Still nothing....Long...This is getting REDICULOUS!

[maclem8223]

So on Friday I was going to dinner and the car started idling real rough, when I pushed in the clutch it would rev up to like 3k and then slowly come back down. Changed out the coilpacks...nope, checked all vaccum lines and boost leak test...nope, removed all vacuum lines and check valves, what not (used absolutegtr diy..thanks again!). After doing the removal/simplification of the vaccum lines SAI system and everything car ran a little better but still rough idle, it dies after about 5-10 seconds, the only throttle response I'm getting is if I press on the gas when I start it and it will rev up accordingly but after that...nothing no throttle response. After it dies it smells real rich and it almost sounds like it's starving for gas. It's only holding about -10hg instead of -20. Of course it's not throwing any codes...I'm at a loss here

[downhillracer]

unplug your maf and if the problem goes away then replace you MAF ( mass air flow sensor)

[maclem8223]

Oh I forgot to mention that, same thing is happening with the MAF plugged in or not. Thanks for reminding me of that because it threw me for a loop...WTF.

[downhillracer]

map sensor perhaps... i don't know... have you done a compression check just to see?

[downhillracer]

oh.. have you checked your PCV system.. not sure if that was part of the vacuum diy

[maclem8223]

PCV is gone and I wouldn't know the first thing about doing a compression check.

[maclem8223]

Compression wouldn't affect the throttle response would it; and running rich???

[downhillracer]

sure.. if something just happened to happen.. and you lost compression on a cyl. the car will act as if it lost a coil pack.. because with out compression you cant have a complete burn in your cyl.

Doing a compression check is very easy.. go buy a compression gauge from auto zone etc... pull out all your spark plugs and unplug all coil packs.. then screw the compression gauge in the spark plug hole and crank engine until the gauge stops increasing in pressure... all cyl. should be within 0-10psi

[maclem8223]

But what would cause a 36k mileage engine to suddenly lose compression during normal driving. Granted, I'm runing a 2871r but it's tuned conservatively. Any other thoughts besides maybe the compression; because when it started doing this Friday it would stay running and once I got going it would run fine...it would just get worse when I'd pull up to stop lights and what not.

[downhillracer]

maybe you have an injector problem... a leaky injector could cause a rough run at idle then clear up with rpm as more fuel is needed anyways

[maclem8223]

That's something I didn't think of; how would I be able to tell? I thought it might've been a clogged fuel filter but it's not making any sounds or nothing.

[downhillracer]

you could unplug the injectors one at a time.... and if it gets worse then its probably working properly... if it gets better..or not as rich smelling then that could isolate the bad injector... but its gunna be hard to tell and its not a great way to check... but you can try that and see if it gets you anywhere. the real way to check an injector is on an injector flow bench... but it cant hurt to try...

[downhillracer]

a bad coolant temp sensor can cause really weird problems as well

[maclem8223]

That little bastard in the back between the head and the firewall?

[downhillracer]

yeah.. i think thats where its at... audi came out with a revised part for the CTS (coolant temp sensor) i think it has a green plug or something... do a search and see if you have the new one.

[maclem8223]

My main concern is I don't want to go guessing and just start replacing parts for no damn reason; that isn't the best idea. So I'm just trying to get as many opinions as possible on what the problem might be. Thank you for you responses...

[downhillracer]

^ i don't want you to replace parts either... thats why you should make sure you have the updated cts... and if not then you should change it anyways as the old ones have a tendency to fail. but if you do have the updated one then its most likely good

[braker15]

check your fuel system pressure on the rail. take out the back seat and listen to the fuel pump. I had my pump die on me. car would sometimes start, I give it a little throttle and it dies. I had no cel. So check that pump cuz

[maclem8223]

I've thought the fuel pump as well and then i come back and think wait I'm only getting -10vac. A bad fuel pump wouldn't effect the vacuum would it. That, and what exactly am I listening for on the fuel pump. That and it smells like it's running rich.

