The £800 eBay punt...

B4Andra

B4Andra

Member
Bonjour all!

Just bought the father-in-law a wee 1.6 A2 - there’s a sob story, but this isn’t the X-Factor!

I’m a huge old Audi fan, got myself an old S8, and a B4 Cabrio, so when it was time to get someone else a car I thought “you can’t go wrong with a Polo can you!?”. But it’s all a bit grim on the sub 1.5k Polo scene, especially around the arches! How do you get a polo wihout the body rust? So that’s why I ended up looking for an A2 :D

So why take a punt on an eBay A2? The guy lived within 5 miles of me which was handy, so I went and poked at the car even though the guy failed to turn up to show me it running.... The MOT history was spotless, aside from pads a little low 10 years ago and tyre tread advisories. No fails, 4000 miles a year, awesome. Guy promised FSH but didn’t have it on arrival.... There was a touch of oil on the bottom of the engine but no massive drips, not a big worry - even less so when I found out where it was.

Got the car home, discovered a few concerns, hope to get some good info!

  1. The throttle coolant pipes have been bypassed. This one threw up all sorts of questions as it was a first for me...
    1. Does anyone know why this may have been done?
    2. Why does the throttle body have coolant going through it!? Heating up intake air, why!?
    3. Does anyone have a diagram of how it should be plumbed?
  2. The breather adaptor thing on the oil cap is loose - causing it to run like a bag of bolts, read up on this forum that’s an easy fix. That’s causing oil to blow out a bit and caused the dribble on the bottom of the engine...
  3. The peterol flap button was held in with parcel tape at one point. The bits inside are gone, new one ordered.
  4. The heater controls have been operated by Edward Scisorhands, common thing I believe, how much is a new panel?
  5. Blower doesn’t work, fuse is fine, not looking forward to what looks like a fiddly job!
  6. Believe that the FSI has some perhaps inerent problems with the intake flaps, is it worth taking the inlet manifold off and doing a cleanup (might make refitting the coolant pipes to the TB easier!).
  7. There’s a “coolant pipe of death”?
  8. I need to find an undertray (no doubt the same mechanic as the throttle body bypass).

So anyway, the wee motor actually looks a good one that’s had some minor neglect, just needs a bit polishing up and I’ll be giving it a full service and timing belts.

Here’s a wee picture of it next to it’s bigger brother, alu everywhere!

910677A7-DEF9-4B65-A21A-86DC8C31027C.jpeg
 
Well welcome to FSI ownership with its BAD engine code somewhat ironic ay FSI= fin stupid invention and Audi we’re having a laugh when they named the engine.

First things first does the EML come on when the ignition is turned on ? A lot of people cover this up from inside the cluster.

Secondly get it plugged into VCDS and see what faults are lurking as with the FSI there’s bound to be something..as in point 2 I’d suggest that’s something more sinister than a bit of air however that can cause some lumpy ness..

After that I’d formulate a plan as for the manifold intake flaps injectors there’s nothing you can really service yourself so unless it’s broke leave it alone..

Good luck with it ??.
 
As predicted.... Anyway I took the tape off for now. Might regret that come MOT time and bags of frustration!
D62B946D-D9B0-45C3-9F44-CB6363AA89DB.jpeg
 
Got some mates with different diagnostic gubbins. I reckon they will do the job. Need to get myself some VCDS action, got enough Audi’s lying around to make it worthwhile!
 
Welcome, good to hear another A2 is on the way to seeing some nearby roads (I'm in Hamilton). Our FSI has NFG in its reg, it used to be referred to as No Fin Good during its troublesome times though they're great when running properly.:)
 
I’m tempted to buy some spare ignition coils and keep them in the boot, but I don’t think they have any problems yet!
 
Welcome,

You have a long list of questions. Some quick responses.
1. Sounds bizarre.
2+3. You seem to have in hand.
4. I am not even sure a new panel is available from Audi, even if it is the price will be silly. Look in the 'How To' to replace buttons.
5. Follow advice on coaxing back to life.
6. Yes, inherent flap problem. Disagree with Ian(BoxyA2). I would recommend any FSI owner to strip the inlet manifold circa 80k, decarbon and check the flaps(I have a theory). Long job with multitude of gaskets but will it be sorted for another 80k. Ideal oppurtunity to replace the "death pipe" and have injectors professionally cleaned. Your mileage? Can almost guarantee 'set point not reached', 17439, hence the tape.
7. Covered.
8. Crop up in forum Marketplace on a regular basis, or £90 new from Audi.

When you have your VCDS scan results post them here for advice.

Sorry if 6 was a bit gloomy but I have suffered twice.

Welcome again, and any questions just ask.

Andy
 
75k for miles. I do enjoy a clean inlet manifold :D you mention multitude of gaskets, is there a set or is it a bunch of individual and expensive ones?
 
Andrew said:
Welcome,

You have a long list of questions. Some quick responses.
1. Sounds bizarre.
2+3. You seem to have in hand.
4. I am not even sure a new panel is available from Audi, even if it is the price will be silly. Look in the 'How To' to replace buttons.
5. Follow advice on coaxing back to life.
6. Yes, inherent flap problem. Disagree with Ian(BoxyA2). I would recommend any FSI owner to strip the inlet manifold circa 80k, decarbon and check the flaps(I have a theory). Long job with multitude of gaskets but will it be sorted for another 80k. Ideal oppurtunity to replace the "death pipe" and have injectors professionally cleaned. Your mileage? Can almost guarantee 'set point not reached', 17439, hence the tape.
7. Covered.
8. Crop up in forum Marketplace on a regular basis, or £90 new from Audi.

