Gentle Engine blip on my 3.2 8p

[BeardFour]

Hello all, I've had my 2004 A2, 8P13.2 v6 for nearly a year now and I still love it (81k on the clock), I'm barely an amateur DIY in terms of mechanicals but I have an issue with the car that I'd like peoples thoughts on before I take it to a garage - just in terms of checks, maintenance I can do before I call the professionals in.

It boils down to a slightly uneven power delivery, its barely noticeable but most apparent at around 3k revs, when in 4th gear - If I hold the power steady there is a very gentle but rhythmic blip from the engine, passengers don't notice it but I can sense it everytime

Does anyone have similar experience of this? Its not long since its major service so I would like to get a better understanding if anyone can shed some light?

Thanks in advance.

 

[-Ju-]

Does it hold steady revs at 2k when parked in neutral? If not it's the ecu software that needs updating

 

[BeardFour]

It sits at 1k on initial start up then drops to about 600 when its been running for a few minutes. Accelaration isn't as smooth between 1-2 as it is 3 and over.

If it is ECU, does that mean a trip to the dealers, presumably a local non-audi specialist can't sort it?

 

[-Ju-]

Next time your in the car, let it warm up for a while and then just sit there and hold the throttle at 2k revs. If it won't hold steady, the software is your problem

Read this if you've got a few hours to spare or skip to page 16 if you haven't !

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/help-needed-3-2q-dsg-hesitant-engine-2k-rpm.78089/

 

[BeardFour]

Thanks for this, I'll try it once I'm at work tomorrow - I did jump to page 16, not sure if I picked the right part of the threat though as it wasn't talking about ECU updates at that point (on my screen anyway), what was the date of the comment, i'll search on that

 

[-Ju-]

That is what the thread ultimately lead to. There are quite a few threads on the issue now and I think its has been reworded as "gearbox hesitation" , although it is an engine ecu problem.
It may not be your problem but many, many people have since had and cured the issue with the update.

 

[-Ju-]

If it is ECU, does that mean a trip to the dealers, presumably a local non-audi specialist can't sort it?

Sorry forgot to answer this.
It can be done by specialists if they have the correct equipment and there is a user on here who can do it but yes generally it is a dealer fix, although getting them to do it is another story all together!

 

[BeardFour]

Well, you called it....
Sat in the work car park this morning and i could not get it to settle on 2k revs, jumped between 1.8 & 2.2k - I work next to Newcastle Audi so i'll call in and see what they have to say.

 

[-Ju-]

They'll tell you there is no update available!. There is and you need to give them the tpi number. I'm not sure what that is now so you'll have to do your homework before you go in

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[BeardFour]

I found the TPI number and left it with them. They actually agreed to do it without much encouragement - although they insist it needs to be done as part of a diagnostic check at 1hrs labour - £144.
I need to haggle that down a bit - interestingly, there is an outstanding recall on the coil-pack which they are going to change under extended warrenty - i'm hoping they will see this as a chance to make money on one job whilst they already do a free one, otherwise i'll just get the free work booked in and threaten to go elsewhere.

 

[-Ju-]

I think I paid £58 or so for what is the minimum charge for 1/2 hrs labour. It literally is plug it into the computer and leave it to update. £144 an hour is an absolute joke although it does include a comfy chair and a dodgy latte!

 

[BeardFour]

Ive written to the garage and pleaded my case, i'll report back with findings.
I does seem a joke though, in the garage i spoke with a receptionist, then a sales consultant, then the service admin manager before i spoke to a mechanic, a bloke in his fifties who clearly knew his stuff but didnt seem very comfortable being dressed as an advert for audi. no wonder they charge that much, I'm paying 4 peoples salaries

 

[Jake 61]

I think I paid £58 or so for what is the minimum charge for 1/2 hrs labour. It literally is plug it into the computer and leave it to update. £144 an hour is an absolute joke although it does include a comfy chair and a dodgy latte!

Yes, and they fried my ECU while I was having the dodgy latte, so had to fit a new one with the later software....!

No charge Mr S, result...lol.

 

[paddy]

Sounds to me like cam chain ? Has it been done on your car ?

 

[BeardFour]

The chain hasnt been done, I was thinking it could be that but the issues described in the thread above descibe my car to a T so going to get this checked out first.

Audi arent budging on their £144 price, need to try a few specialists in the area.

 

[-Ju-]

I had new chains on mine before the software fix as they were rattling, It made no difference to the driveability.
Try a different dealer, the price they charge for an hour is disgusting, It's 30 mins job at most anyway.
Plugging in a lead and pressing a few buttons is hardly the most demanding job is it!

 

[Raffaz]

The chain hasnt been done, I was thinking it could be that but the issues described in the thread above descibe my car to a T so going to get this checked out first.

Audi arent budging on their £144 price, need to try a few specialists in the area.

If your in the Newcastle area then give swift engineering a call. They have always been spot on for me
http://www.swiftmotorengineering.co.uk/

 

[BeardFour]

Thanks Rafaz - i spoke to them yesterday and they've quoted £59 + Vat, they look the much better option

 

[paddy]

The problem with the chain shows itself as a hesitation. If you coast down a hill then slowly come back on the throttle it will hesitate before it picks up.
It will show itself as a fault code if you have VCDS as a fault with the camshaft position sensor if i remember correctly.
My 04 3.2 went at 49k miles. great shame because the 3.2 was a better drivers car than my S3 thats for sure.

 

[BeardFour]

The problem with the chain shows itself as a hesitation. If you coast down a hill then slowly come back on the throttle it will hesitate before it picks up.
It will show itself as a fault code if you have VCDS as a fault with the camshaft position sensor if i remember correctly.
My 04 3.2 went at 49k miles. great shame because the 3.2 was a better drivers car than my S3 thats for sure.

I did have a sensor flash up on Bank A, I gave it a clean and reset and it hasnt come back, that was 6 weeks ago. I'm booked in for thesoftware update next week. Once thats done i'll try out your test.

 

[paddyg]

hi beardfour. did u get your hesitation sorted? my a3 seems to have the same problem. had it into audi newcastle a week ago gave them svm 8po no and tpl etc and said i already had the latest software 8087! so no further forward.have replied to a thread portsmouth software update with all my symptoms if anyone could take a look it would be much appreciated i would write it out again but my computer skills are a bit limited and new on here ha!