1.8T stalling at low speeds

[Crazyfool]

I am new to Audi-sport.net and was wondering whether someone could help me.

I have a 2002 A4 1.8T sport (163ps) which I bought from a main dealer when it was around 7 months old. Apart from a faulty drivers window switch which was replaces under warrenty, everything was hunky-dory.

However, around 8-9 months ago (outside the warranty) things started going wrong. (suprise-suprise) My main problem is whenever I drive the car casually, or slow, the engine cuts out during deceleration. It normally happens just as I am about to turn into my driveway. The main dealer told me that there was a problem with the airmass unit and possibly the lambda probe. The tell-tale sign of it stalling is when the traction control light comes on before hand.

Considering I bought a new house and my son arrived, finances were and still are a bit stretched, so I took it to a back street garage. He fitted a Bosch airmass unit and he told me that the lambda probe was ok, but the problem persists. Obviously Audi won't touch it because it is not a VAG part...they wouldn't even test it!!

So I was wondering whether anybody had any ideas. Should I have both components replaced with Audi parts, or should I just try replacing the lambda probe for now?

Cheers

 

[Olly_K]

pretty your issue isnt lamba related.
Are you running any sort of non standard air intake setup ?

I would disconnect the maf plug and see if the problem goes away. Its not uncommon to get faulty replacement mafs (they're pretty much reconditioned units anyway)

Also, Audi are being *********, arent all maf's made by bosch anyway ?

 

[Sinny71]

Also, Audi are being *********, arent all maf's made by bosch anyway ?

I used to work for Siemens who own Bosch and almost everything is made by them..!!

 

[petewon]

I had a very similar problem recently with a non Bosch MAF. It was stalling the car when revs were low, I was also getting a realy erratic idle and boost though.

Traction controll light is also a sign of a faulty MAF, when my last BOSCH unit went bad the ESP light was constantly on.

As Olly said I would try and run it without the MAF see if it persists. Not sure how long you should run it without the MAF though. Not sure if it would damage anything if left out too long. Anyways if it is the MAF it should have a 12 month gaurantee, if not its a trade in part so you should be able to get a little money off when trading it in.

Good luck

 

[WHITEY_1]

Get somebody to check all your air hoses,I had exactly the same problem, bought a new air flow mass meter and it wasnt that it was a small hole in 1 of the air pipes which was rubbing on the engine when starting! Get all air hoses checked! 99% thats your problem! Hope this helps.

 

[Crazyfool]

Excellent. Thanks very much...I will look into it.:icon_thumright:

 

[Crazyfool]

Sorry Olli K, forgot to say, not modifications. Finances permitted, I am looking to replace it for an avant at the end of this year, more likely next year.

 

[Crazyfool]

Hmmm. Had the airmass unit replaced with a VAG unit last friday. The car ran sweet as a nut until this friday, then it stalled again!

The original diagnostic check identified a low signal from the airmass unit and ABS!

 

[Neil_S]

I had this sort of issue, although I had it when pulling away in first gear, the RPM's would just drop off and the car would chug along (2001 B6 1.9 TDi), I was getting terrible turbo lag too.

I checked for error codes with vag-com and nothing was noted. I then checked the MAF figures with vag-com and found a large disparity between what I was requesting and what was being delivered.

I just replaced the MAF and the air filter this weekend gone and it was still doing it (everything was fine with the connector removed to the old MAF).

A bit of diurectic grease on the pins of the MAF connector made the problem go away, I guess my MAF was fine, it was a problem with the connector, the grease only cost £4 from Maplin, so if your symptoms sound similar, well worth a try.

 

[JGrant1285]

Traction controll light is also a sign of a faulty MAF, when my last BOSCH unit went bad the ESP light was constantly on.

My traction control light comes on now and again. Sometimes is on from starting the car, sometimes its off, then comes on. It did it the other week. I disconnected the battery for 30 mins, whacked it back on, and i dont think that its come on again since (not that i can remember).

How much are the replacement MAF's?

SHEEEEEEEEEET!!

Thinking back, when the MAF on me ex car (2000 1.2 SXI Corsa) went ******, it cost me like £190..for a piece of plastic....GRRRRRRRRRR!!

 

[AndyMac]

Just try it with the MAF unplugged, if it runs OK then it must be a faulty MAF.

 

[petewon]

The MAF is a £70 tade in part from your local motorworld etc. I wouldnt go to audi for it though, they charge closer to £100.

As Andy says above though, unplug it first to see if that cures the problem. When you do unplug it note that the ESP light will be constantly on, thats normal.

 

[Crazyfool]

I am starting to get a bit fed up with hearing the same phrase everytime I visit the garage. 'It's a common VAG fault!' I am starting to wonder whether I should even consider buying another car from the VW family...Maybe a Ford will do; at least if it has the same faults, it will most probably cost me half as much to fix!!!...anyway that is my rant out of the way.

I took the car to the garage last saturday, where just in the nick of time, it stalled as I arrived at the front door. So I left it for the mechanic to start.

He did a diagnostic check and found that there was a low signal to the MAF (replaced 2 weeks ago) and that the engine coolant sensor was showing an error. They replaced the sensor the same day and to be honest the car is running so much smoother now...However, only time will tell......The car previously started playing up again about a week after I had the MAF replaced.

 

[Crazyfool]

4 days later and it's playing up again....

 

[alipaton]

had similar problem and as whitey1 say's it was a split air hose i would get all the hoses checked .best of luck:icon_thumright:

 

[Crazyfool]

Enough is enough, I am not spending any more money on the car. Took it to an Audi Specialist last week to have the belt changed. Asked them to have a look at the stalling issue. Replaced the belt and a split breather hose £500. Thought perfect, that has got to be it, since it is a similar problem to a number of other people I have speken to. Day later, it stalled again! In fact it stalls more now, than prior to the work.