Hi all. Just doing up a list of faults and buying advice.  If you have any more from your experience..,,,please add them and then we can do a final addition and keep the page saved. It might help new comers

Buying Tips / Common faults Audi A4

Common faults

·                     Alternator clutch = Vibration when dry steering

·                     Suspension arm bushing wear

·                     Faulty Air con

·                     Electric door wiring wear

·                     Slipping clutch in high gears when on full throttle

·                     Tdi needs full service history with Vw spec oil

·                     </span>Airbag light as result of bad connection under front seats

·                     MAF – poor power and Mpg

·                     Coilpacks – misfiring

*                     Faulty engine temperature sensors - low mpg

Buying advice

Always ensure that the service history is ligimate. There are fake service manuals circulating so ring the dealership to check.

Always perform checks with companies that check with the DVLA etc incase the car was clocked and or crashed.

Tdi turbos can clog and cause the car to go into a safe home mode. Test with full throttle acceleration. Make sure the car doesn’t shut down – and operate at minimal power.

With the Tdi also inspect the Colour of exhaust smoke. A small amount of black may be possible. Excess black = normally a boost leak. Blue / white = worn turbo bearings. This doesn’t include a small amount of white smoke on startup in the cold.

Check all electrics as they can be a costly fix.

Drive the car over a rough piece of road and listen for knocking and banging coming from suspension bushings.

Ensure that the car breaks even and steady with firm reliable pedal pressure.

 Stevee, just a few to add from my experience of the B6 so far.

Coolant temperature sensors prone to fail with age - Poor running, increased mpg

Thermostat stuck open - Poor mpg due to engine taking ages to warm up and struggling to get to or hold at 90 degrees C

MAF - as already mentioned. Mine (1.9TDI) was not throwing any fault codes or showing any problems but car felt a bit sluggish so replaced it anyway. Straight away gained more power, engine response and smoother running.

Rear washer jet pipe popped off over winter, presumably due to jet icing up. Filled bootlid with screenwash (same as common Mk4 Golf fault)

1.8t engine rattle on start up-blocked pick up or timing chain

1.8t engine coilpacks pretty common

 keep them a coming

My experience:

Bloody coolant temp sender!  Why the hell did they put it half way down the engine at the bloody back!  Right kerfuffle - when changed, get a new clip too.. part no. 032 121 142 otherwise, if the one you have breaks, the sensor won't stay in and will come flying out along with half the coolant

All fixed and now coolant temp goes up to about 70 & that's it... thermostat.

Alternator pulley

IMO glow plugs need replacing every 80k or so, ditto for EGR clean

Front wiper linkage prone to seizing...  first warning is tiny squeak.  take out, rub down with wire wool & severely grease!

 Don't forget the High pressure fuel pump cam follower and diverter valve diaphragm splitting on the 2.0 TFSI engines.

 Yep thats right. They were updated because of failure. Theres a mod for the HPFP alright to help.