Audi 80 2.0L ABK engine juddering/misfire

[sdk778]

Hey Paul, change the relay pal, it's £12 tops, if that doesn't work then get you timing checked, mine was doing the same and it transpired that my cam to crank timing was a tooth out on the cam belt, purrs now, or did, sold it yesterday!!!

[SteveInDaBury]

I recently had very bad running of my audi 2.0E ABK, it felt very underpowered and I honestly thought it's number was up. It was after a recent service, plugs and oil changed.

I rechecked the relay (see earlier in this thread) and my previously soldered joint was still shiny and looked good but I resoldered anyway. No difference.

I got my dad to take a look at the car, he noticed the HT leads have a metal shield where there attach to the spark plugs. He suggested to remove the shields, apparently these can cause problems (on motorbikes too - he used to be a motorcycle mechanic) depending on humidity they can help the spark to arc before reaching the plug! I guess looking in the engine bay at night when it's dark enough to see the spark jump might help. On idle with the bonnet open and observing, every so often there was a click and the engine would buck ever so slightly.

Unbelievably, removing these shields solved the problem. I could not believe it because the HT leads were quite new (less than 2 years). Another approach might be to get some good copper cored HT leads as replacements.

Thought I'd post as 'something else to try' for those still with issues...

[muz666]

not sure if it helps anyone, but i have had on going running issues with my 80, mainly holding back, hesitation and flat spots, had to change the fuel pump yesterday and the car runs smooth as now, so it might be worth considering.....