Need some advice

[A4_luke]

last night my 1999 audi a4 1.8t decided to throw me a cel. As I am driving home the car started to shake and I could feel it misfire. I got it home ran vag-com it threw codes P0300 multiple cylinder misfire detected and P0300 cylinder 2 misfire detected. So first I checked the spark plugs and put 4 new ones in reset the code and drove the car around for a couple hours no issues at all. But today it started misfiring again so I checked all the wires cleaned them along with the maf sensor started the car the problem was gone than after revving it the cel came back and started misfiring again. I checked to coils and switched them to see of the code would follow but it didn't. Still showing cylinder 2. The wierd thing is that I turned my car off and back on after that and now it stopped misfiring. I dunno what's up with it. Any ideas?

[rovimos]

i had the same problem a few weeks ago.. changed all the coils and plugs and still the same problem.. it ended up being the icm.

[capea4]

With the car running and missing, unplug the coils one at a time, one of the coils should not cause the car to stall, this is the coil not firing. swap that coil with another and see if the problem moves with the coil or stays on the same cylinder. if it stays either order a new icm or swap out the system to hitachi e coils with built in igniters. Swaping to 4 wire is easy and removes the problematic icm.

[A4_luke]

i jus tried what u recommanded capea4 i let the car run and unpluged coil 2 engine noise didnt change, when i unpluged coil 1 car stuttered. after than i swaped coil 1 with 2 the issued stayed in cylinder 2 i guess that means i need a icm

[A4_luke]

is there anything else i can try before i order the LCM?

[spyder101]

With the car running and missing, unplug the coils one at a time, one of the coils should not cause the car to stall, this is the coil not firing. swap that coil with another and see if the problem moves with the coil or stays on the same cylinder. if it stays either order a new icm or swap out the system to hitachi e coils with built in igniters. Swaping to 4 wire is easy and removes the problematic icm.

But, now you have to deal with problematic ignition coils if you switch over.

[capea4]

But, now you have to deal with problematic ignition coils if you switch over.

at $30 a piece? not an issue for the increase in spark.

[spyder101]

at $30 a piece? not an issue for the increase in spark.

But, you do relize that the coils (which are junk) have gone through around 15 different supersessions and have been since the last 10 years. I say stick with the 3 wire for the simple reason of durability. In my 10 year span of working on Audi's, I only replaced about 4 (3 wire) coils and around 1500 4 wire coils. The ICM is not a componant that goes out all the time even though it is the main culprit for misfires on AEB motors. This is just my opinion...

[capea4]

my reply was with two options, order the icm or swap to 4 wire. Is there another option? I did state the two options i know of. I have swapped to the 4 wire hitachi coils based on my choice of the flaws in the ignition system, why, i wasn't going to purchase another icm. The 4 wires have been perfect to date. Its a choice that the owner needs to make, all i did was inform him of the choices. I wont debate with you because i agree, they both suck!

[spyder101]

my reply was with two options, order the icm or swap to 4 wire. Is there another option? I did state the two options i know of. I have swapped to the 4 wire hitachi coils based on my choice of the flaws in the ignition system, why, i wasn't going to purchase another icm. The 4 wires have been perfect to date. Its a choice that the owner needs to make, all i did was inform him of the choices. I wont debate with you because i agree, they both suck!

Yup, I second that motion. Kinda of a catch 22 on both cases.

[walky_talky20]

Hitachi E's = Japanese parts FTW. I believe their durability approaches that of the 3-wire coils, and they are much cheaper, better spark, and no ICM.

That said, it is bit much to convert the car rather than replacing just the ICM. I'd say if you were in a position where you needed to buy the 3-wires or something, then would be a good time to convert. For the average owner, it's just easier to replace the parts.

[rookie18]

You can test the part before replaceing it. These have been known to fail pretty frequently.http://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec181.shtml