Hey, I need some advice and maybe a few pointers as to what to look for. I just washed my car and then drove home, and when I started it back up, the check engine light came on and the engine started sputtering. It would not accelerate like normal and the exhaust does not smell normal...almost like it's 'puffing' something out. Any ideas as to what I might have done or what I can check? I don't know what to do!!!

 

Did you wash the engine? Sounds like a coil pack to me. Are you getting a CEL?

 

Its a cylinder misfire. Needs a new coil pack. I've been through this twice. First had 3rd cylinder, then two months later had 1st cylinder go out! I was so pissed, and of course both happened on a Friday night so couldn't really do much till Monday. But I had warranty so took it to Audi and said fix this thing...I already know what it is, and since this just happened, replace the faulty one and the other two "good ones."

Enough about me and my ever-occurring problems! Its a cylinder misfire, and if you've got a warranty I would suggest doing all 4, if they'll let you.

 

If you don't have a warrenty Buy the Hitachi E's from ECStuning and repalce all for for $125 and never worry about it again.

 

haha I once tried to wash the soot off the exhaust tip, and the water didn't come back out of the muffler. I stopped almost immediately, but its not like you can tip a car upsidedown and shake it out. That would account for the puffing and smellyness (soap being heated up?). I don't think that would cause the sputtering, but I don't know how low the engine is in relation to the exhaust.

 

check the spark plugs and igniton coils thats what the problem was when mine did this

 

Thanks for all the advice -- I'll take it in to the stealership tomorrow and have them replace everything -- it's under warranty. I'll update it tomorrow.

 

You guys hit it right on the nail -- it was an ignition coilpack on cylinder 1. Thanks for all your help! And it was covered under my extended warranty -- love that thing!

 

I am out of warranty. What money am I looking at. My labor rate at my garage is about $70

 

super easy, coil pack is 30 bucks, get the hitachi R version. pop your hood, take off the engine cover, unplug the connector to the defunct coil pack by pushing on the tab and pulling apart. pull out the coil pack and put your new one in. reconnect the connector and throw your cover back on, your done. should take 10 minutes max.

another note: its best to replace all 4 coil packs at the same time, around 120 bucks. running 1 new coil pack with 3 older ones can add uneven stress to the packs.

oh ya, dont ever drive the car with a bad coil pack.