text you would like me to translate from German to English. I will then provide the translation without any explanations. Because with a diesel engine, if the timing is off by even one tooth, the piston will already be hitting the valves.

Hello,

The thing about fuel consumption is complicated. On average, I would say I can manage between 6 and 7 liters per 100 kilometers with my car. Then I would really have to drive 700 kilometers on country roads.
In the city, my fuel consumption is around 12-13 liters (although it's mostly short distances of up to 3 km). To get below 9 liters, I have to drive at least 10 km without accelerating. The A6 drivers I know (approximately 3 ) have all consumed between 13 liters per 100 kilometers on short trips, and an average of 10.6 liters per 100 kilometers (with all-wheel drive and tiptronic).

Regarding the poor starting behavior, I suspect there might be a faulty setting on the fuel injection pump. Unfortunately, without bringing the locking plate into the service position, there's no way to adjust anything. I can only speak from experience with the Passat, and even a dropped key can be a problem because it's so tight in there; you're lucky if you can get it out again. How many horsepower does yours have? 180? I think you can be satisfied with the top speed. Mine only reaches 210 with a running start . But it has a very good airflow.

Best regards, Manuel.

Thank you for your reply, Manuel.

It's reassuring to know that my fuel consumption apparently isn't unusually high. However, since I don't have Quattro, Tiptronic, or 180 horsepower, I still think something might be wrong. 1 liter per [unit of distance] is still too much. My trusted mechanic (NOT an Audi dealership) says he'll charge 80 euros to test and adjust it. I have no idea how he can do that for that price. I'm always open to being pleasantly surprised.


By the way, I found comments in this forum (mostly about the LMM - likely referring to a specific component or system) where A6 AKE drivers claim that the speedometer goes up to 240-245 km/h. I definitely can't achieve that. The engine's power delivery is good up to around 2200 RPM, but then it starts to feel sluggish. On the highway, I've noticed that a Passat TDI with 130 horsepower can easily leave me in the dust; I just can't keep up.

Grmpf.