Has anyone out there come across this phenomenon? I have owned my Octy 4x4 estate for 2 years now. In the first spell of very wet weather I had to drive through, after going through a large stream of water along the side of the road, I noticed a vibration and accompanying noise from the nearside rear (I think) of the vehicle. After 30 seconds or so of leaving the water it disappeared but always re-occurs in similar conditions. There are no accompanying warning lights (ESP, ABS etc). I had the car checked over by the dealer but they couldn't see anything obviously amiss. I've done over 20k, had a couple of services and MOT's now with no obvious major problems. Hope someone out there can put my mind at ease.

Thanks,

Thorfinn.:confused:

check to see how close the exhaust runs to the floor or other components under the car..

When you drive through standing water that splashes onto one side of the exhaust, you'd be surprised how much it moves due to the cooling effect (contracting the pipe from one side while the other stays hot) of the water.

This sounds very likely to be the problem. After the 30 seconds have passed, the pipe heats up again and returns to it's original position.

The exhaust is definetly the culprit. Mine did the same thing. Only happens when you drive through cold water or snow with a hot exhaust. Sounds like a propshaft hitting the floor but only briefly, then gone again. I drove up and down with one of the mechs in the car in and out of puddles not a sound! In the end they fitted a new centre section for free and its not done it since (mind you that was last winter so this winter will really tell). Apparently more common on Audi TTs, and Golf R32s so we're in decent company!

Cheers Guys,

this sounds like a good explanation and reassuring to hear that someone else has had a similar problem. It has happened in snow/slush too.

Thorfinn