3.2Q - Erratic idling issue - coilpacks?

[V6Pete]

A couple of weeks ago I went to take my car out one night, and the car was idling really badly - jumping between about 500 and 1000 revs. The car was showing just 10 miles of fuel left, so I thought it could be that, so I went out in a different car. The next day all was fine.

The problem happened again earlier this week - strangely again when low fuel, then fine since.

Today, with a brimmed tank, the problem came back - it feels ok when at speed, but at low revs and slow speed it's incredibly jerky and again idling really roughly. The engine management light also came on a few times (mostly flashing, but once solid for a bit).

My initial thoughts were either MAF sensor or coil packs. I've had MAF sensor failure on a couple of cars before, and it wasn't intermittent like this, which made be think maybe coil packs?

I can't get around to taking it to the garage until this time next week for plugging in, and just after any ideas in the meantime?

Pete

 

[TAC]

Sounds a little like the issues the guys are having in the thread below?

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=78089

 

[V6Pete]

Cheers for the link; I remember that thread from a couple of months back, but hadn't kept up with the updates...

My issues seem different though - it's at lower revs, and seems more pronounced. I guess it's good news that the engine management light came on, as hopefully that may point us in the right direction.

 

[paddy]

Its not our problem in the link above......that is at 2k revs as the cams advance.

I would think if it was a coil pack the revs would stay the same as the ECU compensated for the drop in revs....auto tick over etc. Also odd to get 2or 3 coil packs go at one together like that....

some one in northants must have vagcom ??

 

[V6Pete]

Its not our problem in the link above......that is at 2k revs as the cams advance.

I would think if it was a coil pack the revs would stay the same as the ECU compensated for the drop in revs....auto tick over etc. Also odd to get 2or 3 coil packs go at one together like that....

some one in northants must have vagcom ??

But if not coil packs.... hmmm. Anybody else ever had similar issues?

If there's a local guy with VAGCOM that would be great, otherwise I've not got a lot of miles to do in the next week so can just book it in for Wednesday at my local garage with diagnostic gear.

 

[imran62@gmail.com]

A couple of weeks ago I went to take my car out one night, and the car was idling really badly - jumping between about 500 and 1000 revs. The car was showing just 10 miles of fuel left, so I thought it could be that, so I went out in a different car. The next day all was fine.

The problem happened again earlier this week - strangely again when low fuel, then fine since.

Today, with a brimmed tank, the problem came back - it feels ok when at speed, but at low revs and slow speed it's incredibly jerky and again idling really roughly. The engine management light also came on a few times (mostly flashing, but once solid for a bit).

My initial thoughts were either MAF sensor or coil packs. I've had MAF sensor failure on a couple of cars before, and it wasn't intermittent like this, which made be think maybe coil packs?

I can't get around to taking it to the garage until this time next week for plugging in, and just after any ideas in the meantime?

Pete

if the management lights flashing most likly the coil packs ... i had the same problem and two of the coil packs had cracked thats 1 and 2...

 

[V6Pete]

if the management lights flashing most likly the coil packs ... i had the same problem and two of the coil packs had cracked thats 1 and 2...

Yeah that goes along with my gut feeling.

I'm going to run it over to APS on Friday to plug in, and they've got coil packs on the shelf if it is that. From what I described on the phone, they reckon coil packs also.

 

[edition]

Let us know how you get on!

How much are the coil packs?

Are the non VAG ones worth going for or will they not last.

 

[V6Pete]

Let us know how you get on!

How much are the coil packs?

Are the non VAG ones worth going for or will they not last.

Will do mate. I think he said £28+VAT each.

I wouldn't buy non-VAG unless they come out of the same factory, as it's not really the part to skimp on.

 

[edition]

Yeah i was thinking the same.

Still £200 to replace them all hey!

How many miles have you done now Pete?

 

[10blazin]

IVE HAD A COIL PACK GO AND JUST ONE WAS REPLACED >> Ive never had a problem since just use vagcom see which pack it is and replace it ....I wouldnt do them all

 

[V6Pete]

Yeah i was thinking the same.

Still £200 to replace them all hey!

How many miles have you done now Pete?

Yeah another £200, an expensive couple of months just for small bits and pieces. Last month was about £1000 for tyres, alignment and CV boots!

The car has done 62Kish.

 

[edition]

My c/v boot has weaped abit of grease (where the boot meets the driveshaft) but is not split..... Had yours split?

 

[paddy]

Sorry Pete...didnt notice the bit about the engine light...So basically i was talking rubbish..

 

[V6Pete]

My c/v boot has weaped abit of grease (where the boot meets the driveshaft) but is not split..... Had yours split?

When I bought the car earlier in the year, the MOT mentioned one of the outer boots was oozing. When it went in for a service a couple of weeks later, at the service they pointed out that both nearside front outer AND inner boots were leaking. Anyway being lazy I did nothing for about 6 months, but when the car needed alignment doing I thought it was the time to do the boots. So I bought the boots, booked into the TT shop for the work and when they got it up on the ramp, discovered that another inner boot had gone, so I needed 3 in total! D'oh. One of the outers was cheap pattern crap which explains the leaking. But they were well and truly split and had dumped at least half of their grease all over my undertray. Messy.

