ABK engine pinking / pre-ignition

[audi80mk4]

I'm posting this here as well as on the 80-90 section because I believe some 100s and maybe A6s had the ABK engine. Hope this is OK.

My 1992 80 2.0E pinks when hot and under load, e.g. accelerating or climbing a hill. It has the ABK engine, auto gearbox, less than 89000 miles, recently serviced, no fault codes found after thorough check.

Can anyone suggest a reason please ?

Cheers
Keith

[sdk778]

Timing is out, for sure, get a man with a light to check it on the distributor, will need either retarding or advancing, nowt else much causes pinking.:beerchug:

[audi80mk4]

Thanks sdk, it's going to see man with light (and diagnostic stuff) tomorrow. I'll ask him to look at it again, although he thinks he has retarded it as much as he can already.

Don't you think the cause could be in the throttle pot (position sensor) or airflow meter ?

Cheers

[smokey0123]

It is ignition timing that is the problem. Has it had a new cambelt recently? if so the belt could have been put on wrong.

[audi80mk4]

Many thanks, Smokey, that seems to be the consensus, and it's going to see spannerman with strobe tomorrow. I'll ask him to check camshaft timing too.
Cheers
Keith

[smokey0123]

IIRC there are 3 pullys the belt runs on and 1 tensioner, The camshaft is probably timed correctly to the crankshaft. It is most likey that the distributer pully (the 1 half way down to the right is you look at it from the front of the car) is the 1 not timed correctly. It has to be timed against the V notch on the alternator belt pully (the 1 that bolts on the to crankshaft).
I hope you understand me that the best I can explain it.:biglaugh:

[audi80mk4]

Thanks, Smokey. Spannerman should know what he's doing, but if he can't sort it I'll be going to VAG specialist in Chepstow, about whom I've just learned, or some other one. My brain cell and back can't take it any more and I think it's time to start throwing money (but not at a main dealer) !!
Cheers
Keith