Friends, my A6 won't start, its been sitting on the street for about three weeks. When it starts it begins to shake and the engine light goes off... sometimes the battery light.

I just poured $3500 into it to change the torque converter, the electrical fan, and a few other small things. I figured that at least my car would be good through the winter! Like i mentioned briefly before, that was the money I was saving for a vacation... Now im broke without a car, and don't know how to diagnose it. Since I can't drive it to a local pep boys, etc. what do you all suggest I do? I don't have the $$ for the VAG, or the wire & program (i don't have a laptop)... at the very least I would like to diagnose it so that I can at least know a ballpark of what I am going to spend when I have it towed to either the nearby stealership or the over an hour drive to an authorized shop.

Anyone in the vicinity who can help? maybe with a vag? or with a decent shop??

anyone care to discuss my dilemma and maybe by going back and forth we can come to a conclusion?

thanks in advance.

 

For big engine problems like you describe, any OBD2 scan tool should enlighten you. I saw one in Harbor Freight for $40, but they are generally available for $100 or less in Sears, Pep Boys, etc. Once you have fault codes, diagnosing from there becomes possible.