Misfiring engine on new 2016 S4 on dealer lot; Any thoughts?

[uroplatus]

Yesterday (Saturday) I was planning to buy a new 2016 S4 (200 miles on it) with 7-spd DSG transmission from the local Audi dealer. Within seconds of starting it up, it felt like probably one cylinder was misfiring, then probably two cylinders misfiring. The out-of-balance shaking of the engine was significant. The salesman was sitting in the back seat and said he felt it too. He told me to drive it around the lot, and so I did. The shaking/misfiring did not go away, and the engine was running for a couple minutes. It was so significant that we decided to not take it on the road. The car was taken into the service dept, and after waiting 25-minutes, I was told that everything is fine now. I test drove it again and the misfire was gone, but there was an odd hesitation from stand-still or from very slow speed, and the car did not feel as strong as other B8 S4's I had driven. So we went to the Service Dept, and I asked what was wrong and what was done, and they said there was a "random misfire code" and that they cleared the codes, and that everything is fine now. They said they don't think it'll happen again. I asked why the misfiring issue had occurred. They first said that the car was sitting for months. But I said I can tell that it wasn't sitting for weeks or months because the brake rotors were very clean. Then they said that it must have been bad gas or winter gas still in it (there was half a tank of gas in it). So I asked if they emptied all the gas and put new gas in it. They said "No". They only cleared the codes. They admitted that they didn't know why the misfiring happened, and that after they cleared the codes they couldn't duplicate the problem. When I asked further about the gas, the spark plugs, and the fuel injectors, they said that until the misfiring happens again, they "are not allowed to touch" any of that.

The sales manager got involved, and he pulled the "key" records showing how often someone has taken the keys to this car, and it showed that in the prior 5-days, the keys had been taken 4-times, and that two of those times it was for customer test drives. He could not (or would not) say what the other two times were for. So clearly that car had indeed been driven multiple times over the past week. It had not been "sitting" for a long time (which doesn't seem to be a good reason for a new car to misfire anyways).

It was late in the day at that point, and I was very uncomfortable with buying a $62,000 car that had a significant problem that the dealer couldn't determine the cause of, and didn't do anything but clear the codes, so I walked away.

-What causes that misfiring issue, and what needs to be done to fix it?

-What do think about the Audi dealer's behavior?

[s4buckeye]

could be a million things. move on and keep looking.

[Pared]

Don't even think twice. Seems like you are looking for reasons from us to justify you still buying the car.

[jmaddr]

On a new car, I would just move on. There are many more just like it that you will feel confident about and not "wonder" every time you feel a hesitation. I'm with you, for that much money, move on. I might not be as easy to pass on a used one, but the new ones are everywhere.


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[uroplatus]

Thanks for the opinions. I was just looking to see if people agreed that this was significant, and something that would make you pass on the car, or whether I was being too cautious. I don't want to get into a situation where I have to lemon law the car, and look back and say I should have known on the first day.

I also think its terrible that although I might have dodged a bullet, someone else will buy that car and may have a difficult time with it. The dealer should find the root cause of the problem and make sure its properly fixed, but they clearly don't think that way at all.

In my mind, there's a reason for those misfires, and I don't see how the dealer service dept simply clearing the codes is an answer. If they thought the gas was bad, shouldn't they have drained out all the gas and put in all new gas? If there's a chance that the spark plugs were fouled, shouldn't they pull the spark plugs and clean them or replace them? Could it be that one or two fuel injectors weren't working right? (but if that were the case, why would clearing codes make it run properly?).
At least if the gas and plugs were changed, that would leave only fuel injectors (maybe?) and ignition items (for which there would be codes, right?) as the culprits.

I was hoping to hear from someone who had seen this type of thing before, either on a new or used B8 S4.

By the way, there aren't that many B8 S4's left (at least not in the color and options that you want), since they stopped production of the B8.

[S4'ed]

This misfire was probably caused by a fuel fouled spark plug. If you start the car cold, and only let it run for a short period, not warming it up, the plugs can foul from the rich cold start enrichment. It was probably started and moved 50 feet and then shut off, numerous times, in the dealer lot. My A4 used to do this, if you only let it run for a very short time, like moving in and out of my garage....Many cars will do this.....nothing wrong with it.

