The Problem

This Audi A6 came into us with a noticeable squeaking noise when starting from cold. The customer mentioned it was worse first thing in the morning and eased slightly as the engine warmed up, a common sign that something in the belt system isn’t quite right.

Our Diagnosis

After a full inspection, we traced the noise back to the auxiliary belt tensioner unit. This component keeps the belt running at the correct tension, and when it starts to wear out, it can cause that high-pitched squeak you hear on start-up.

On this particular model, access isn’t straightforward. Due to the layout of the engine bay, we needed to remove the front section of the vehicle to properly reach and inspect the belt system. Taking the time to do this correctly ensures we don’t miss anything and can fix the issue properly first time.

The Fix

We replaced the faulty auxiliary belt tensioner with a new unit and reassembled everything carefully. Once completed, we tested the vehicle from cold again – no more squeak, and everything running smoothly as it should.

Another job done right, and one happy Audi back on the road.