stuttering A4.. ? New to Audi. Just bought it !!

**dpnewbold** · 08-04-2008,06:56 PM

Hi
I am a new Audi owner, just bought what looked like a nice late 1999 A4 1.8 SE automatic. I drove it home 35 miles on the motorway and it drove nice...no problems. I go to start it up a bit later and it coughs and splutters and pops like mad.
So I leave it a while and then try again, it runs rough as a bag of farts but after a short while it seems to pick up power and drives quite nice. then I put my foot down to 65-70 mph and it starts spluttering again.

This morning I try it again and its WORSE. I can't even drive out my driveway. Coughing and spluttering ...real rough....sounds bad.
Please can anyone give me an idea of the problem ?? and cost ??
My guess is anything from these... but I know jack **** about cars so ??

Coilpack ??
Mass air flow meter ??
Cat problems ??
Injection problem ??

Any advice would be appreciated. Its a shame my first post on the Audi forum is one of problems and woe. I have only ever driven Japanese cars for the last 20 odd years (mostly Toyota) and never had any reliability problems. Just fancied a change so sold my Avensis and bought this dog...doh

thanks

Regards
Dave

**road_rager** · 09-04-2008,10:16 AM

The coils are an easy change, and would be my first thing to try. Just buy one new one and swap them one by one until you find the faulty one. Check your spark plugs while you are there, make sure none are loose or fouled up.

**dpnewbold** · 09-04-2008,02:03 PM

Hi Road-Rager

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply. Iam about to take it to a local independent Audi specialist for a check over and diagnostic test....if i can drive it there !!!
Its running really rough....popping and spluttering.....not good.

I will let you know the outcome.

Not off to a good Audi ownership start

.

I knew I should have stayed with Toyota...virtually trouble free motoring over the past 20 odd years with a couple of Corolla's and Celica's !!!

**road_rager** · 09-04-2008,04:16 PM

Good luck, I'm sure it will be nothing too serious. let us know how you get on.

**00_B5** · 09-04-2008,06:10 PM

are u getting a cel?

**dpnewbold** · 09-04-2008,10:12 PM

Sorry, what is a cel ??

Thanks
Dave

**Lofty79** · 09-04-2008,11:13 PM

Could try removing throttle body and giving it a real good clean. That was what i had to do to mine and its running superbly now, even mpg is up.

**dpnewbold** · 10-04-2008,12:14 AM

Hi
Thanks for the replies. Lofty79...that sounds like a good idea, giving the throttle body a good clean. A mechanic friend also mentioned this. I believe a new one is quite an expensive item to buy.
I am awaiting the response from the local Audi indie garage to see what needs doing.
I am not that mechanically minded to be able to start taking throttle body off etc.
I hope its nothing too serious (expensive) and I am sure it will be fine once sorted.
I will let you know what the garage says.
In the meantime any other advice would be welcome nd thanks again for the replies.

What a nice lot of friendly people there are on here.

Regards
Dave

**Lofty79** · 10-04-2008,08:50 AM

Should just be a case of 1 breather 2 water pipes and 4 alan key bolts and itll come off, inside of it needs a dam good clean and around edge of the choke flap. Throttle body is the part that holds the throttle cable on top of it.