Audi A4 2.5 TDI intermittent jerking problem

[SAJ4D]

So here goes, my first post on here after 5 years of trouble free motoring courtesy of my a4 2.5 tdi which last night came to a halt on the M6 near Birmingham, with me, my wife and my twin boys in tow!!

The background to the story is that one day travelling along the motorway, I felt what can only be described as a misfire from the engine, as if there were some sort of blockage in the fuel supply. I managed to get it off the motorway, but then all the way home, irrespective of speed etc the problem would intermittently reappear regardless of speed.
Since then, I found that normal inner city driving was fine, but on the motorway, usually after about 15 minutes, the problem would reappear. This has been going on until the events of last night unfolded.

So, after I stopped on the motorway, i tried restarting and it would hold revs, and if i revved it hard it would immediately cut out. other times, it would start and conk out straightaway. The RAC finally arrived and I had it towed home.

This morning, I started it up and it was fine all morning except that the coil light was repeatedly flashing. Took it around to a chap who has the machine for reading the codes, and the following codes were found :-

01376 - Rev Signal For Injection Pump
00550 - Injection Start Control

He told me of a place that specialise in diesel AMDiesel in West Bromwich (anyone used them?). So, he didnt reset the code, and the car would not start at all, when the code was cleared, the car started up and made it home no problem.

This is where I am up to. I have scoured the web for threads relating to this problem, but there are just so many competing theories, I thought it best to post here with my specific symptoms and codes, and see if any of you people have any suggestions...

I really hope its not the fuel pump, and in most cases I have read of, its only the fuel pump when the car just will not start, which is not the same as the problem I am having. I would appreciate if any one could suggest alternative problems that cause the symptoms I have described.

If anyone has any light that they could shed on this, it will be very gratefully received.

[adamss24]

It looks like the injector pump is on its way out ! Get in touch with dieselbob.co.uk wich is a respected diesel specialist and can refurbish your VP44 diesel pump for about 600 quid with full 1 year warranty. I would get a second opinion from someone with vag-com but, if the pump throws a code and the belt does not look like its slipped and everything looks ok under the covers then the pump its on its last legs...

[SAJ4D]

thanks for the quick reply. greatly appreciated.
I have a few questions though if I may.

1) Do I definitely have the VP44 pump?
2) Are these prone to go wrong around the 110K mile mark?
3) How easy, or difficult is it to check that the timing has slipped or not?


Thanks for your time.

[SAJ4D]

I found this page just now, which has left me wondering that it may indeed be the fuel pump on the way out :-

http://www.lbm.lt/Eng/audifc.htm

For the specific code (01376) here is what it says:-

Rev signal for injection pump Defective

This fault message is stored if the speed sender
in the injection pump is transmitting false
signals or no signal at all.

Possible Causes :- Injection pump defective

Symptoms :- Engine stops (safety cut-out)

Solution :- Renew Injection Pump


So, looks like I will have to bite the bullet and get the fuel pump replaced. Once I have done that, I will post back to let you know if it solved the problem.

[shark_90]

I recoded one of these with 113k on the clock for the local Bosch diesel centre only a couple of weeks ago. Remember that unless you get your actual pump refurbished you will need to adapt the new pump to your ECU otherwise the car will not start. If you/your diesel specialist gets stuck with this then I can sort it out for you.

[SAJ4D]

yeah thanks for that.

Would you be able to offer a service like dieselbob and actually refurb the fuel pump for me? if so how much do you charge?

[shark_90]

Unfortunately that's not something I'd do, I do more of the electronic stuff such as immobilisers and ECUs etc.

[SAJ4D]

hold your horses!!!

just had to dig a little deeper with this, dont really fancy having to pay for a fuel pump unless i really do have to.

I found this site :-

http://www.dieselpumprepairs.com/#/b...mps/4533360090

Based in birmingham too which is handy.

As they put it : -

"Specialists in the economical repair of failed Control Boards on Bosch VP44 30/37 electronic diesel injection pumps, saving customers upto £1000 in replacement and fitting costs.
We offer the most cost effective and viable solution to the problem caused by pumps failing from control board issues. (99% of all failures are caused by failure of the electronic control unit)"


Can anyone please tell me if they have used these guys...... or a similar outfit. What credence is there to the claims of 99% of faults being attributed to electrical... especially in a fuel pump. Seems like these guys specialise in my specific pump ie the VP44.

Looking through the site, they are mail order only which is a bit of a shame.


I have to say though that the car. apart from the obvious problems of now cutting out, does run quite well immediately prior to the problem surfacing, and earlier today, once the codes had been cleared, the car was running as good as ever, although this was at under 1.5 k local driving.


It's because of this intermittent nature of the problem that I am so reluctant to go ahead and replace the whole fuel pump.

I will post back once I have had the electrics checked on my pump.....

[adamss24]

I have oppened a few of these pumps electronic control units and i tell you there is no way any shop will repair the PCB. They used platinum/silver conections and no solder that i know off will solder these thin wires. The only serviceable part insede the pump is the engine speed sensor on the diesel pump wich has a ribbon cable wich is known to snap, especially if the pump stays dry(as when you buy a pump off the shelf from a breaker) without diesel inside. I would say you bite the bullet and spend your dosh on a fully reconditioned pump wich will be again within tolerances and properly set-up on a testing bench. It takes about 4 hours to program the pump trough all working regimes so most of the labour its included in the price. On top of that you will get all new seals, bearings and cam plates fitted and brand new solenoids fitted as well. Trust me, i fitted lesser quality pumps refurbished in eastern europe by Bosch acredited garrages wich did not run right and failed within 8 months...because of cheap quality parts used. If you search the net, there are a few chinese companies wich offer every working part of the pump as spares...Wonder why the people use them ? Because they are cheap...and nasty ! I would say you go with a reputable garrage like PB Asher( herd good things about them) or DieselBob( i could swear by him as i used his pumps on a few of me own cars) wich is based in Preston if i still remember right. Also, if you let him know a week before he can build you a pump wich you can then pick up on the spot wile giving yours in exchange, or you could use mail order... You did not say what year your audi is as pre 2002 pumps dont need "codding". Actually all is needed is just adapting it to the ECU wich can be done with a cheapo vag-com cable off ebay !

[shark_90]

That's a point, I had it in my head that it was a B6 for some reason.