I have a 1997 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro. When I start my car it idles totally rough, sounds like its misfireing. Can not drive, as it wont accelerate, if I try it just wants to stall. I have a chip in it that i suspect could be the problem, but it hasnt given me any trouble before. I took it to a guy who first tried reprograming my chip, didn't work. Then he tried the O2 sensor, didn't work. Then he told me it was a "computer" problem which was $1700 to fix. If that were the case, I would be very happy. I asked the shop owner if he could actually do the work as well as the dealer ship due to his lack of resources that the dealership has. He leveled with me and said the dealership could analize it better than he could. So yesterday I took it to the dealership and am now awaiting the phone call. You guys ever experience anything like that? If so what was the problem? Also, any idea on a worst case scenario? The guy said my car is in excellent mechanical condition, and it still starts right up no prblem, just wont run right. Could you guys seeing it costing more than $5000 to fix? Thanks guys.

 

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Before you start breaking out the savings, I think you should get the ecu scanned. Get it VAGed and see what error codes are displayed.

 

thanks, I did search around the forums, I'm mainly wondering what could be "computer" oriented that would be 2000 to replace. I hope they dont have to take my chip out. On a side note, I so far have a chip, borla exhaust, 2" lowered, and a diverter valve. It's a fun quick car, I think my next upgrade will be the turbo.

 

Did it flash the CEL? If so, it sounds a lot like mine when ignition coil went...

Mine happened shortly after I got the APR which was covered by warranty as well as AUDI recall (thank GOD), FYI...

 

I would love it to be the ignition coil. Don't think the CEL was on, but I made no attempt to diagnose the problem myself. It was just obviously f'd up so I had it towed in. But like I said the first guy was just taking what I would call an educated guess as to what the problem actually was, and after hearing $2000 I'm a little anxious to hear from the dealer, and what the actual problem is on tuesday. I'll definitly let you guys know what is up with it, let's hope it's something simple, but I have a feeling I'm gonna be digging deep for this one.

 

I had that problem with my celica when i was first getting it running after i bought it and it ended up being my mass airflow sensor, might check into that

 

Vag-Com.

Could be anything, coil, loose wire, fouled spark plug, vacuum leak.

Need to pull the codes and see what is going on. Could be the ECU too, or the aftermarket chip. What chip is it?

If it is the ECU, they are available used for a few hundred, or new for about 7-800, more from the dealership.

Let us know what it turns out to be.

Can't see anything but a total engine rebuild (which you don't need). costing 5K

 

Good to hear. Forget what chip is in it, it was put in before I bought it, I could easily find out though it was from a friend. The guy I initially towed it to sent it back for reprograming or updated firmware, or something like that. That didn't fix it. But I don't know exactly what he did, if anything at all. We'll all see what up come tuesday.

 

Well, got a call from the dealership. They tell me the "spark control module", and also something was clogging the cat on my borla exhaust (wtf!?). Aparently there is a crack somewhere on the intake too. The price for just the module was 500 bucks to have done, dunno about anything else. I guess it could make sense for this to be the problem, but I really didn't think I was gonna get off this easy. Anyone's input is welcome, you guys think this sounds right?

 

I had that same kind of problem last month. 2 of the coil packs went bad ans was misfiring like crazy and stalling. I drove it to the shop and they replaced the coil packs, and plugs. The car ran great for two weeks, and now it sits in my drive way waitng for my catalytic onverter to arrive. So all in all the coil packs and plugs cost $500 and the cat cost me $300 last nite. Hope this might help