Running issues on a newly bought D2
 

Hi all,

Regardless of the title thread I'm smitten with my recent purchase:

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/...psmjqrubnh.jpg

However, after buying I went on a 2 week holiday - my dad started it every couple of days to keep fluids moving and the battery in check.

Yesterday I took it on it's maiden voyage, did around 20 miles and parked up to do some shopping. When I returned to the car some hours later and started it, the engine check light was on. Later that day I ran a code scan and the following faults were found:

16814: Catalyst System Efficiency (Bank 2) Below Limit P0430
16804: Catalyst System Bank 1 Operation below threshold P0420

On top of this, when driving between around 1-2k rpm, I get an intermittent shudder which feels almost like a misfire pocket in the rev-range. There is also a bit of rev fluctuation during normal driving situations, in which I can visibly see the rev needle drop down 500 or so when I apply pressure to the throttle. I'm concerned it's transmission related but could equally be coilpacks / sparks.

I've driven it to work this morning and the engine check light hasn't reappeared (my friend reset the codes), although the noticeable issues persist. I'd really like some insight if anyone has experience of these issues, so I can rectify them as soon as possible rather than risk any further complications or lasting damage.

Thanks in advance folks!

The codes for the cats could be because they've not got properly hot. It doesn't really do the car any good at all to be started briefly but not driven as that introduces condensation in to the engine block and the exhaust but it doesn't get hot enough for it to evaporate so you end up with a lot of moisture where you really don't want it. It would be better for it to just sit there with a trickle charger on the battery and not to be run at all.

I would take it for a good blast and get the engine and exhaust properly hot (if its not going 'tink tink' when you stop you weren't trying hard enough!) and see how it behaves then.

The misfire could be many things but a common thing on the 2.8 is the cam cover gaskets leaking oil in to the spark plug holes. Worth pulling the coil packs and having a look to see if they're all clean. MAF can also do that although that does tend to manifest as a lumpy idle.

The rev fluctuation could be the torque converter, although 500rpm is a lot. Usually its only around 100rpm flutter. Does it bog down when this happens or pick up ok?

Thanks for the prompt reply MikkiJayne - I think you're right about the risk of condensation and as I have a free evening I will go for a spirited drive and see if any lights turn up during or afterwards. So far so good today on that front - perhaps just a blip? The exhaust does blow a little anyway so I am tempted by a stainless system, and will definitely do a thorough inspection while its on a ramp, whenever that may be.

The odd thing about the seeming misfire is it displays all the hallmarks for around half a second as you push on, then all signs of the issue disappear except for the fluttery revs. Perhaps 500 was an exaggeration but it's quite visible on the counter, and not something I noticed when I picked it up. That said, there is no particularly noticeable drop in performance, perhaps a slight surge as it figures itself out but hasn't alarmed me enough to pull over etc.

I have a friend with a VAG specialist garage in Croydon so I will probably head there on Saturday to see if he can cast his expert eye over it. I guess I'm being precious but I really love this car and want a good few years out of it so I'm prepared to keep it happy!

This is the case with mine by the way - I have a leak on the offside bank and you can occasionally smell the burn-off. I think this'll be my first port of call; I'll inevitably rectify the leaky gasket too in the hope it reduces any further issues. The MAF could also be at fault, hence the rev flutter.

Literally drove this thing for an hour before it started worrying me - good ol' Audi!

Crankcase ventilation hoses/pipes are also prone to failure on 2.8 and could cause the symptoms you experience if unmetered air leaks in.

So I went for a brisk drive yesterday and the engine check light came back on.

Same symptoms today but again no noticeable drop in drive-ability. I'm going to see my friend at Tuning Werkes tomorrow afternoon in the hope he can help me diagnose the issues and / or book me in for a proper inspection. I have a bit of a slosh fund ready for the inevitable bills so fingers crossed I can throw money at the situation and it'll improve!

I'll keep you all posted - thanks again for the suggestions.

Update! At the weekend I pulled the leads to check for ingress under the cam covers. The verdict - not good.

There was a significant amount of oil in all 6 spark plug holes. I strongly suspect my running issues may be in part due to this, which would not be too bad I suppose (better than a faulty transmission!).

The car is going to Tuning Werkes tonight for open-heart surgery tomorrow, namely:

- replace cam cover gaskets (both banks)
- check coilpacks and spark plugs, drain replace as necessary
- check crank-case breather pipe
- rectify headlight levelling issue (warning light driving me mad)
- check rear suspension and exhaust mounts (clunk / rattle over bumps)
- flush and replace engine oil
- flush and replace gearbox oil if necessary
- flush and replace coolant

Fingers crossed after all this work, the car responds well and is good as it should be. I'll be back!

