So my 2002 A4 Quattro 3.0 with 126k miles is giving me fits. Automatic shift. The engine has run like a well maintained and care for motor. But lately the car has been running on five cylinders I believe. I purchased a quality code scanner and was able to clear all codes and all warning lights. Start her up and after just a few minutes the check engine light comes on and the engine shutters like a wild thing. This time more lights appear. Scanner shows cylinder #3 misfire. But then also shows a tranny heat sensor. I can clear all the lights and codes only to repeat the process over again. So I switched out the #3 plug with the #1 plug and now the codes show misfires in both cylinders! The #1 cylinder never threw a code before. I noticed when I pulled the #3 plug, it had the most weird smell to it. Not gas, but different. I also switched the coil pack with an old set I saved and I get all the same results. Major repair done a few thousand miles ago ie timing best, water pump etc etc etc for about $2200 bucks!
So any thoughts out there? I need help please!
Oh, the PCV valve assembly needs replaced and new parts are ordered for that. For now I rigged it to make it work.

 

What are the codes?

And try and explain the 'smell' a bit more.....

Cylinders 1,2 and 3 are on the same side/bank of the car...reading what you read, you've narrowed it down to the passenger side of the engine...if you switched the spark plugs out and it went to #3....it followed the plug....but after clearing codes, #1 should have been fine-there's obviously a deeper issue there......easier thing to do would have been to move your spark plug wires from 1 to 3 etc...

Any noise coming from the passenger side of the engine?

List your exact codes....