Strange 1.8T cold idle problem

**Variante Alta** · 04-08-2008 09:23 AM

Ok all you 1.8T wizards...I have an '04 A4 avant, 6 speed. In the winter when we have below freezing temps, the engine (when stone cold, left overnight) at initial start-up idles immediately at about 800 rpms (the already warmed-up idle), and does not do the standard 1200 rpm warm-up rpms dropping down to 800+/- after 1 1/2 minutes...after I've driven the car and then allowed it to get cold again (at work for instance), the engine idles properly at 1,200 then drops to 800 after the 1.5 minutes...the dealer has looked at it twice, has reproduced the problem but is unable to diagnose the problem. Of course, my warranty is up this month so I've contacted Audi to register my concern but darn it this is maddening...I've been unable to find anyone esle who has experienced this problem...anyone here had such an issue whit cold starts...I've run a 1.8T now for 8 years (3 vehicles) and this is the first car where the engive skips the prewarm 1,200 rpm thing...please help!

Thanks. Jim

**11move** · 04-08-2008 09:27 AM

Try getting it re-programmed, I had a similar issue and the tech remapped the system and everything was fine, he said there was some sort of a glitch

**dougyfresh** · 04-08-2008 09:38 AM

My car behaves the same way and its a few years older than yours.

I believe the high-idle is for emissions and catalytic converter performance (cars run rich when cold). Same reason why the SAI (secondary air injection) system is installed.

I now have BT software and no SAI system and the car still behaves the same way.

I'm not worried. I'd rather have it idle at 800rpm all the time. Its annoying when the car idles at 1200rpm.

**DenverNoob** · 04-08-2008 10:11 AM

this is perfectly normal. there is no real glitch to speak of...when the motor is that cold the car is still adding the extra fuel for secondary air, but is incapable of actually burning it efficiently enough to get the extra RPMs at idle (the ECU is trying). keep in mind regardless, the car is an emissions monster when cold (in a BAD way). not a problem in the least...perfectly normal behavior.

**Tgr_Clw** · 04-08-2008 10:28 PM

Absolutely normal. My car's been doing that since I got it.

Originally Posted by Variante Alta

Ok all you 1.8T wizards...I have an '04 A4 avant, 6 speed. In the winter when we have below freezing temps, the engine (when stone cold, left overnight) at initial start-up idles immediately at about 800 rpms (the already warmed-up idle), and does not do the standard 1200 rpm warm-up rpms dropping down to 800+/- after 1 1/2 minutes...after I've driven the car and then allowed it to get cold again (at work for instance), the engine idles properly at 1,200 then drops to 800 after the 1.5 minutes...the dealer has looked at it twice, has reproduced the problem but is unable to diagnose the problem. Of course, my warranty is up this month so I've contacted Audi to register my concern but darn it this is maddening...I've been unable to find anyone esle who has experienced this problem...anyone here had such an issue whit cold starts...I've run a 1.8T now for 8 years (3 vehicles) and this is the first car where the engive skips the prewarm 1,200 rpm thing...please help!

Thanks. Jim