Im having some issues with this car.. Getting on the freeway the other day and 1st gear pulled, 2nd gear pulled to about 3500 and it was like the car fell flat on its face or you turned the car off... Not sure what the deal is. It happened once or twice before but this time I had to pull to the side of the road...Reved the engine and seemed normal, pulled back out into traffic and couldn't go over 40 and it was a struggle just to get it there... I got off at the next exit waited at a red light, turned the corner and... 1st,2nd,3rd pulled great like nothing was ever wrong??? Went to a friend's shop and smoked the entire turbo system...NO Leaks and no codes.. Anyone have any ideas???

 

I would have the ECM scanned by a VAG-COM or factory scanner. Just because the MIL isn't on doesn't mean there is nothing recorded.

Also i have to ask if your ECM is flashed or chipped...?

Because i've seen many many turbos go bad from poor programming.

 

When I bought the car I didn't think to ask if it was flashed or chipped. Is there a way to tell other than taking it to the dealer? This is my 1st Audi so I'm not really sure how everything works yet.

 

I hope I'm not correct here, for your sake.

It sounds like the high pressure fuel pump to me. Mine had the same symptoms. Eventually, you'll get a code for either a too lean condition, or a fuel trim issue. What has happened is the cam follower wore thru and either messed up the cam, pump plunger, or both.

Is your car still under warranty?

 

Before going into panic mode, check your fuel filter. If that is OK, time to pull the high pressure fuel pump and have a look at the cam follower, the cam lobe, and the pump plunger. this is a relativly easy job. Be sure to look up the proceedure, I think it was posted by 2wdblazer.

Good luck

 

What are your miles? If you are not under warranty check the cam follower. They can wear out anywhere starting at 30k plus. My second guess would be a coil pack misfired under load although my experience when they failed on me, they ran bad and never ran good until being fixed.