Running Ruff, Tinny Noise By Turbo

**mhtcando** · 12-25-2008 01:17 PM

Got stuck in the wonderful Michigan blizzard we just got through and was able to dig my way out but once I got out and helped someone else get out, my car was idling ruff and hardly goes. I have a 99 A4 1.8 5spd. I'm new to these cars and was hoping for some advise. Any ideas? Where and how do I start the diagnosis. Check engine light is is now on but I have no way to pull codes.
HELP!

**kovalevandrew** · 12-25-2008 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by mhtcando

Got stuck in the wonderful Michigan blizzard we just got through and was able to dig my way out but once I got out and helped someone else get out, my car was idling ruff and hardly goes. I have a 99 A4 1.8 5spd. I'm new to these cars and was hoping for some advise. Any ideas? Where and how do I start the diagnosis. Check engine light is is now on but I have no way to pull codes.
HELP!

Best bet is to get someone to log the car. In the meantime, just check that nothing has come loose, or is cracked etc.

What sort of noise is it making? Does it get louder when the car is reved up? Constant noise, or rev dependent?

**mhtcando** · 12-25-2008 01:41 PM

Well, I've never taken this car in before so I'll have to find someone. Anybody know anybody good and cheap in the Grand Rapids, Mi area? As for the noise, It is mostly a tinny sound exhaust side of the turbo and its mainly on deceleration. It's quite on acceleration but just runs rough. I'm wondering if its the turbo? If the turbo wasn't spooling right would that make it run rough and turn the check engine light on?

**kovalevandrew** · 12-25-2008 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by mhtcando

I'm wondering if its the turbo? If the turbo wasn't spooling right would that make it run rough and turn the check engine light on?

I doubt it would be the turbo, what's the mileage on the car? Any smoke coming out under load? If it's throwing a CEL, something with a sensor plugged into it has gone funky. The O2 sensor in the CAT is all i can think of right now.

There are many more experienced guys on this forum though. I'm sure one of them will jump in and help out.

**ghost6303** · 12-25-2008 02:53 PM

rough like your idle is not steady? go to any autozone or pep boys or whatever store and borrow their OBD2 code scanner. its free and will tell you why you have a CEL.

it could be as simple as a cracked intake pipe somewhere, like the turbo to crosspipe hose that could be damaged when digging the car out of a snow bank. that would throw a MAF reading code. without more info i would just say check for leaks and get your codes scanned.

**mhtcando** · 12-25-2008 03:31 PM

Rough as in not running on all cylinders. 110,000 miles on the motor. Not smoking or anything.

**ghost6303** · 12-25-2008 03:57 PM

your CEL would be flashing if it were misfiring. are you saying that your idle is steady but theres no power? does the tach needle jump around a few hundred rpm at idle? it should be steady at around 850 RPM.

**mhtcando** · 12-25-2008 04:02 PM

Again I'm new here and I have no idea what CEL even is... ahhh, check engine light. The check engine light is flashing all the time. It runs lousy all over like it lost a cylinder but not all the time. After I got out and drove it home, I thought it cleared up but when I got home it was even worse. I brought it into the shop to warm up and now I don't think it could get out of its own way. How much are those code scanners? I doubt I would want to drive it anywhere. Could I use my laptop and a cable link with some kind of software?