Something is Wrong with my 2001 S4... Shuttering & power loss

**mys4.org** · 10-07-2008 07:35 PM

The past week I've notice a issue... I'll be in 3rd gear at WOT around 3500-4000 RPM and it's like I loose 50% of my power and the car shutters for a few seconds.. and then all goes back to normal while the RPM climb past 4500. Now this originally happen a few times only in 3rd gear so I'm thinking this must have something to do with the tranny. A day later I'm in 2nd gear at WOT and it does the same thing but now I get the flashing CEL which we all know is not good... Here's the problem, I get the flashing CEL but there is no error code recorded. So I pull over turn off the car and put the car in the stock chip mode since I have the APR software. I turn the car on the CEL is not flashing nor on at all. I go in to WOT and clearly do not have the power I would have with the chip enabled but I don't have any power lost or shuttering like before.

After talking to a friend of my that's a mechanic he thinks this has something to do with fuel delivery. I can say it is not the fuel filter because I replace it 2 months ago. I always use Chevron 92 octane fuel. I also replaced the air intake filter and spark plugs this June. One month ago I put in a new RS4 clutch with a new OEM flywheel. You can go to me site to see the detail of I've done.

So my only thoughts is I got a clogged injector, maybe a vacuum leak, or possible bad turbo. I've also been reading on how some people have similar problems when one of their EGT sensors go bad.

Any of you got any thoughts on my situation?

**RogueStatus** · 10-08-2008 07:27 AM

that would be a misfire...

plugs,ICMs,coil packs,boost/vac leaks,etc can be a cause of this...

**mys4.org** · 10-08-2008 11:53 AM

Sorry for the stupid question but what's a ICM?

**JDM EJ1 95** · 10-08-2008 01:10 PM

ignition control module

theyre the 2 boxes on top of the airbox with 4 plugs

**WMi_S4** · 10-08-2008 04:07 PM

Bad throttle body?? My car did this when mine went

**RogueStatus** · 10-08-2008 04:21 PM

yea check TBB first...my car did that with a torn TBB

**Austonwerner4** · 02-15-2012 04:44 PM

Did you ever figure it out?

**RedB5S4** · 02-15-2012 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Austonwerner4

Did you ever figure it out?

This thread is from 3 years ago, boss. I sincerely doubt he still owns the car.

On another note, how do you confuse a misfire with a trans. issue?

**Austonwerner4** · 02-15-2012 05:26 PM

I'm having a similar problem. Any gas it shutters like crazy. I just put in plugs. I'm checking for leaks tomorrow.

**mys4.org** · 02-15-2012 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by RedB5S4

This thread is from 3 years ago, boss. I sincerely doubt he still owns the car.

On another note, how do you confuse a misfire with a trans. issue?

What?! Give up my S4? hell no! I fix this issue by re-gapping my plugs. The correct gap is between .016 - .024 inches not the .028 that people keep saying. And never trust the "pre gapped plugs". I currently have mine gaped to .022. Also check the ends of your spark plug that connects to the coil. Some plugs the little ends screw on and off and can come loose. I had a problem with one spark plug doing that and cause a lot of problems likely because it was not allowing a full spark to form.

If all else fails make sure you get your car scanned. If it's one cylinder try moving the bad cylinder's coilpack to a different cylinder. If the problem follows to the new cylinder then you got a bad coil pack. If it 3 cylinders misfire in you likely got a bad Ignition Control Module.

**mys4.org** · 02-15-2012 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Austonwerner4

I'm having a similar problem. Any gas it shutters like crazy. I just put in plugs. I'm checking for leaks tomorrow.

You sound like you got a bad coilpack. Get it scanned and see my previous reply about how to test for it.

**RedB5S4** · 02-15-2012 07:45 PM

Glad to hear you still have the car.

Proper gap for plugs varies based on what modifications you're running... The differences are generally minimal, but there are suggested gaps for tuned cars vs. stock cars, etc. I'm running NGK's gapped to .025 and I've had no issues since I put them in 10k miles ago. That being said, I'll be replacing them sometime soon just to be on the safe side.

Misfire issues are a pretty consolidated problem, though. I mean, they can really only be the result of a few different issues (plugs, coil packs, ICM's, vac leaks). In essence, it's almost hard not to find what's causing the problem.

**Austonwerner4** · 02-15-2012 08:05 PM

I have them gapped to .025 and they're NGKs. I am having Brian send me some coil packs tomorrow. It's an on off thing. Sometimes it'll shutter and sometimes it won't, more so when trying to boost. Just started yesterday.

**sirtrapsalot** · 09-15-2013 08:30 PM

Question for people.....I recently went stage 3 on my b5 s4 with frankenturbos, 72# ev14, bosch 044, 85mm 034 maf housing and new spark plugs and I'm experiencing quite the power loss when driving. I replaced the faulty spider hose and replaced and checked all lines for boost leaks and still nothing. When I get on it, the car pulls hard to 20 psi and starts to immediately fall. While its pulling tho it sounds like air is just screaming (and I mean screaming) out of somewhere. It hits 20psi and it really doesn't feel like 20 psi. I've been told that it could be the o ring on the inlet and that's y it screams and doesn't feel like a stage 3 s4. Any ideas?

**Austonwerner4** · 09-16-2013 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by sirtrapsalot

Question for people.....I recently went stage 3 on my b5 s4 with frankenturbos, 72# ev14, bosch 044, 85mm 034 maf housing and new spark plugs and I'm experiencing quite the power loss when driving. I replaced the faulty spider hose and replaced and checked all lines for boost leaks and still nothing. When I get on it, the car pulls hard to 20 psi and starts to immediately fall. While its pulling tho it sounds like air is just screaming (and I mean screaming) out of somewhere. It hits 20psi and it really doesn't feel like 20 psi. I've been told that it could be the o ring on the inlet and that's y it screams and doesn't feel like a stage 3 s4. Any ideas?

Boost leak.

**sirtrapsalot** · 09-16-2013 02:37 PM

Any idea where... It's. it my tbb I just checked plus its a samco. I replaced rage spider hoses with heater hose and my f hose is deleted. Break booster line is now a reinforced silicone hose. It sounds like air is rush pushing out somewhere when i get on it and the boost flutters from 20 and falls then sometimes goes back up but it doesn't feel like 20 psi it feels like 8. I'm at a loss!! Thank u for responding