Hard 'miss' at WOT high RPM's

[Mikef5000]

2002 1.8T APR 1+ kit, Forge 007 DV, K&N filter
105k miles. Timing belt and ALL fluids changed at 100k.

The car runs perfect during normal driving, but if I go WOT, and the RPM's get above 5000, there is a very violent 'miss' or 'stutter'. It's only happened twice, but that's enough for me to worry!
The first time, there was just one miss, and I let off the throttle, the next time (a week later) I kept my foot in the throttle (I was passing on a 2 lane rd) and it missed once, then a couple more times, then the yellow check engine display flashed. I let off the throttle just a bit, so it was still accellerating, just not WOT, and it smoothed out and was fine.

These 'misses' are very violent, not like clutch slipping, more like engine cutting out for a split second.

That was a week ago, I haven't gone WOT since, but it's still running perfect.

Can Autozone pull the code since it flashed?

I've replaced all the coilpacks with new versions over the past 2 years.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks

[mtbrider]

Autozone can check codes. I'd find out first if you are throwing any codes. My first guess would be coilpacks and then my second guess would be spark plugs. I'd check yours and replace them with a NGK BKR7e.

[Mikef5000]

I put new spark plugs in about 2 years ago. I was planning on replacing them again in the next few weeks anyway, getting the car ready for Quattro De Mayo in the Smokey Mountains.

[Overboostin]

what type of gas do you use and what boost are you running?

[Mikef5000]

I run BP 93 octane, with the ARP 1+ 93 oct. program, and TT225 injectors.


I don't have a boost guage to know what I'm running for sure.

[eg6siR]

coil pack is about to fail, been there.....

[Mikef5000]

Interesting! Everytime they've failed in the past, they just suddenly stopped working. No warning or anything like this.

Well, thanks all! I have a spare in the trunk, I suppose I will just wait till it dies entirely.

[Four Play]

I actually just had this happen to me today, ended up being the spark plugs. Got a new set of BKR6E plugs in @.028 and its all better. I'm hoping that really was the problem, because I just swapped in the E coilpacks abouts 20k miles ago...

[Mikef5000]

The old plugs didn't look too bad, but apparently they were bad enough. Swapped them out for new ones and all seems great now!

Thanks everyone.

(BTW, I still carry a spare coilpack or two in the trunk incase one does decide to go out soon too)

[AudiAdi]

Autozone can check codes. I'd find out first if you are throwing any codes. My first guess would be coilpacks and then my second guess would be spark plugs. I'd check yours and replace them with a NGK BKR7e.

BKR7E's are too cold for Borg Warner turbo A4's. I found out myself. Black soot on the plugs just after ~100 miles of driving. So were the BOSCH F5DP0R's. Basically... the stock heat range is good until you go BT.

[gtimart]

I'm with AudiAdi. Same thing happened to me with BKR7E-IXs. Car wouldn't start at all after a few hundred miles.

[A4ringedONE8T]

BKR7E's are too cold for Borg Warner turbo A4's. I found out myself. Black soot on the plugs just after ~100 miles of driving. So were the BOSCH F5DP0R's. Basically... the stock heat range is good until you go BT.

I (as well as a ton of other people here on AZ) have ran 7E's with stock turbo and K04 for over 30k miles and never had an issue You have to change them every 3-5k miles, you do know that right?

[dirtybrd]

BOSCH F5DP0R FTW, I had spark blow out issues with BKR7E's.

[AudiAdi]

I (as well as a ton of other people here on AZ) have ran 7E's with stock turbo and K04 for over 30k miles and never had an issue You have to change them every 3-5k miles, you do know that right?

What part of only ~100 miles already all sooted out don't you understand? I'm glad that it worked out for you, but it obviously didn't work out for me. I bet if you ran BKR6E's with your stock turbos, it would've lasted a bit longer than 3-5k miles.

[A4ringedONE8T]

What part of only ~100 miles already all sooted out don't you understand? I'm glad that it worked out for you, but it obviously didn't work out for me. I bet if you ran BKR6E's with your stock turbos, it would've lasted a bit longer than 3-5k miles.

They are copper plugs, they dont last more than 5k miles no matter what they are!! And sooted up plugs means your A/F is rich, not that your plugs are wrong ... Incorrect plug temp will result in random misfires and poor performance. APR, REVO, and GIAC will all tell you to run colder copper plugs with any software upgrades for the 1.8T. FYI, REVO files were written for/with Bosch F5DP0R, APR files were written for/with NGK BKR7E

[gtimart]

I won't discuss on the plug reading as I'm not very good at this. However, I have asked GIAC what plugs and gap I should run with my FXK03 software and here is their answer:

We actually recommend running the stock plugs with the stock gap. Some people will change to the NGK BKR7E copper plugs (which require frequent changes). Most will gap these to .030" or .028". The other more expensive choice is the Bosch F5DP0R which is a side fire and will last significantly longer. If your car runs fine as it is I dont see a need to change the plugs. I hope that helps. Thank you for choosing GIAC software.

I personally am back to stock plugs at 0.030" gap and this is what runs best for me.

[A4ringedONE8T]

I won't discuss on the plug reading as I'm not very good at this. However, I have asked GIAC what plugs and gap I should run with my FXK03 software and here is their answer:


I personally am back to stock plugs at 0.030" gap and this is what runs best for me.

Good info, I dont know much about GIAC as I havent had any personal experience with it

[AudiAdi]

They are copper plugs, they dont last more than 5k miles no matter what they are!! And sooted up plugs means your A/F is rich, not that your plugs are wrong ... Incorrect plug temp will result in random misfires and poor performance. APR, REVO, and GIAC will all tell you to run colder copper plugs with any software upgrades for the 1.8T. FYI, REVO files were written for/with Bosch F5DP0R, APR files were written for/with NGK BKR7E

Actually my APR dealer told me to run the stock plugs (hence stock heat range), which are good until you go Stage 3. <<Which is what I originally posted. Since I have been back to the stock heat range, I have not had any sooting. So I doubt it's the A/F ratio... it's definitely a sign of cold plugs. You also live in a warm climate, and I don't... I'm sure that has something to do with it.

[Mikef5000]

Well I'll chime in again I suppose:

I installed new BKR7's a couple years ago, and about 20k miles ago. They ran perfect up until a few weeks back, see original post. Absolutely no complaints about them! By the looks of them, I could close the gap back up on them to factory specs, and run them for another 15k miles. The electrode is slightly worn, but the plugs look PERFECT! They have a slight brown hue to them, and absolutely no trace of black on any one.

I swapped them out for BKR6's, and they are running perfect now. No complaints on these yet either, although I've only driven 50 miles.