Audi A1 1.4 TFSI (COD) hesitation

[jinjur]

Right. I am slow to deal with this obviously but I am having to pick this up again.

Mum barely uses the car tbh and I have been up to my eyes with...........well...........everything.

I brought it up to Mallusk for MOT the other day having not driven it for ages, I *IMMEDIATELY* noticed the hesitation. This is good as I thought I was being a d1k. I have previously said it was when cold only, incorrect............more or less all the time but only really noticeable in second gear which is odd but might be limited boost or power in first gear which I think some cars do (again, could be wrong)

But, while I was sitting waiting for MOT I was doing a little surfing and came across a video about low pressure fuel pump issues with some TFSI cars. Not specifically mums engine.

I was originally actually looking into HPFP issues as from what I gather, this is mechanical, driven off the cam and I was immediately associating it with the timing belt work. But I am starting to think that this could really just be coincidence.

It would seem that the LPFP can sometimes lose pressure and/or not actually maintain the correct pressure for the HPFP to work with. The guy in the vid I was watching proved this by some solid diagnostics moving a pressure gauge from the rail towards the tank, ultimately finishing at the in-tank pump and proving that it was bleeding pressure back into the tank and losing it when the engine was off.

The fuel filter also has a check valve in it that can fail causing largely the same issue.

So literally while watching this with the engine running I can occasionally hear a noise every now and then from the rear of the car, not a lovely fuel pump high pitched noise. The pitch etc changes. So now I am wondering. Apparently this wont throw an error either (according to the vid)

This would also perhaps account for the longer than normal crank. It really does sound like it is stumbling to life, perhaps it is low fuel pressure from the in-tank pump.

Anyway, the car is coming towards the end of the (paid for) warranty and is due a service so I am going to try Audi P'down and feed this back to them

Hopefully someone will come out with me in the car so I can show them what I am talking about.

Did you get anywhere @MrWig and does this sound plausible to you?

This was the vid

 

[jinjur]

Anything @MrWig ?

Anyway, getting booked into portadown so hopefully will get further with them

 

[jinjur]

Well, after chasing this for over a year which you all well know, having the car in and out of Belfast Audi 4 or 5 times, a weekend at a time and being told by them there is no problem and ultimately, being told by Audi UK there is no problem, Audi Portadown phoned me to tell me................there is indeed a problem. They have been perfect so far.

No detail yet as as they noted that the car was very slow to start and was holding back exactly as I had said but they are on it. Pretty sure it is going to be a PITA to fix but have acknowledged my research around fuel pressure (both pumps, fuel filter)

It's going to end up a fight I am sure though as we are in the paid warranty period now with an associated excess, yet, I raised the problem when the car was in the Audi used warranty period (i.e. no excess)

Has anyone experience with anything similar? i.e. having raised and chased an issue within an original warranty period but being fobbed off for it to turn out an ACTUAL thing?

J

 

[jinjur]

*sigh*

Really (REALLY) thought I was getting somewhere but scuppered again by Audi, completely jaded by what I thought was a premium marque :/

Portadown Audi just off the phone with regards to the diagnostic steps they are doing and according to them, the have to follow diagnostic bulletins issued by Audi.

Now they have stated that putting our symptoms into the system, it is suggesting that they remove the inlet manifold and inspect the valves for carbon build up. Have also been advised that none of this work is covered by the extended warranty (nor the original used Audi warranty) and will be somewhere in the region of £4-500. If carbon build up is found, media (walnut) blasting will be required, again, not covered by the warranty. This is also the first port of call and might not be the actual cause of the issue.

The warranty will only cover a failed component and not a car that is running badly from a situation like this. Very disappointing

I have told them not to bother and it also solves the "Do I extend the warranty again" question which is now due which is an obvious "no" as it is pure tripe.

I think I plan to bring the car to an indy/specialist to help me get to the hard facts of a diagnosis which I am very sure will not amount to £500 and if indeed it is carbon build up, get that addressed much cheaper. If however, a failed component is found (will be focusing on fuel pumps) then present that to Audi with proof.

Given that, can someone recommend an Audi god to me please? Like literally someone whom you would trust with your RS4/6 etc?

I have said it before, Bavarian literally shamed Audi last year for me with support and continue to do so.............Audi just feels a wee bit Skoda to me right now :/

J

 

[jinjur]

Or am i being a bawbag?

 

[brocks]

Can’t add much to this… but wife’s car “forgot” her gearbox was there earlier this year Audi A1 (1.4 Tfsi 185 Black Edition) and had to have the mechatronic removed and rebuilt by a company in England (will leave a link below)…. Although pricey at around £650 much better than a new gearbox and a lifetime unlimited mileage warranty….

Have found Belfast Audi abysmal to deal with, on a par with Merc Belfast for platitudes and inaction and then horrendous “dealer” invoices….would put me right off either for another car purchase. Won’t go into details and everything on her A1 has now been resolved locally by an independent service centre.

Might be worth checking with these guys as their service is about the best I have ever experienced and with 48hr turnaround door to door to the UK

 

[Ruairi83]

*sigh*

Really (REALLY) thought I was getting somewhere but scuppered again by Audi, completely jaded by what I thought was a premium marque :/

Portadown Audi just off the phone with regards to the diagnostic steps they are doing and according to them, the have to follow diagnostic bulletins issued by Audi.

Now they have stated that putting our symptoms into the system, it is suggesting that they remove the inlet manifold and inspect the valves for carbon build up. Have also been advised that none of this work is covered by the extended warranty (nor the original used Audi warranty) and will be somewhere in the region of £4-500. If carbon build up is found, media (walnut) blasting will be required, again, not covered by the warranty. This is also the first port of call and might not be the actual cause of the issue.

The warranty will only cover a failed component and not a car that is running badly from a situation like this. Very disappointing

I have told them not to bother and it also solves the "Do I extend the warranty again" question which is now due which is an obvious "no" as it is pure tripe.

I think I plan to bring the car to an indy/specialist to help me get to the hard facts of a diagnosis which I am very sure will not amount to £500 and if indeed it is carbon build up, get that addressed much cheaper. If however, a failed component is found (will be focusing on fuel pumps) then present that to Audi with proof.

Given that, can someone recommend an Audi god to me please? Like literally someone whom you would trust with your RS4/6 etc?

I have said it before, Bavarian literally shamed Audi last year for me with support and continue to do so.............Audi just feels a wee bit Skoda to me right now :/

J

@pobmk4 is the guru you need. As anal as they come and won’t stop to problem solved. Only problem is he will be booked out for months as usual.

Also to add the extended warranty is a load of crap. Wife’s Q3 power boot was up 4 times to be fixed under extended warranty. Wouldn’t close properly. Meaning rear break lights wouldn’t work etc. Last time they said it needed new hinges and them colour coded and only body shop did that. £600 odd quid as not covered under the £437 extended Audi warranty. Even know it’s with another company.
Said forget it. Took it to a mate who owns body shop, aligned boot within 10mins and all fixed.

 

[jinjur]

Thanks @Ruairi83 will reach out to @pobmk4

Feel like a fool constantly going to Audi for every single service item this car needed now to ensure the warranty terms were met when in reality, its not a warranty at all

Actually feel like telling Audi to forget the service now as well tbh, would rather pay someone who deserves the money even if it was the same (extortionate) price.

Mum drove 3200 miles since last service of oil and brake fluid which they want to do again, pretty sure it really doesn't need it.

 

[Ruairi83]

Thanks @Ruairi83 will reach out to @pobmk4

Feel like a fool constantly going to Audi for every single service item this car needed now to ensure the warranty terms were met when in reality, its not a warranty at all

Actually feel like telling Audi to forget the service now as well tbh, would rather pay someone who deserves the money even if it was the same (extortionate) price.

Mum drove 3200 miles since last service of oil and brake fluid which they want to do again, pretty sure it really doesn't need it.

Don’t let them do it and book it in with Paul. He will use genuine parts and update digital service history also on Audi system.

 

[jinjur]

Hi gang, just wanted to reach out and see if anyone would be comfortable sharing Pauls number with me to try and get hold of him?

I did message him and from seeing his postings, I do appreciate that there will be a wait and he is a hard chap to get.

I do understand if this isnt the done thing tho

 

[Ruairi83]

PM sent

 

[Gambit]

Hi gang, just wanted to reach out and see if anyone would be comfortable sharing Pauls number with me to try and get hold of him?

I did message him and from seeing his postings, I do appreciate that there will be a wait and he is a hard chap to get.

I do understand if this isnt the done thing tho

DubTech in Ballymoney is the business name

 

[Ben P]

Hi gang, just wanted to reach out and see if anyone would be comfortable sharing Pauls number with me to try and get hold of him?

I did message him and from seeing his postings, I do appreciate that there will be a wait and he is a hard chap to get.

I do understand if this isnt the done thing tho

He will openly admit to not being great at answering calls/messages. He is usually flat out.
So keep trying, he is worth it!

Try office too 028 2723 8180.

If you have his mobile can also try a WhatsApp.

 

[jinjur]

Super stuff, thanks gents

 

[jinjur]

Well, after escalation with Audi UK it appears this is going to be dealt with at no cost.................whether that will actually fix the issue is another matter but progress nonetheless

The down side is waiting for 2 months for it to be booked in to do so (as mum needs a courtesy car tbh)

Will keep this updated as to any findings.

Still in my head though, at 33k miles...........could carbon build up REALLY be bad enough to effect the car so much?

 

[jinjur]

Car in with Audi at the minute and they have stripped it and have said that the carbon build up is the likely cause so are cleaning it.

They sent one of them wee cam videos and, well...............it doesnt actually look that bad to me at all.

How much carbon build up causes an issue in these DI engines?

 

[dddrrift]

you have your EGR valve to thank for that! Thats the main reason modern diesels get so clogged up and entirely possible even at 33k

 

[BobSpounge]

you have your EGR valve to thank for that! Thats the main reason modern diesels get so clogged up and entirely possible even at 33k

It's a petrol though. Shouldn't be as bad as a diesel.

Car in with Audi at the minute and they have stripped it and have said that the carbon build up is the likely cause so are cleaning it.

They sent one of them wee cam videos and, well...............it doesnt actually look that bad to me at all.

How much carbon build up causes an issue in these DI engines?

Clutching at straws I think. Is it tfsi or tsi? Mk5 gti's (tfsi) suffered with carbon build up on the valves. Never heard any issues with tsi engines, I'm not saying it's not possible though.

Did you try dubtech? He is a wizard at diagnostics from what I've seen and has a pet hate for mechanics just chucking parts at cars. If he can't get to the root of it nobody can.

 

[jinjur]

The car is the 1.4 TFSI and honestly, I don't think the valves are bad at all

I think Audi's angle is with the symptoms, the computer says that the should do a carbon clean and they cannot do anything else in terms of diagnostics until that is done.

A weak approach but all under warranty for now

J

 

[jinjur]

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.

Audi did indeed take it in back in December and after a little keyboard rattling at Audi UK, they agreed to suck up the cost of the carbon clean.

Think they had it for just under 2 weeks.

Still had to go back at some stage to deal with the really slow start but that was agreed. Didn't notice any issue when driving home but it was warm tbh. Mum hadn't noticed any issues either (never did though tbh)

So had mum out last week for a wee jaunt to the garden centre for her birthday (yes took her car because PLANTS/SOIL/EUGH) and was absolutely gutted to feel it bog down and hesitate again as soon as I got up to speed (my speed, not hers)............exactly the same, 4-5k........spluttering, bogging............then clears and away she goes. As I told Audi last time........it feels more like something electronic because of its intermittency and its exact focus at that RPM.

So the carbon clean did nothing.

Nada.

Also disappointing was my mum now finally noticing it and her wee worried face. She must have thought I was talking balls all this time. And now she is worried about it as she depends on the car so much :/

Hopefully now Audi can move on to actually diagnosing instead of having to do what a bulletin suggested as the cause/fix.


I also noted that the slow start seems to only be on the key.

So if I turn the key off and back on and start, slow, lazy start. Hot/cold/standing for ages/straight away.....doesn't matter.

But, when the car does its stop/start thang, boom......feels like the engine only turns over once and away she goes perfectly.

Hopefully this helps Audi do something, I mean, all these things started happening at the same time.


I have to say, the reliance on the computer is bonkers r/n......very little mechanic work in it anymore.

Will update if we ever get a fkn diagnosis.

J

 

[Dervhead]

Did you ever think about getting rid of it…

 

[jinjur]

Why would I do that? ......she fell in love with it.............she has had it 3 years and has honestly put on about 5k. She would only want another one, that colour, that spec. Y'know. She wanted one for ages. Seems silly but her first steps into something not Vauxhall or Mazda etc.

Been serviced religiously with Audi and lives in an extended warranty

Are we really at the stage where cars can't be fixed on a 30 or so k miles car because if we are, I am cycling.

Swear to god if Audi have no answer I will propose sending it to pob at their expense.

 

[DC.]

What a mess. Your Mum and you have been more than decent. With dealer servicing and the extended warranty you would think they would be more than willing to sort the issue.

Unfortunately a lot of main dealers don’t have the technicians they used to anymore. A lot seem to be just fitters.
So if something like this is happening they just throw parts at it and hope something works.

I’m not sure I’d have given them as much time.

 

[jinjur]

What a mess. Your Mum and you have been more than decent. With dealer servicing and the extended warranty you would think they would be more than willing to sort the issue.

Unfortunately a lot of main dealers don’t have the technicians they used to anymore. A lot seem to be just fitters.
So if something like this is happening they just throw parts at it and hope something works.

I’m not sure I’d have given them as much time.

I know bud...........well, I have been trying to not be a tool as tbh, I know we had Covid in the middle and nobody knew where we were at.

Although, I am seriously hoping for some traction now that the "it must be this because computer" thing has been covered. I just know that @pobmk4 would nail this so fast but I am so desperately trying to keep the illusion that this is a "good" car for my mum. She has always said she feels like a million dollars in it....y'know, one of those.

Can't help but feel that is running out of mileage

 

[DC.]

An independent review would do no harm and if you feel @pobmk4 would help then why no? You’ve nothing to lose at this stage.