I have just had a replacment engine fitted to my 1996 Audi A4 1.8 20 Valve.

Whilst it runs it doesnt run that well. For instance when i go up hills with my foot to the floor in 5th at low revs it tends to choke and splutter! in fact i have heard the occasional pop or miss fire.

the garage that done the work have said this is to be expected and that i should drive it for a week or two to get the electronic engine management thingy get used to the replacment engine.

This sounds like B/S to me, does anyone have any idea?

Basically the new engine doesnt seem to match the old computer and is causing issues.

Can i have the car tuned? or is it hard coded?

Will VAG COM tell e whats up

Could this be due to the new cam belt being one tooth of its right place or would this cause serious damage. Im sorry but i am just trying to get some information for when i call the garage so im not ripped off!

Thnaks for nay advice

 

Why is the cam belt off, shouldn't the shop deal with that when installing the engine? Maybe it just needs to be tuned a little. The mileage on the engine and how long its been sitting without being run can affect its performance, then again theres no substitute for knowledgeable installment. You ever think the shop knew whats up and is milking you? Run the VAG and see what you get. But I'd bet the problem has something to do with the cam timing being off. Goodluck

 

Sorry i dont know if the Cam belt is off im just thinking that i asked them to fit a new one and that the only reason why the engine doesnt run properly is that they could have made a mistake on fitting the cam belt.

Thats exactly my question really, would it run if the cam belt was off

And so i can get it tuned!!

So i need to run the VAG and see what i get!!??

Thanks

The milage was 68k but i dont know how long it has been sitting around for.

 

Don't run below 2500 rpm in fifth gear up hill. Downshift.

 

Thanks for your reply

But I know how to drive. I wouldnt normally its just that regardless of what rpm i am going at it shouldnt cough and splutter. Also happens when i pull off using a lot of throttle.

Cheers

idle spped seems to bounce up and down as well, between 400 - and 1100 which to me is too wider gap between the two. It almost stalls at 400 and makes the car shake

Cheers

 

yes what crazyhawk said it is a 4 cylinder and does not have enough to make it up a hill in 5th what is happening is going to be normal the car is struggling to make it up the hill downshift into a lower gear and your problem will go away

 

well that doesnt account for the crapy idle. either have them do a leak down test to make sure all hoses are in greta shape w/o any leaks. also info on the engine code would be great bc if you put say an aeb into a awm car there is for sure going to be issues as one uses vvt and also dbw and a hall sensor for your cams and the other one doesnt so you would need a whole new ecu

 

First thing is to do a throttle body adjustment. Just turn the ignition to the on position and leave it for 5 minutes without touching the gas. You should hear clicking and whirring under the hood. Then start it and see if problem is solved.

If not, check under the hood and make sure you don't see any hoses that arent connected, and with the engine running, check to see that you can't hear any vacuum leaks.

Then get a vagcom and scan for codes.

 

If the timing belt was off one tooth you would get a check engine light right away.If the cam sensor and crank sensor dont line up it knows right away.

 

How many miles have you driven it?

It takes right about 40 miles for the ECU to get back to normal.

If you have driven that far and still have problems, is it throwing any codes at all? Normally you would get something form the CEL if its running that poorly.