So, I'm no stranger to ignition coil failures on the 1.8t after owning a Jetta for many years... and now neither is my wife with her 03 A4. She has been able to diagnose the problem herself now when it pops up. She called me last week complaining that she lost another coil on her way to work, but after work, her car was fine. I knew this was not typical of a blown coil, but I changed her remaining 2 old OEM coils out for STI's. Now she's running on 4 new coils.

The problem is still intermittently there. I haven't been able to witness it yet, but she's describing it as being very similar if not identical to a blown coil. I scanned the engine and pulled various misfire codes.

I plan to replace the spark plugs this afternoon. I'm not sure how old/new they are.. but that's the next cheap/easy fix.

How about the air mass sensor? I've had that go on my old Jetta 1.8t and it produced similar misfire/stuttering problems. Is that where you'd go next? The car just rolled over 100k miles. Other suggestions? TIA. Oh, and if anyone knows... is the MAF an easy swap for a novice?

 

Do the plugs and gap them to specs. I've had the same thing happen to me once, where I had misfires and rough idling. My CEL came on. I drove it home about 10 miles and had the misfiring codes cleared. Problem went away and hasn't come back. Haven't heard much about the maf going out, but I would start just buy cleaning with cleaner sold at your parts store. It doesn't hurt to check your vaccum lines for any leaks.

 

Oh getting to the MAF on a B6 is easy, sounds like your mechaniclly inclined. Just take the airbox apart and the maf will be exposed.

 

Thanks Kwick Shift. I'll change out the plugs tonight and see what happens. I talked to my mechanic and he mentioned the injectors possibly playing a role in this.

 

Well... I'm driving her car this am. I stop 10 minutes from home to do some errands... come out and the car is studdering like mad. (had been fine)

CEL blinking wildly... major vibration... and power probably at 50%. So I pop the hood and start cycling through the coils with the engine running. It doesn't die. So it's not coils or plugs or ignition related. Right?

I let it sit for 10 minutes... and tried again. Still studdering... gave it a couple high revs and it cleared up! So I head on my way. Moments later it's studdering again...and 10 seconds later it's gone. I had to get another 20 minutes to work... and it popped up here and there on my drive.

Any ideas? Injectors? MAF?

Edit: Too busy to fuss with it. Dropped it off at the shop last night when I picked up my allroad from my timing belt service. Ouch!

 

hey could you email me back on what happened to your wifes car and if they fixed it i got a kinda similar problem and i changed all the packs too along with fuel filter and plugs only things left are Iginition control module, Crankshaft speed sensor, fuel pump, and bad grounds some where. oh my car wont start on its own it just cranks and cranks, but im guessing its the control module. let me know email me back at brotzvang@hotmail.com

 

your mechanics a retard. i've worked for Audi for along time and injectors have never been the source of any problems.

your problem is most likely a vacuum leak... probably from a broken vacuum check valve... usually the grey one. along the backside of the valve cover between the motor and firewall

 

Well I think we might have different problems. This car runs just fine 90% of time time. I'll be sure to let you know when I find out though.

I'm starting to agree... lol. He said it was the plugs... so he replaced those. Nope, it started sputtering on the way home.

I guess they finally got it to misfire today while test driving it and they put a vag-com on it. Now they're certain it's the injector on cyl 2. I have my doubts. It's on order and will be here tuesday. Will report back.

I'll have the car for the weekend. I'll try to check for that vacuum check valve.

 

Well they replaced the injector on cyl 2 yesterday. So far, it seems to have done the trick.