16795 - Secondary Air Injection System: Incorrect Flow Detected
P0411 - 35-10 --- Intermittent


They said it wasn't the combi valves... some kind of intake inside the heads?

 

BTW the timing belt / alternator service actually came to 1200 not 1600, sorry.

It would be so wonderful if you were right about not having to remove the heads, but since 3 mechanics have told me the same thing after lots of diagnostics I'm wondering if maybe they are right...

 

Any ideas guys? By the way, I took it back to German Master Tech... they are awesome. They said that the dealer way exagerated the valve leak (its just slightly seeping), and they said i should just wait till next year when I have to do emissions to worry about the CEL. He said if I do my oil changes there, he will keep an eye on it.

 

the cyl. heads clogging up isnt totally uncommon. its just starting to show up on high mileage cars 100k or more. ive seen 1 car w/ this problem. its intermittent, sometimes it will pass the secondary air test and sometimes it wont. at least its something that wont hurt the performance of the car.

 

The SAI holes can get plugged with carbon build up and throw a CEL. It's emissions related but only operates during a cold start. It won't affect the performance of the car, but you can't get through emission inspection with that CEL code.
Try asking your tech to flush out the holes with lots of Techron and pipe cleaners...

 

I had this problem with my old Audi 90 so I blanked the air system with good results an no problems with emissions

 

I also have a 1999 A6 Quattro 2.8 79K Miles with similar problem (have the 16795+others). Engine light came on. Used VAG-COM to pull codes. This is what I got:

Address 01 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 4D0 907 551 AH
Component: 2.8L V6/5V MOTR AT D03
Coding: 06252
Shop #: WSC 02325
2 Faults Found:
16795 - Secondary Air Injection System: Incorrect Flow Detected
P0411 - 35-00 - -
16826 - EVAP Emission Control Sys: Small Leak
P0442 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
Readiness: 0000 0000

Address 02 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 4B0 927 156 G
Component: AG5 01V 2.8l5V USA 8509
Coding: 00000
Shop #: WSC 00000
2 Faults Found:
00268 - Solenoid Valve 6 (N93)
31-10 - Open or Short to Ground - Intermittent
00266 - Solenoid Valve 5 (N92)
31-10 - Open or Short to Ground - Intermittent

I'd appreciate any help. I'm failry inclined mechanically (worked at a shop for a few years) so willing to test things out.