Not a good start to A2 ownership

C

carsen80

A2OC Donor
Morning All

I picked up my new 2003 A2 FSi on Thursday last week. The dealer I picked it up from is just over an hour from where I live so I spent the drive home getting used to the new cars characteristics. However just before I got home disaster struck and the car started misfiring and the EML started flashing. At first it seemed to recover and the light went off, put it was not long before it had happened a few more times and the eml is now on all the time.

I rang the dealer who seemed genuinely apologetic and I have arranged to return the car today for them to fix.

I just wondered if any of you FSi owners had had similar symptoms and could give a general idea what it is before I take it back.

After driving it over the weekend I have discovered the following.

The problem is not there when the car is started from cold. The car will drive fine for about 30 mins as it warms up and then I will start to notice the engine feeling flat in second and third. Eventually it will start misfiring and loose most of its power. If I switch off and leave the car to cool for a while it will be fine until it warms up again.

Anybody any thoughts?

Cheers
Jonathan
 
I'm not an FSi owner, but my immediate hunch would be a dodgy coil pack. However, I'm sure other expert FSi-ers will be along shortly with more views.
 
If its not the coils, most common on the FSI is injectors, but that doesn't account for the time delay in seeing the problem.
 
Could it be the temperature sender not registering that the engine is warm and so it is making the mixture too rich?

I doubt it, but these temperature senders can be a bit of a problem.

Was the temperature gauge steady at 90 when hot?

But a VCDS scan should pinpoint it.


Steve B
 
I've just got back from dropping the car off at the dealer I bought it from.
It came with a three month warranty so whatever the matter is hopefully it will get sorted quickly.

I had to drive it back to the dealers which take a little over an hour and just like before the car as fine until it warmed up. To answer the question above the temp gauge stayed rock solid at 90 once it got there. It took longer than I expected to get there but this is a new car to me so I don't yet know what is normal for it.
If there are any A2 owners out there who have a fault free FSI can you tell me what it is like to drive normally. Mine feels a little underpowered low down the revs and is not a nippy as I expected so was wondering if this is normal or another symptom of a poorly engine.

Cheers
 
Hi Carsen,
I'm sorry to hear of your poorly car. I had the exact same symptoms on mine a few weeks ago and it was indeed a faulty injector.
Good job you've got a warranty as it cost me over £400 to replace just the dodgy one.
Apparently there's a delay in the fault appearing due to the automatic choke disguising the issue until the engine is warm?!
I'm not sure of that makes any sense to anyone technical, because it means little to me.
I hope they get it sorted for you soon.
Adam :)
 
I'm guessing the fuel filter. Mine was doing exactly the same thing last year. Filter replaced, problem solved.
 
Hi All

I just thought I would update the thread with the diagnosis.

It has been into the garage and they have found the flap actuator arm has snapped and number 3 flap is sticking.
According to the mechanic it looks like someone has bodged it up previously as it appears the arm was glued to try and repair it.
Advice is it needs a new actuator, potentiometer and inlet manifold. The dealer has given me the choice of going half on brand new parts (around £230 extra from me) or at no extra cost he can get a complete second hand one from the infamous bluechip spares for £300.

Given he is picking up the labour and half the parts costs I have opted for the new parts.

with a bit of luck I should have the car back on Wednesday fit for another 88K miles.
 
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