anyone on this forum a mechanic?
 

1997 A4 B5 model
1.8t with quattro
180,000 km
auto tranny, no tiptronic

here's the history of the problems i've been having

6 weeks ago: oil light comes on while on the highway. took it to mechanic, says the oil pump gave out, replaced it for $400. since then there has been a pinging noise coming from the top of the engine on startup that only lasts about a half a second. mechanic told me this is normal after the oil pump is replaced/after an engine rebuild.

4 weeks ago: temperatures drop to -50 celcius for a week and the car will not start. after cranking for 5 seconds the oil light comes on and starts beeping. when it warmed up for 2 days the car started again, mechanic said there is no problem. take car home and drive it for 1 day. temp drops back down to -50 for another week. car wont start.

2 weeks ago: weather lets up and we've had standard -20 celcius weather. car starts, but pinging noise is still there on startup. after running for 5 minutes the pinging is noticeable again, but not as loud as when the car is started. there is also smoke coming from the passenger side of the engine that is present at startup and then stops after a few minutes (smells like oil).

if you can help me out with any of these problems; pinging noise, not starting in cold, oil smoke from engine, it would be sooo appreciated!! i just bought this car in july and now it hasn't been running since before christmas! this is a DISASTER!

Re: anyone on this forum a mechanic?
 

Can you be more specific on the pinging noise? Does it sound like a leak or chattering of valves maybe a boost leak or a loose hose? Any loss of performance?

Not starting could be a lot of things including fuel pump. Is the ECU throwing any codes that you can read and interpret/your mechanic can with a VAG COM?

Oil smoke is likely busted cam seals, they leak oil onto the exhaust headers and then the oil burns up and starts to smell in the cabin.

Re: anyone on this forum a mechanic?
 

the pinging noise might be the lifters not getting enough oil flow at extremely low temperatures

Re: anyone on this forum a mechanic?
 

the smoke seems to be coming from the left side of the engine. could this still be the cam seals? i would expect a cam seal leak to be more at the rear of the engine.

Re: anyone on this forum a mechanic?
 

the "pinging" sounds like a lot of ball bearings hitting a tin roof. sorry if thats not the best description. the sound is very noticeable for .5 of a second at start up and then quites down but is still there.

i'll ask my mechanic what the codes are and get back to you, thanks for the advice!

the smoke seems to be coming from the left side of the engine. could this still be the cam seals? i would expect a cam seal leak to be more at the rear of the engine.

Re: anyone on this forum a mechanic?
 

yeah, i think it might have to do with low oil pressure, but not just at low temps.

what do you guys think about a possible problem with the camchain tensioner?

Re: anyone on this forum a mechanic?
 

judging the pinging by the 0.5 second description, it has to be the lifters...

the cam is belt driven (timing belt)... it could be leaking oil from the cam seal...

Re: anyone on this forum a mechanic?
 

Let us know of any fault codes