Audi A2 series of unsolved problems!

[Le Chat]

My Audi A2 kept stalling at junctions, traffic lights etc and was difficult to restart, so as I work for Mercedes-Benz, they towed it into the workshop and decided that I had put petrol in the engine instead of diesel. Now this is impossible as the last time before this happened, I went with my husband to fill up. His car is diesel, so he put it in his and then in mine...bearing in mind that the diesel pump where we go is on its own and not actually next to a petrol pump! Anyway, they stripped the engine and changed the fuel filter. Fortunately, as I work there they didn't charge me (I bought plenty of beer for them) but I knew that the problem was not fixed. The car did actually run ok'ish for one day, before it all started to go wrong again. This time, we skillfully drove it, using the handbrake to stop. to the main Audi dealer. They ran a diagnostic and said it was the Cam shaft sensor that was playing up. We parted with �280 and took it home. I then went on holiday for 2 weeks. On returning, the first drive out in the car was the same as ever only worse. So now we have to tow it to the Audi dealer 40 miles away. Furthurmore, we have been told that we will have to pay again, unless the sensor they replaced last time is faulty. I am so p****d off. I've had no car, on and off for 6 weeks and both garages are unable to fix it...and I have to pay for the privelege!! Anyone any ideas?

[harley_Husky]

I find it hard to believe that the 'technicians' have been unable to find a fault code.

We have though, become so reliant on Diagnostic machines, that nobody seems to be able to fault-find anymore....although if it is a sensor/electronic issue you're at the mercy of the ECU anyway..

I have in the past pulled the fuse to the ECU for 24hrs and then let it re-learn through a good half hour of driving, although this is the caveman approach, and i'm sure that the teckies at Audi know what they're doing.

Eddie

[harley_Husky]

Does your car run well when at normal speeds, and is it just at idle that you are experiencing problems ??

I'm thinking - stab in the dark - ' Idle control valve ' but would like some more specific info first before anymore wild guesses.

[bigboots]

harley, some manufactures tell you to disconnect the battery and touch the terminals together this discharges the static (quicker than pulling fuse and waiting 24 hours)

Lechat was the car smokey? some cars suffer from the inlet manifold/throttle body getting chocked up with crap and needs to be stripped and cleaned

and and how on earth was a cam sensor + diagnostic+ fitting +vat =280 quid? this seams steep
explain to them nicely that you asked them to diagnose the problem,and that you have payed them 280 to fix it and it is still the same/ worse,ask if they quality controlled the work of the mechanic as you cant see any improvment with your vehicle for your financial outlay

Ask if they can check the current data with the engine running, this will give you specific values ie fuel pressure as this is critical , fiats wont start with less than 170 bar pressure at cranking speed, also a sticking fuel pressure regulator should show up

[Le Chat]

harley - The car has had problems at all types of speed!!
bigboots- The car was not smokey.
Update on the story.....
Got the car into Audi and the bloke rings me to say that the fuel filter needs changing and the valve adjoining it needs cleaning as it is full of 'crap.' I told him that I was not at all happy (in no uncertain terms) as the filter had only been changed in July by Mercedes. He then said there may be alot of sediment in the tank - to which I replied "Impossible, as Mercedes stripped the tank and proclaimed it clean as a whilstle.!" What the hell is going on here - why are they so incompetent? They want �147 as well!!
Thanks for your answers by the way!!

[twazerk]

We see a few of these A2's in our garage as a local company uses them, the only recurring fault we see that would cause your fault is faulty engine temp senders. From memory I think there is 2, one does the instrument panel (green) and one is for the ECU (blue).

Oh, and don't fit a non genuine temp sender, make sure it's from Audi or it won't work properly.

Hope this helps