I just bought a used '01 A6 2.7T with 60,000 miles on it. I was staying out of town when I bought it, which was at a much lower elevation (6000') then where I live. When I got it home (7200'), the car sputters and doesn't want to move when the car is first started up and cold. When it is in reverse and my foot is on the brake, the car jerks back and forth. It only does it for about 30 seconds and then works perfect. I just went through and changed the tranny fluid thinking that could be the problem, but it didn't fix it. Also, the old tranny fluid was a little dark, but otherwise it didn't smell burnt, and there weren't any metal shavings on the magnets. I hooked up VAG-COM and there weren't any fault codes on the transmission, but there were a few on the engine, but they were mostly emissions related stuff. Can the elevation have anything to do with it, or not? Also, any insight anyone can give me on the situation would be appreciated as there is not a European or Audi garage in the town I live.

 

what codes were in the engine?

 

All audi's run like crap when they are first started up when its cold, even more at that elevation.
Let it warm up for about at least 2 minutes to build up some oil pressure and warm up the coolant, you shouldn't have a problem.

 

I downloaded the codes. Here is the log text:

17863 - Exhaust Gas Temp Sensor 1 (G235): Implausible Signal
P1455 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
17870 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P1462 - 35-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent
17864 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P1456 - 35-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent
16826 - EVAP Emission Control Sys: Small Leak
P0442 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
18011 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P1603 - 35-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent
16825 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P0441 - 35-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent
16684 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0300 - 35-00 - -
16685 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P0301 - 35-00 - Please Register/Activate
16690 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P0306 - 35-00 - Please Register/Activate

 

The first one is a faulty sensor the regulates your exhaust temp. Not engine critical unless you notice an intense heat increase. Ask your delaer about it and see about replacing the sensor. Since it is intermittent, it has not failed completely. EVAP emission control (small leak) is probably your vacuum lines. Could be old rotted lines due to heat of the engine bay. Take off the top cowl and inspect the lines. These you can replace yourself and is a good idea if they never have been done. The random misfire code is probably your spark plugs need replacing or ??? Aside from those mentioned, the restare codes thrown becasue the computer is asking for is a shareware upgrade...its a software upgrade compliant with VAG-COM. Don't worry about it. I would think it would be firmware for the internals but...whatever. Hope this helps. Somewhere around this forum there is a glossary of codes floating around which explaind what each code means. It might be on the www.audiworld.com site. Your car seems to be in good shape. The hard/cold starts and rough running is just due to the cold -- it sounds like. Lether warm up good before driving and you should be fine. Good Luck !!