free money for your expertise

[mnsirtee]

1999 1.8t automatic tiptronic
this does not always happen but mostly when engine is warm up or a hot day.
the car would jolt and jerk when moving from a stop and lost of power after that. the rmp will jump from 500-1500 up and down constantly in drive and neutral. when this happens, i have to turn off engine and turn it back on to put it back to normal. this is scary when on freeway with traffic hours.

i recently changed my valve cover gasket because cylinder 3 was flooded with oil and also changed all my spark plugs with new ngk's. i also clean my MAF with MAF cleaners.

my mechanic said i need new MAF. should i cough up $200 for a new MAF and hope this fix the problem? please post your expertise on this and i will paypal $20 to the person with the right fix.

[Poopie]

sounds like a maf issue. I have a stock maf if you wanna buy it. If it doesn't work send it back and i'll refund you.

[tamadrumr88]

even if it is the MAF don't pay your mechanic to do it. You could pick up a brand new one for around $100 and do it yourself in about 10mins

pap-parts.com

[AudiSport12]

Sounds like the MAF. I've got a stock one from a 99. PM me if you want it. Same deal as Poopie.
If not, it could be a coilpack. I've also got one of those.

[mnsirtee]

There are no CIL. If it was electronically related, shouldent there be a CIL?

[Blake260]

not always, and I 've never heard of a MAF setting it off. sounds like a maf to me.

[ILoveT]

Not necessarily. I have had the same thing happen to me and there was no check engine most of the time. My idle goes back to normal and I can go back to driving like normal. I only get a check engine when I try to accelerate while I am bouncing around 500 RPM. Then I'll get a backfire. Try cleaning your MAF with some electrical cleaner and see if that helps.

[Rhinop21]

I had the same issue with my 98, I swapped out the maf and the problem was fixed. Do i gets my 20 dollas now??

[A4Rob]

I have had good luck with the VW 2.0 re-manufactored MAFs. They are about $60 from VW. Works like a charm. Do that with the Bosch tri plugs from 034, Then paypal me my $20 haha

[a4_1.8t_01]

Unplug your maf and see if anything changes. If it doesnt then its not your maf. Sounds like it may be a transmission issue. Try all the gears out and see if it changes. Check the obvious like tranny fluid color and amount. I have an extra maf if you want it also.

[audiness]

could also be a coilpack as well, but you'd get a flashing CEL if that was the case

[andyrew]

"Sounds like a MAF to me"

[AudiSport12]

could also be a coilpack as well, but you'd get a flashing CEL if that was the case

Not neccessarily. I've had 3 coil packs take a shit on me and 2 of them never made the CEL come on.

[mnsirtee]

thanks for all your help. I will try removing my MAF to see what happens. I will post the result later on tonight and the first post that had the correct fix will get the $20. Love to reward all you guys for the help.