So my 2002 A4 3.0 has about 97k miles on it and I finally decided to bite the bullet and have the timing belt changed. I researched alittle and found an independent shop to do it for about $1500. Got the car back and noticed that if I really push it until red line the CEL flashes at about 6000 rpm. Scanned it and found out it is "random/multipule cylinder misfire" and "cylinders 1-3 misfire".

I called the shop that worked on it and he told me that he read a TSB that sometimes on that engine after a timing belt service you have to "flash" the ECM so it will work with the cam position sensor correctly.

So I give him the car back and he takes it to the dealer to get it flashed and they say the TSB doesn't pertain to my car.

After that he calls me and says he thinks it might be the coil packs, which is possible but hard to beleive that all 3 would go out in the same bank.

He also recommended changing the spark plugs, which I just did and it didn't fix the problem. I plan to switch around the coil packs and see if the code follows the coils, but I doubt it is the coils.

If anyone has any advise it would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks