Engine shaking more during idle....Please Help!

[br8ker21]

Hi everyone,

I did some research already, but couldn't really find anything similar to my symptoms. I posted about a month ago about another issue but found out that was due to a blown coilpack (got it replaced at dealership already) so don't think it's related.

I'm chipped with APR 93 program and been fine for months now. Today before night class I was at a light and noticed the car's idle was a bit rough. So I thought it wasn't much, but I wanted to make sure, so I pull over and put it in P and it was OK no CEL yet. Then few minutes later tried in in R, N, and D still shaking really bad and now a CEL shows solid. I popped the hood and checked the engine bay to see any visible problems, and I did notice the area towards the belts a metal piece was stuttering up and down, not sure what it's called. When I pressed the Check engine, it showed the MPH symbol and beeped once. I'm really stuck here!

Also, I just had a 25K maintenance done at dealership last month. Had oil changed and required maintenance done only. I noticed that they splashed oil in around my bay area and the downpipe looks like smoke is coming off of it. Not sure if that has to do anything with my issue, but blows that smell when my heat is turned on sometimes!

I'm going to switch back to stock mode to see if that helps at all. Maybe it's the diverter valve? Not sure... Please Help!

[snackbarber]

I have heard that it is not uncommon to have multiple coil packs fail around the same time. If there is a way to read your engine codes(schucks or vagcom) then it might give you some more info. Since your probably still under warranty you might just want to call your dealer.

[A4natomical]

the piece you saw moving was just your belt tensioner, no worries there. PCV valve?

[rxer311]

Yeah, sounds like another coil pack. Warranty FTW.

[illegitimus]

x2 on coil packs. why don't you demand that they replace all of them?

[rxer311]

Yes...there is a recall on them.

[br8ker21]

Thanks guys for the responses. It seems like everyone is pointing towards coilpacks, but if it is wouldn't I get a flashing CEL not a solid?
Yea this time I'm going to demand for replacement of all of time, dam dealership changed the bad one only!

[illegitimus]

if you check the codes and post them someone might give you a better insight into the idle problem. I mean, it could be your PCV as well, you could have a hose broken in your evap system.

[br8ker21]

if you check the codes and post them someone might give you a better insight into the idle problem. I mean, it could be your PCV as well, you could have a hose broken in your evap system.

Not sure how I can do that since I don't have any scan tool... but I did remember oil being around the oil cap, it looked like they topped it off with too much. Not sure if it's related to this problem, but going to dealership Friday since it's still under warranty. Come on Audi, Truth in Engineering...? plz

[Tusin]

PCV or coilpack. You are not still driving it are you? Also the belt tensioner will move a bit. But it should not be moving a lot.

[br8ker21]

Where is the PCV located? The car is parked at home. Going to get it towed to the dealership since I have a solid CEL. Not going to risk doing more damage. So the metal piece is the belt tensioner? Makes sense now.. it moves a little bit

[kgb.audi]

when one of my coilpacks went out my CEL blinked several times, and then went solid. sounds like another coilpack went out.

[illegitimus]

pull the engine cover off and the plastic piece with a pancake-like part that sits on the top of the driver's side, just above the intake, that's your PCV. if you have oil around filler cap and around the valve cover, it is your PCV that failed.

[Tusin]

With the engine running, try pulling off the oil cap. If it comes off with little to no effort your PCV is fine. If it is stuck or hard to pull off, PCV is dead.

[br8ker21]

Ok so I had to check the bay again and this is what I noticed
Please see pics below. Sorry if they're to big.
http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac124/lbn2183/021120101277.jpg

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac124/lbn2183/021120101276.jpg

[xULx]

Yes...there is a recall on them.

Where can i find this recall....I can print it out and shove it in dealer face

[B72.0T]

Ok so I had to check the bay again and this is what I noticed
Please see pics below. Sorry if they're to big.

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac124/lbn2183/021120101276.jpg

Valve cover gasket? Had to have mine replaced at about 39k.

[sinned]

Usually when there is no CEL (which would eventually go off) and the engine is causing the car the stutter or shake, it is usually a form of vacuum leak somewhere. This is just like if you had the car running and you open up the engine oil cap.

So, just going by what you have said, a leak in the headgasket can cause the pressure in the engine to leak and cause these symptoms as well as a busted PCV system. A CEL for a misfire would be more indicative of a ignition coil issue.

[r1de]

Sounds like PCV - if idles rough but sounds okay under revs, and you see oil outside the filler cap, it's a PCV failure. No big deal to fix; if you're under warranty, take to dealer ASAP and they'll turn you around pretty quick. There is a TSB on the PCV failure.

[br8ker21]

Usually when there is no CEL (which would eventually go off) and the engine is causing the car the stutter or shake, it is usually a form of vacuum leak somewhere. This is just like if you had the car running and you open up the engine oil cap.

So, just going by what you have said, a leak in the headgasket can cause the pressure in the engine to leak and cause these symptoms as well as a busted PCV system. A CEL for a misfire would be more indicative of a ignition coil issue.

Maybe it is a PCV issue, because this time it shakes in P or N. Also under high rev I don't notice a stutter or shake.

[br8ker21]

Sounds like PCV - if idles rough but sounds okay under revs, and you see oil outside the filler cap, it's a PCV failure. No big deal to fix; if you're under warranty, take to dealer ASAP and they'll turn you around pretty quick. There is a TSB on the PCV failure.

Yea I'm still under warranty. Taking it to the dealership on Sat. Hopefully it's something minor. I might just drive there since it's only 20 miles from me. BTW what is "TSB"?

[r1de]

Yea I'm still under warranty. Taking it to the dealership on Sat. Hopefully it's something minor. I might just drive there since it's only 20 miles from me. BTW what is "TSB"?

TSB == Technical Service Bulletin; a note to the dealers from Audi stating "heads-up, the following problem has been happening a lot, it's a known issue, here's how to diagnose it and what to do to fix it." Usually includes an upgraded part. The PCV failure has been common enough that they have a TSB on it; I had mine replaced at 33k. The TSB is 2015505/4.

[bullomar]

Hi to all,
just wondering, as some of you have mention when you have a bad PCV there is an oil around oil cap, I am wondering something...

I have 2.0 tfsi quattro, 2006 with 95000 kilometers and had a bad PCV before which was replaced some 10000miles ago.
SInce I have noticed oil around my cap, I decided to buy a new PCV and to change it -but still, write after installing a new one, I noticed again oil around a cap which is there now even 1000 miles after installing it.
I also have this oil around my head gasket so could there be some vacuum leak?
Currently, I am having misfire problems with the cyl 3, changed new spark plugs and nothing... I think I will change my coil pack too but first, if someone is able to give me a hint what to do with oil around my cap?

Thank you all and sorry for language mstakes..

Omar

[illegitimus]

Hi to all,
just wondering, as some of you have mention when you have a bad PCV there is an oil around oil cap, I am wondering something...

I have 2.0 tfsi quattro, 2006 with 95000 kilometers and had a bad PCV before which was replaced some 10000miles ago.
SInce I have noticed oil around my cap, I decided to buy a new PCV and to change it -but still, write after installing a new one, I noticed again oil around a cap which is there now even 1000 miles after installing it.
I also have this oil around my head gasket so could there be some vacuum leak?
Currently, I am having misfire problems with the cyl 3, changed new spark plugs and nothing... I think I will change my coil pack too but first, if someone is able to give me a hint what to do with oil around my cap?

Thank you all and sorry for language mstakes..

Omar are you talking about the oil around the head gasket or valve cover gasket? two different things. oil around head gasket is something you do not want to let go for much longer: if it is blown it might bear serious consequences. I would check the vacuum hoses to and from the PCV. are there any unusual noises in the engine bay?

[mda0428]

driving this morning car starts to shutter, cel starts flashing, pull over call the dealer they say call audi road side, im in warranty so its free tow, i manage to get teh car to my office a mile away and by 12pm they say it was the coils and replaced all 4, free car wash too.

[LawnMM]

Had the idle stutter on my car too this week. Took it in and it was the pressure regulator valve leaking. Replaced the valve and the gasket under warranty and all is well. They replaced the ignition coils too due to the recall though that doesn't appear to be related to my stutter. Just offering that up as another possible cause.

[br8ker21]

So here's the update people,

Went into Audi of Willow Grove yesterday explaining the problem... had an appointment car went in and took about 45 minutes not to bad. Found out that it was the crank case breather valve being bad, so they replaced that with gasket.
gasket # 06F-103-483-E
breather valve part # 06F-129-101-E

The mechanic explained that the bad valve caused symptoms similar to a bad coilpack or something like that. So far so good drove it yesterday and it seems fine now

[r1de]

So here's the update people,
...
Found out that it was the crank case breather valve being bad

a.k.a PCV - positive crankcase ventilation valve. Glad it wasn't something serious, and with the update part I'd expect you shouldn't see this again.

[bullomar]

are you talking about the oil around the head gasket or valve cover gasket? two different things. oil around head gasket is something you do not want to let go for much longer: if it is blown it might bear serious consequences. I would check the vacuum hoses to and from the PCV. are there any unusual noises in the engine bay?

Hi illegitimus, I can see an oil leak around the valve cover gasket (like the pic above) and also around an oil cap when I take it off.
Until today I have changed the following:
-DV, PCV, spark plugs, again PCV because I thought it was bad but nothing.... and finally yesterday I changed coil packs but the misfires are still there....

what should I do? change the valve cover gasket?
Also, few days ago, after cleaning the MAF sensor with some contact cleaner and after I have reassembled the intake pipes etc, I saw an oil on the intake pipe for my turbo!!! an oil goes through metal hose from the engine which than goes down to the turbo... the turbo intake pipe was very oily and I think this is very bad for my car...
is this all because of my possible air leak?

thanks

[bullomar]

are you talking about the oil around the head gasket or valve cover gasket? two different things. oil around head gasket is something you do not want to let go for much longer: if it is blown it might bear serious consequences. I would check the vacuum hoses to and from the PCV. are there any unusual noises in the engine bay?

Hi illegitimus, I can see an oil leak around the valve cover gasket (like the pic above) and also around an oil cap when I take it off.
Until today I have changed the following:
-DV, PCV, spark plugs, again PCV because I thought it was bad but nothing.... and finally yesterday I changed coil packs but the misfires are still there....

what should I do? change the valve cover gasket?
Also, few days ago, after cleaning the MAF sensor with some contact cleaner and after I have reassembled the intake pipes etc, I saw an oil on the intake pipe for my turbo!!! an oil goes through metal hose from the engine which than goes down to the turbo... the turbo intake pipe was very oily and I think this is very bad for my car...
is this all because of my possible air leak?

thanks

[joe11784]

I think my PCV is going bad now. I am getting the same issue you have in your pictures (oil near intake + oil from the side of the engine). I believe it is my PCV because I have never replaced mine. I am going to the audi dealership after work to pick up the parts. Which parts do I buy? the entire assembly or just the hoses or what?

[joe11784]

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab55/nofx51688/clip_image001.jpg

This is what my engine looks like

[B72.0T]

Funny this thread, now Im noticing my car is somewhat rougher on idle than before. No CELs, oilpacks and PCV have been replaced. Any thoughts?

[illegitimus]

Funny this thread, now Im noticing my car is somewhat rougher on idle than before. No CELs, oilpacks and PCV have been replaced. Any thoughts?

how many miles on the car? mine has had rough idle for about 6 months now. I've replaced a crap load of stuff on the car already. religiously change oil every 5k miles. I am inclined to think this is the dreaded carbon build-up but don't want to spent a grand having it scrubbed off. The car also developed an extra ticking noise when warm. That, I think, is the cam chain tensioner issue. I am at 69k miles now.

[joe11784]

my idle is fine but I am having an issue at WOT where the RPMs shoot up 2000 RPMs (from 4000). I checked under my hood and found oil around the engine as shown. The car seems to run fine otherwise. I want to make sure its a PCV issue before buying the part at Audi after work

[B72.0T]

how many miles on the car? mine has had rough idle for about 6 months now. I've replaced a crap load of stuff on the car already. religiously change oil every 5k miles. I am inclined to think this is the dreaded carbon build-up but don't want to spent a grand having it scrubbed off. The car also developed an extra ticking noise when warm. That, I think, is the cam chain tensioner issue. I am at 69k miles now.
I JUST hit 49k this morning like 49,003 right now... I really dont think its carbon buildup at this early miles!?!? I hope not... And YES! Me too, about the more noise at idle. I can hear the extra ticking, it being the cam chain tensioner... should I take it to the dealer? [:(] Fuck.

[Bluea4AWD]

My engine bay looked like all those 2 weeks ago... Bsh block off plate fix my problem!!! No more pcv

[digitalAUDI]

I'm going through the same issue. I have replaced the coils. I have the bsh stage 2 pcv fix. Just got an oil change, no oil leaking anywhere visibly. No oil on the ground where I park everyday... but still have a bit rough idle and feel occasional extra vibrations in WOT... could motor mounts be the culprits?

[A4 Effort]

I'm dealing with the same issue in my Avant. Started noticing it just recently within the last 2 weeks and it's starting to resonate throughout the cabin while i'm in gear and at a stop. Oddly enough, sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. When i'm in neutral or park the vibration goes away. No CEL, PCV and coilpacks are fine. I'm still under warranty, so i'm just going to have the dealer take a look at it for me

[joe11784]

Picked up the PCV on my way home from work at the dealership and that fixed the issue I was having. I wanted to go with the BSH but I didnt want to wait for shipping (BSH actually cost only $1 more too and it is a more perminant fix). The car runs great now however

[B72.0T]

Car is at the dealership for "ticking" metal noise...

[B72.0T]

Update on my part...

They checked my camshaft and said I have the upgraded version, yay for me? = No/minimum cam follower wear? xD