When you have your VCDS scan results post them here for advice.

Sorry if 6 was a bit gloomy but I have suffered twice.

Welcome again, and any questions just ask.

Andy
Click to expand...

I think you may of mis understood my point being with how delicate the engine is (being an FSI owner) that yes the flaps and injectors are indeed an issue but getting the car plugged into VCDS to get the fault codes and work my way throught those 1st would be priority before taking half the engine to bits.

I brought mine with a misfire N316 set point not reached £15 eBay part sorted it. 2 weeks ago developed misfire in 1 so it’s going in for a strip down,

6 hours labour £240
Decarb manifold (professionally) £45
Injector cleaning and refurb £20 each
New Audi injector seals £10 each
Lots of other little gaskets £££

My point was if it’s working ok unless you’ve got £££s to throw at it leave it alone deal with the apparent issues 1st.

Cheers

Ian
 
B4Andra said:
75k for miles. I do enjoy a clean inlet manifold :D you mention multitude of gaskets, is there a set or is it a bunch of individual and expensive ones?
Click to expand...
About £20 worth if I remember right. You have one gasket either side of the flaps assembly and another for the throttle body to inlet manifold. Do not forget (like I did) to buy the eight o rings that go on the injectors. I was lucky as they’d been replaced the year before so I made do without. Also order a couple of fuel pipe clips and (if you want to save yourself at least 40 mins) a special hose removal tool as the fuel pipes are VERY difficult to get off. There is a how to from a german forum which can be dug out.
 
BoxyA2 said:
I think you may of mis understood my point being with how delicate the engine is (being an FSI owner) that yes the flaps and injectors are indeed an issue but getting the car plugged into VCDS to get the fault codes and work my way throught those 1st would be priority before taking half the engine to bits.

I brought mine with a misfire N316 set point not reached £15 eBay part sorted it. 2 weeks ago developed misfire in 1 so it’s going in for a strip down,

6 hours labour £240
Decarb manifold (professionally) £45
Injector cleaning and refurb £20 each
New Audi injector seals £10 each
Lots of other little gaskets £££

My point was if it’s working ok unless you’ve got £££s to throw at it leave it alone deal with the apparent issues 1st.

Cheers

Ian
Click to expand...
Hi Ian,

I think our ideas are converging. Yes get a VCDS scan and take it from there. Yes, no need to rush into stripping the inlet manifold - car will function ok, just a loss of performance(feels restrained) and a little dip in mpg.

Back to the parts question. Ian's figures are not a million miles from below. I do not think there is a kit. The figures below are one year old from a very well known, on here, A2 specialist, many members will recognise the stationery. I took the opportunity to have the cam belt + coolant pump and 'death pipe' done at the same time, so many of the items are not strictly connected with the intake manifold. Sorry for the quality of pics, magnify. I know some members have reused some gaskets to save money.

SAM_3788.JPG


I




SAM_3787.JPG


Hope this helps.

Andy
 
Andrew said:
Hi Ian,

I think our ideas are converging. Yes get a VCDS scan and take it from there. Yes, no need to rush into stripping the inlet manifold - car will function ok, just a loss of performance(feels restrained) and a little dip in mpg.

Back to the parts question. Ian's figures are not a million miles from below. I do not think there is a kit. The figures below are one year old from a very well known, on here, A2 specialist, many members will recognise the stationery. I took the opportunity to have the cam belt + coolant pump and 'death pipe' done at the same time, so many of the items are not strictly connected with the intake manifold. Sorry for the quality of pics, magnify. I know some members have reused some gaskets to save money.

View attachment 38084

I




View attachment 38085

Hope this helps.

Andy
Click to expand...

Great break down Andy and something I’m looking forward to lol !!
 
I put up the list for interest of any members thinking of performing the strip down, after all in this case a scan result might reveal no manifold problem, just my conjecture.

I forgot to say a big item on the list is the vacuum unit which may not be necessary and also the spark plugs were only changed because they were the wrong ones ( will have words with my mechanic). Also forgot to say the parts undoubtedly can be sourced much cheaper elsewhere but if you ask a garage to do work you normally have to accept their parts prices.

Andy
 
I will have a poke and see if I can test the vacuum unit on the car, it looks the same as every other audi vacuum unit ever so from my experience they are pretty solid, had much older cars with these units that aren't a problem.

The scan is next, then the service and I will be considering hard if I want to do the manifold rebuild or not, but since this won't be my car and I don't want to hear anything about it running rough etc, I might just do the job.

I suppose it also gives you a chance to look at a tonne of other stuff and make sure it's all good!
 
Welcome another Glasgow owner (is that five of us now?)

Mine is in the East end and is a brown Tdi (silver when washed)

I got VCDS-lite and a cheapo cable to read faults. Can’t autoscan and can’t do adaptations etc but good enough for error codes and resetting them.

Good luck with your mission. I’m a mechanical numpty and I managed to fit a replacement blower motor so it’s fairly easy and there’s a step by step guide on here (Tufty’s). If you have any symptoms people an usually diagnose for you.

Well done on the price. You can throw a lot of cash at it and still have an amazingly good value car



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The plan is to have the purchase budget thrown at it again (at most) to get it as good as I can, I’m under pressure, her old man s**t a brick when I told him I wanted him to drive about in a £800 car. I still think it’s a wee peach which needs a bit of care! The guy I bought it off was a ned and just thought he had a wee auld motor but he’s not kept it long enough to have done too much damage to it!
 
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