 

[V6Pete]

Sorry Pete...didnt notice the bit about the engine light...So basically i was talking rubbish..

No worries mate, I talk **** most of the time. Or so everybody tells me.

 

[V6Pete]

Coil packs ok.

Timing chain not ok.

Not a happy chappy.

 

[edition]

Bummer!

Stretched they think?

 

[V6Pete]

Bummer!

Stretched they think?

Indeed bummer and indeed stretched they think.

Audi are c*nts; this is a known problem happening to loads of these engines at this sort of age, but no point in even arguing with them, the car is nearly 6 years old so they'll tell me to **** off I'm sure.

£1000 I've been quoted to fix, not really what I need

 

[edition]

Is that for the same chain that has stretched? I.E. it will happen in another 65k miles?

 

[V6Pete]

Is that for the same chain that has stretched? I.E. it will happen in another 65k miles?

I really don't know. If it happens again at 120k miles it'll be somebody elses problem though!

 

[edition]

Hmm very poor.

I'm sure people were getting a contribution to the cost out of Vw for R32's, might be worth a try? Although they might not like your car too much due to it being modded...

Yours got full Audi dealer service history?

 

[edition]

Also what do your figures show on the VAGCOM blocks for timing?

 

[V6Pete]

Hmm very poor.

I'm sure people were getting a contribution to the cost out of Vw for R32's, might be worth a try? Although they might not like your car too much due to it being modded...

Yours got full Audi dealer service history?

I can try for a contribution, but if that pays towards their silly main dealer labour rates and extra hours they like to add, then it'll be more money than a fix by an independent.

Engine mods are just a back box, remap (they won't see) and an air filter (standard box in at the moment) so I'd like to see them argue that as a factor...

Yep FASH.

 

[V6Pete]

Also what do your figures show on the VAGCOM blocks for timing?

Not been VAGCOM'd.

 

[edition]

Would be nice to get those figures before they strip it I guess...

Not sure how conclusive they are tho....

 

[V6Pete]

Would be nice to get those figures before they strip it I guess...

Not sure how conclusive they are tho....

They used their own diagnostic kit, rather than VAGCOM, but were pretty confident that was the problem due to various symptoms.

Just waiting to hear back from my local Audi dealer where I stand as far as goodwill goes. I still think it would be cheaper to go independent, whatever deal Audi offer. It winds me up though, as I shouldn't be £1000 out of pocket due to a known design fault.

 

[-Ju-]

Sorry to hear that mate and welcome to the club. I've been without mine over 3 weeks now while it's done.
Audi quoted me £2k to change the chain and Audi uk wouldn't give a goodwill gesture because the tensioner was changed by an independant, as a first attempt at fixing it. My car is an 05 with full Audi service history and 50k miles.
It definately is a common fault though as there are far too many cars across the vag range with the same problem and the chain and tensioner have been revised numerous times.
Best of luck at getting it sorted out!

 

[V6Pete]

Sorry to hear that mate and welcome to the club. I've been without mine over 3 weeks now while it's done.
Audi quoted me £2k to change the chain and Audi uk wouldn't give a goodwill gesture because the tensioner was changed by an independant, as a first attempt at fixing it. My car is an 05 with full Audi service history and 50k miles.
It definately is a common fault though as there are far too many cars across the vag range with the same problem and the chain and tensioner have been revised numerous times.
Best of luck at getting it sorted out!

Cheers dude, but not really a club I wanted to become a meber of

Audi quoted me £2162 for the repair including a whopping £800 of parts (APS said £350 of parts would do the job!). I think Audi want to replace half the engine.

I have been offered a goodwill contribution of £500, but not going to pay £1700 to them, so will argue this all I can.

As far as I'm concerned, I bought a product that has been maintained by Audi dealers when advised it needs to be by Audi, and a badly designed part has failed prematurely. This IS their fault, but getting them to admit it is a different story.

 

[-Ju-]

Yeah, it sucks mate. Fortunately for me I noticed the problem when I bought the car from the dealer and have pushed them to fix it. It's been a struggle but I can see light at the end of the tunnel now and should have mine back sometime next week.
It is getting worrying with so many cars recently being diagnosed with timing chain problems but saying that, we are still waiting for the first confirmed fix.

 

[V6Pete]

Yeah, it sucks mate. Fortunately for me I noticed the problem when I bought the car from the dealer and have pushed them to fix it. It's been a struggle but I can see light at the end of the tunnel now and should have mine back sometime next week.
It is getting worrying with so many cars recently being diagnosed with timing chain problems but saying that, we are still waiting for the first confirmed fix.

Have a look on the R32 forums, there's a lot on there.

APS said they had one in last week with the same problem, and have now done a few timing chains on this engine. It's certainly more of an issue than VW UK are currently admitting.

 

[-Ju-]

Yeah I know mate, I had a mk4 R32 with a stretched timing chain and the word was the problem was sorted mid 2004, that's why I went for an 05 A3 3.2 Doh!!!

 

[V6Pete]

Yeah I know mate, I had a mk4 R32 with a stretched timing chain and the word was the problem was sorted mid 2004, that's why I went for an 05 A3 3.2 Doh!!!

C*nts, how the **** can VW insist it's not a known problem?