SteveinToronto

So my package from ECS has arrived, and once the garage is warmed up (just turned the heater on) I will be changing the fluid in the Haldex system. Don't mind doing it, but I am wondering whether anyone has ever had a failure or trouble with the Haldex system caused by old fluid?

I purchased my car from a VW/Audi certified technician, and he didn't even know that Audi recommends a fluid change every 32,000 kms. Then last night I was talking with my brother-in-laws brother, and while he owned a 2003 Audi TT for 7 years, he never once had the fluid changed. He never had a problem with the car.

Regardless, I think I will stick with Audi's service recommendation, it seems like cheap insurance, especially on a 10 year old car, but just wondering if failing to do so really causes problems with any frequency.

Alan_G_03_TT

Do it, and keep doing it! It is cheap insurance, and your all wheel drive system is critical after all. I change mine every 30,000kms religously. You do want to keep the haldex system clutch operating as best as possible, it's integural to the performance and handling of our cars!

crazybohunk

Hi there,

I have experienced the failure of the Haldex system on my 2001 Audi TT.

There is some debate as to whether the fluid not being changed is the issue or if this is a design flaw.

So let me explain. The Haldex fluid on my TT seeped into what Audi called their "Cargo Pump" or more commonly known as the pre-charge pump.

The fluid gets into the electric motor part of the pump turns to grey grease like goop and your haldex is disabled.

This required the removal of the pre-charge pump and replacement to the tune of about $500.00 plus install. You can do it yourself but its a PITA

No you can't clean it out or rebuild it. I tried

The question is does the fluid getting old and deteriorating cause it to eat the rubber seal preventing it from getting in the motor or does just the rubber seal fail due to wear.

Mine failed at about 180k

I know it was changed at least once but not being the 1st or 2nd owner I did not have all the service records on it.

Symptoms of the failure include lots of front wheel spin and torque steer when you punch it in 1st or 2nd gear.

Once its failed you can change the fluid till the cows come home and it won't fix the problem.

I hope this helps.

Randy.

SteveinToronto

Thanks Randy and Alan, I appreciate the input. I definitely intend to maintain the recommended service intervals. Cheap insurance.

Interesting failure mode, Randy, I hadn't heard of that one before. So potentially the decomposition of the Haldex fluid turns it corrosive to rubber seals? Not surprised I suppose, everything seems to be bad for seals! By the sounds of it, replacing the seal would be a major undertaking, so I suppose I had better just keep up with the fluid replacement and hope for the best.

I completed the task on Saturday, it wasn't too bad, but took me a while to find a good place at the rear of the car for the jack stands, and the filter was far more fiddly than I was hoping. It took quite a while for my clumsy fingers to work the wrench into place and remove/replace the filter. I was also a little concerned about the amount of fluid that dropped out of the drain hole before I could plug it, there just isn't much fluid in that canister to begin with.

The filter I removed was a metal one, the one that I replaced it with was plastic. Makes me think the filter may have been original to the car, although the drained fluid looked clean.

crazybohunk

Hi there,

Well the original filter is metal. The replacement ones are plastic.

So that does not bode well.

It is possible they changed the fluid but reused the filter though the procedure is to replace both during the service.

I think this a neglected service that owners don't do and a lot of the independent shops including the ones that claim to be Audi specialists are unaware of.

I went to one independent Audi shop in Edmonton that did not even know that the fluid and filter needed to be changed.

This is a good indicator to go to a different shop for service.

So cross your fingers that it stays working.

Randy.-

Jazz

ive only done ite 3x now at 170k

geoffreyr66

Oh my god YES!! I wish I'd had mine more often. 260k on mine. It should be done at least every 10 k. Not worth letting it go. New haldexs are expensive and used ones are hard to find because of failures ultimately preventable by regular fluid & filter changes.