Mis-firering, shuddering, shaking.

2003 Audi A2 1.4 Sport
Car: Audi A2
Year: 2003
Variant: 1.4 Sport
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
Hi. My Audi A2 (1.4 Petrol) has a mind of it's own at the moment. Ever since me and the missus went away at xmas in it. The first mechanic thought it might be some contaminated petrol that I was unlucky enough to fill up with on the motor way. The engine management warning light keeps coming on and flashing. When it flashes the car is mis-fireing and shuddering (as if one of the ignition coils has gone). The light then stays on all the time and the car is not too bad, although there is some power missing when pulling off from a starting position. The light then goes off. Whether the light is on, flashing or off when the car is started up (and hasn't been used for a few hours) it starts shaking. The whole light on, flashing and off process happens over the course of 4-5 days, then starts again. My local garage have put some special fuel/tank cleaner in and I have run the tank down to practically empty 3 times now and it's not helping. The garage reckon it could be the ECU. When the car is connected up to their computer, it tells them that coil no. 1 needs replacing, but it's been replaced already. They even swapped it with coil no 3, but it says the same. It's very quickly putting an AUDI fan off Audi's altogether. Any idea's? Its looking expensive.
Problem added: Jan 21, 2008 (16 years ago)
Wheels

Points: 5
Hmmm, sounds tricky. Is their any standing water where he coil connects to the spark plug? It does sound more and more like an ecu problem. I was going to suggest changing all the coils....have you done that?
Answered Jan 22, 2008 (16 years ago)
fluffyduck

Points: 271
Reply
Thanks for coming back Fluffyduck. The mechanics have checked and tried relpacing the spark plugs, but it made no difference unfortunately. so I presume they would have checked for water as well (one hopes). 3 of the coils have been replaced already, so I wouldn't expect them to need replacing again for a couple of years (not that I am an expert of course). The only one that has not been replaced was No. 4, which the ECU has not been picking up as a fault all this time. I reckon it must be the ECU then. Will ring the garage and get it booked it. I'm guessing it is going to cost quite a bit!
Answered Jan 23, 2008 (16 years ago)
Wheels

Points: 5
Reply
When i worked for Renault we would replace coils and find that even the new ones would create a fault. If the garage has already diagnosed and replaced some coils (clearly charging you for it) then you should be entitled to take it back them for a free re-diagnosis
Answered Jan 23, 2008 (16 years ago)
fluffyduck

Points: 271
Reply
Thanks. I'll ask them to check before doing my wallet any further damage. Although, I was actually in the Lake District when all this started to happen and saw a local mechanic who also didnt see the coils as being a problem, he even fitted one for me in a few positions which didn't make a difference (kind enough not to charge me for any of his time). From the sounds of it, it will be the ECU then. I just thought I would try you guys to see if anyone had heard of this before and had a different solution. Thanks for your time.

I may as well share what little knowledge I have. If you own a Mitsubishi with a GDI engine (I had a Pinin), there is a common problem with the throttle body getting clogged and as a result the car stalls when it is not reving (most annoying at traffic lights and junctions etc). I just had mine cleaned everytime I had a service. It took me ages to find this out, the local garage couldn't figure it out!
Answered Jan 23, 2008 (16 years ago)
Wheels

Points: 5
Reply
I have come across coil wiring harness's rubbing through on these vehicles and also loss of coil triggers from the ecu, these ecu's can be repaired, i usually use ecu technologies for these repairs, they are very good.
Answered Feb 10, 2008 (16 years ago)
mrfixit

Points: 323
Reply

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