Hi, please help me pin point the problem... Audi A4 1998 2.8 V6 quattro

 

Take the serpentine belt off and run the engine. If noise stops, one or more of the accessories is/are bad. Otherwise, spring for a $10 engine stethoscope and probe around till you locate the noise source. Hopefully it is not an internal problem.

 

Removing the drive belt and running the engine is a good way to eliminate failing accessories as a culprit, so definitely try Pete's suggestion. It sounds like a failing timing chain tensioner, but it could also be a failing pulley.

 

This. And if it is, don't drive it. That one is so bad you might be close to losing your cam chain completely. Then it's bye bye motor.

 

oh even since the noise started sounding this bad..... i leave it parked at home and use my sisters car..... its going to the garage next monday.
Thanks for any help guys.
Greatly appreciated.

 

I bought an 00 Passat that had a bad motor. Took off the heads and this is that the cam tensioner looked like. The guide on the top is fine, the one on the bottom is pretty much gone.



Here's what was left of it: