Audi 1.8 T sport cabriolet

[rochdale pete]

hi all,

i have recentley purchased an audi 1.8 t 2003 , on collecting from a car dealers garage all seemed well, there was an engine management light on which was down to a O2 sensor which was replaced and the light went off.
i took the car home and within 2 days it came on again, they turned it off and said it had to bed in. 3 days later it came back on so i took it back again and was told leave it with them.
they had it all day and when i picked it up they told me they need it back for a few days as they had not got to the bottom of it.

i took it home for 2 days as they requested and i am taking it back tomorrow. they told me they had put coils 1 and 2 in 3 and 4 and visa versa . they put new sparks in it too, but since they have done this the car runs awful. it misses when it is stopped at traffic lights and the car slightly shudders and once warm the tick over revs are around 1100 -1500 rpm its embarassing.


if anyone knows or has any info on this which would be helpful to me i would be most grateful. it goes back tomorrow and i dont want to be fobbed off by them saying we have fixed it only for it to go wrong in a week or twos time.

any help at all would be most welcomed thanks in advance Pete

[mikeybutch]

You need to ask if they have used diagnostics to identify the faults.If not this is essential

[rochdale pete]

apparently they have used a diagnostic handheld thing connected under the steering somewhere. that came up with the error as coils 1&2 . today has just got a whole lot worse, electric windows not working, no interiror lights,no remote locking, no electric roof and there is a loud buzzing noise coming from the glove box and it appears to have locked its own glove box.

i am seriously thinking this car is possessed !! i have rang the dealership and been told to take it over and they will have a look at it.

anyone else heard of anything as mad ??

thanks

[mikeybutch]

I think you should ask for your money back

[fourringsrus]

I think you should ask for your money back

Ditto, they are fobbing you off, sounds to me like they just cleared the memory to switch the light off rather than sort out the fault, give the car back and find a nicer one there are plenty for sale just now.

[rochdale pete]

thanks guys, looks like i am gonna have too. will keep you all informed on what happens !

[rochdale pete]

ok guys, the latest update is : they have ordered a mass airflow meter as this apparently is causing the tick over problem ! also the have ordered a control unit for the electrics, as the elecy roof/windows interior lights and central locking all stopped functioning.

does all this make sense please ??? thanks again

[dansansome]

I have a 1.8t sport cab (bfb engine) and had the high idle problem, it turned out to be a pretty inexpensive valve that had broken, can't remember the valve reference number. I'll try and find out which one it was if the mass flow change doesn't cure it.

Central convenience module going pop does sound like a valid reason why all your windows and roof etc aren't working.

I have my fingers crossed for you that you get sorted, they're great when they're running right.

As a little heads up, check the rear window bond to the roof, apparently 2003 models have a habit of coming unstuck (like mine did) and Audi want £4.5k for replacement of the entire roof mechanism to fix. I got my fabric+window replaced from a company for £900 which still hurt the wallet, but if you notice it in your warranty period it shouldn't cost you a bean. Don't use jet washers really close up to the window it can blow the window bond.

[rochdale pete]

thanks Dan thats really helpfull. i have to wait 2 days before i get it back so fingers crossed.

can i ask that at low speeds say 20 -25 mph in 3rd gear around 2000rpm the car is just dog slow at picking up ! do you think this may change with the new air flow meter also ?

the car is very slow on acceleration unless i really hammer the gas. my audi 2.0 tdi seemed much more powerfull even though it was less bhp

thanks

[dansansome]

From memory, the standard engine (map) is pretty slow to pick up in any gear at low revs (until turbo kicks in up the rev range), I had mine remapped and its totally different to drive. Really worthwhile getting it done just for the lower down throttle response, let alone the extra 40bhp top end.

[dansansome]

Your tdi will be really torquey at lower rpm which is why it'll feel quicker.

[rochdale pete]

thanks for that dan, looks like i am going to have to dig deep :D

[rochdale pete]

just had an update, my car is ready tomorrow. it was the ECU . Apparentley they have to get the moisture out of the wiring loom or de humidify or something. happy days i suppose, roll on tomoz

[dansansome]

Sorted?

[rochdale pete]

been told monday as they needed to dry everything out, i.e. front passenger footwell carpet and the wiring hrness etc etc. will let you know tomoz :)

[rochdale pete]

gotta wait till wednesday now as its all dry , but keys need reprogramming and i cannot get there now till wednesday.. oh the joys of motoring !!!

[rochdale pete]

woo baby , its back and it has a new ECU, new air mass meter , new plugs and a new 02 sensor,. runs like a dream too. happy days Dan :D . just need to save up for that remap. thanks to all who replied

[dansansome]

Glad you're back, up and running. Pics? :)

[rochdale pete]

as requested Dan

[dansansome]

Sweet. Looks lovely and clean.

As another mod suggestion, take a look at smarttop units made by mods4cars. It'll cost you £250 and around an hour or so to install but IMHO worth every penny. It basically allows you to control your roof and windows from your remote fob, so you don't have to press and hold the roof button. Also you can get your roof/windows to close up when you lock the car. Auto closure etc. I had one that went swimming when my rear window bond failed. I was totally lost without it, so bought a new one ASAP. The new units are a doddle to install, the hardest part is getting the passenger drivers side trim back on.

if you want more details just let me know :)

[rochdale pete]

thanks dan , i will PM you when i get some cash sorted. thanks for the tips :o

[rochdale pete]

Disaster strikes again ! had the car back for a whole week this time and the tickover is acting up. this time the garage has taken the car to an independant VAG specialist and they have changed the coolant temperature sensor and this sorted the problem out a low revs but once the car gets warm the revs creep up when the car is stopped at lights or a junction... it creeps upto about 1200 - 1300 revs, they once again plugged into machine and have decided to put in a new throttle housing body which should be on monday (tomorrow) apparently they want to try a audi one at a cost of around 350 quid.. thank god its still under warranty.

i have tried to get a refund but failed miserably and i even rang the finance company and they also said as long as the garage fixes the car i am not entitled to a refund !!

so fingers crossed for tomorrow as i really would love a car that works for more than a few days :(

[dansansome]

I'll dig out my receipts when I get chance to find the reference number of the valve that was changed on mine to cure the high idle problem, but in the mean time let them change all the expensive stuff under warranty :) should be peace of mind for you when the warranty runs out!

[rochdale pete]

cheers Dan, he did say he changed another valve thing too , something to do with letting air in and not out, some sort of vacuum. the more stuff they change the less i will have to do in the future . thanks for your input

[rochdale pete]

its back and better and faster than before, very very happy , well thats if its still ok in a week !! :biglaugh:

[dansansome]

Glad you'll finally get chance to enjoy it!

[rochdale pete]

thanks Dan. still happy with it, even got rid of the jvc stereo in it and replaced it with an alpine with all the bells and whistles :D

[dansansome]

That was one of my first mods too. So much nicer having bells and whistles to play with :)