[downhillracer]

is your vacuum gauge fluttering at all or is it a steady -10hg

[maclem8223]

Definitely not steady..flutters between about -8 and -12hg. Whats wierd though is with the throttle response I have (which is only right when I turn it on)...if I rev it up then it will hold steady at -10 until it dies.

[downhillracer]

yup.. you have internal valve train / compression issues.. the vacuum gauge is fluttering because the bad cylinder is not pulling the air like the rest.. most likely valve train related.... bummer

[maclem8223]

But it would run fine once I got going the other night...

[maclem8223]

I think i'll start with the new CTS and then look into the fuel pump...there are too many different things that this could be. I don't want to jump straight to the valvetrain.

[downhillracer]

misfires are much less noticeable at road speeds and higher rpms...

[downhillracer]

with your vacuum gauge fluttering it is a mechanical problem i am 99.999% positive... I a tech and a graduate from UTI in auto/diesel technology and a cts would not cause a fluttering vacuum gauge. It is most likely a bent valve or burned valve seat.

[maclem8223]

It was pulling full boost...I'm not counting the valvetrain out and I appreciate the help in the matter; it just seems like the symptoms don't fit the problem if it was valvetrain related.

[downhillracer]

well I hope you get it figured out... without being there I can only give a good educated guess.. but in any case im always glad to help... let me know what it is once you figure it out, its always good to know so the next time someone has these symptoms I will know!
GOOD LUCK!

[maclem8223]

well I hope you get it figured out... without being there I can only give a good educated guess.. but in any case im always glad to help... let me know what it is once you figure it out, its always good to know so the next time someone has these symptoms I will know!
GOOD LUCK!

Got any time off the next couple of days for a roadtrip???j/k you're way to far

[downhillracer]

^ haha.. not sure where your located... but i might be going down to orange county within the next week... if you are close i can check it out

[maclem8223]

Here you go...Orange County is about three hours southwest of me...
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Sacr...2s=CA&2z=92277

[downhillracer]

oh ur way out by joshua tree.. thats deep! don't think i can make it out there lol..

[maclem8223]

yep, middle of nowhere...that's why it's not in the shop. Military stuck me in f'in middle of the desert.

[maclem8223]

I posted this in the regional forum, figured I'd say it here as well...
Just looking here to see if someone with more knowledge than me on this (which isn't saying much)...might be available between now and sunday for a road trip and help me try and figure out what the hell is going on cause I'm stumped. Name your price if available to help! (within reasons of course) gas, food, beer, place to stay that sort of thing. Oh yeah, and I'm in 29 Palms. Someone's gotta be up to coming to the desert for a day.

[A4 Moda]

Really just sounds like a vacuum leak man.

[03 silverbullet]

if you are on a military base do you have a Auto Shop on base ? We had one with 5 bays, lifts and everything needed to do whatever you wanted to do to a car.

You maybe able to go over there and do a compression test for free if u think its a Valve train problem.

[maclem8223]

Really just sounds like a vacuum leak man.

I just got rid of all of them??? Except for the essentials

[maclem8223]

if you are on a military base do you have a Auto Shop on base ? We had one with 5 bays, lifts and everything needed to do whatever you wanted to do to a car.

You maybe able to go over there and do a compression test for free if u think its a Valve train problem.

Yep, we do and that's exactly where the car has been since Saturday. They have millions worth of tools but I'm not sure if they have a comression test kit. I don't necessarily think it's a valve train problem but it's one more thing I'll be able to rule out.

[AudiA4_20T]

I just got rid of all of them??? Except for the essentials

you cant get rid of them all... check the "essentials"

[maclem8223]

I did I went straight off the diy from absolutegtr. I just pulled the plugs and thief wet with gas so the fuel pump is working. I'm going to pull the tb and see if it's all gunked up... If so the flap might not be opening at idle which is why it's smells so rich whtn I dies. Someone on AW mentioned it so I'll start their fir todays troubleshooting