Don't mind me but...
 

Hi,

My expertise is ALL nicked from Brain Boxes on this forum but.... :Confused:

[QUOTE
- flush and replace gearbox oil if necessary
-[/quote]

Maybe read some of the tales of woe on the Forum before you let lose a non-ZF specialist to "replace" gearbox oil.... :-(

Robert

Had a similar thing with bouncing revs on my 97 a4 2.8 (manual) the cam gaskets always leak on these engines it's nothing to panic about, Had a few v6 models & they all do. the breather pipe replacement is what solved mine, it's very common, mine was full of white gunk so it couldn't breathe, was like cottage cheese in there, it's easy enough to take them off & check & they're not expensive to replace if you need to

YorkshireBloke - appreciate the words of caution, this garage has replaced gearbox oil on my previous Allroad 2.7TT and B7 A4 3.2, all good so far - they're VAG specialists in the truest sense!

Snaggle57 - so true about V6 lumps ejaculating oil like it's in fashion. Gets quite tedious though, and I found evidence of sealant around the nearside gasket so I think a bodge has been performed in the past. I too expect it's the breather pipe playing up - would be an inexpensive and easy fix for sure!

I'll let you know how I get on +++

Just how well do these 2.8's perform?
I had a 2.6 (12V) in my old A4 and that was quite entertaining to drive, if not blisteringly fast.
115kW (150hp) and 1380kg for the A4Q
145kW (193hp) and 1580kg (Wow!) for the A8QS

Some quick Marty maths puts them at 83.33kW/T and 92.77kW/T.
Allowing for the fact that the factory curb weights and real life curb weights rarely equate, the A8 has higher overall mass and can carry more fuel, is an automatic (vs my A4's manual) I would expect them to have similar real world performance. Which is quite adequate from my A4 memories!

Having replaced my 3.2 B7 A4 with one of these, I was expecting it to be quite sluggish in comparison but it's surprisingly spritely for such a boat of a thing. Not going to set any world records but the 2.8 does get a move on for such a lazy lump, sounds pretty good too. However I didn't get this car to do anything remotely fast so it's more than adequate for my needs :)

Update!

The motor has been taken apart for a proper look - image of what was found included!

As you can see, sealant was used whenever the gaskets were last replaced (why, I do not understand) and there is oil EVERYWHERE. The following has been done:

- New spark plugs
- New leads
- New cam cover gaskets
- New seals as required
- Good old clean up
- Crankcase ventilation hoses replaced
- K&N panel filter fitted
- Fresh oil and filter
- Coolant flush

I'm picking the car up later today and am hoping the running issues I had were due to the poor condition of the gaskets / oil seepage. Time will tell..!

Photobucket won't display your pictures, but just attach/upload it here directly - the limits are quite generous. ;)

Thanks - Photobucket is messy these days. Image attached in previous post.. you'll see what I've had to deal with!

Eww! Looks like someone just gunged it to try and stop a leak rather than just replacing the aging gasket. It should run much better without the spark plugs being bathed in oil :)

That's exactly what happened!

Good news though - picked it up and my lord it drives like new! No lumpy revs, no hesitation, the smell of burning oil is gone, it's just better in every way. Silly how something so simple as a car running right can make a person so happy but I really am very pleased right now!

New serpentine belt and a bunch of other bits just to keep on top of maintenance for a while. I've been advised of exhaust leaks which mean I'll be going the stainless route in the next few weeks, plus I will be looking for an arm kit for the front and back in the next few months - but for now, wohoo!

+++

Great to hear a good news story and you will always get a good feeling when you get something sorted. What a bodged job that was! And a big +++ to you for the determination to get it (and other issues) done. Over the past year I have had some issues sorted (control arms, brakes, discs, cats, etc etc sorted) and having been away for two weeks I took the '8 for a (very) spirited drive to remove the rust from the brakes and I was grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat all the way through.

Tell me about it - apparently the garage has heard stories of the gaskets warping hence some people feel the need to involve sealant but I think that may exacerbate any underlying issues rather than rectify them!

Seems like you've already done the things on my list, I will be looking for a full front arm kit in due course (TRW / Lemforder / Meyle HD) but everything else, bar the exhaust, seems to be running well now.

I had Mr Exhaust look at my car in detail today, the team have suggested new flexi sections, new backbox and pipe, delete the centre box and put sports cats in place so I'm waiting for a quote now. I just want a tiny bit more grunt, both audible and in driving feel. Although mine is the lowly V6 I think it'd benefit from the upgrade, especially as the original exhaust is showing it's age in many places now!