[A4 Joe]

I would not touch a car that exhibits that issue.

[jygesq]

Lots of money for a new car, that does not run new. You should run away !

[uroplatus]

I appreciate the replies.
The dealer service dept said that if they pulled the spark plugs they wouldn't see anything, so the wouldn't do it. And they refused to drain out the "old gas" from the gas tank. They basically said that clearing the codes was sufficient. I felt that it was like saying that blowing your nose once when you're sick is sufficient. I'm guessing that there is a lot more to the story that the dealer was refusing to look into.
So I think walking away from it was the right decision.
Hopefully whoever buys that car doesn't have constant problems with it.

[Sudz]

OP, don't buy a lemon!!!

[levigarrett]

Not only would I not buy that car, I'm not so sure I'd want that dealership looking after a car I did buy. Their attitude seems a bit cavalier for my taste. The Service department in particular.

[KashOutS4]

OP like other stated could be normal or not. Either way keep looking I'm sure there are other cars "new" sitting in dealer lots. Unless this one is an exclusive color or something which you didn't note in your post then I see the hesitation. Good luck!

[Dr GP]

Since it is not a 6MT, it will not be a rare car to find. It is very unusual for a new car to exhibit the problems you have noticed. Clearing the codes doesn't fix anything. Codes should tell techs what is wrong though. Too many red flags with the car and dealership. Go onto autotrader.com and find another one at another dealer, even if you need to travel to get it. You can have it serviced anywhere you like.

[MrFunk]

Not a good way to start a long relationship. Move on... it's a sign. I'd never buy a car that was instantly in the service dept before I even got it off the lot for a test drive.

[DannyDeez]

You had to wait 25 minutes for them to clear a code? Unless you waited in the service bay and watched them the whole time, I would assume that they did something other than just clear a code and they don't want to tell you.

[jokingjimmy]

You had to wait 25 minutes for them to clear a code? Unless you waited in the service bay and watched them the whole time, I would assume that they did something other than just clear a code and they don't want to tell you.

This. Move on from the car AND the dealer. Oh and report your experience to AoA.

[SouthernBoy]

Thanks for the opinions. I was just looking to see if people agreed that this was significant, and something that would make you pass on the car, or whether I was being too cautious. I don't want to get into a situation where I have to lemon law the car, and look back and say I should have known on the first day.

I also think its terrible that although I might have dodged a bullet, someone else will buy that car and may have a difficult time with it. The dealer should find the root cause of the problem and make sure its properly fixed, but they clearly don't think that way at all.

In my mind, there's a reason for those misfires, and I don't see how the dealer service dept simply clearing the codes is an answer. If they thought the gas was bad, shouldn't they have drained out all the gas and put in all new gas? If there's a chance that the spark plugs were fouled, shouldn't they pull the spark plugs and clean them or replace them? Could it be that one or two fuel injectors weren't working right? (but if that were the case, why would clearing codes make it run properly?).
At least if the gas and plugs were changed, that would leave only fuel injectors (maybe?) and ignition items (for which there would be codes, right?) as the culprits.

I was hoping to hear from someone who had seen this type of thing before, either on a new or used B8 S4.

By the way, there aren't that many B8 S4's left (at least not in the color and options that you want), since they stopped production of the B8.

Of the six Audi stores in the Washington, DC metro area, there are very few S4's left on their cumulative lots. None are manuals.

[SouthernBoy]

Not only would I not buy that car, I'm not so sure I'd want that dealership looking after a car I did buy. Their attitude seems a bit cavalier for my taste. The Service department in particular.

Yep.

[doug97gxe]

sounds like you really want this car.. buy it.. you have warranty and you will prob get a B9 A4 as a loaner

[amz]

I wouldn't even buy from the dealership at all, it sounds like it'll only lead to trouble. Also, let them know that because of their behavior, you're going to actively caution people against visiting or, go over any potential buys with extra caution and an abundance of diligence.

[richardm0025]

Thanks for the opinions. I was just looking to see if people agreed that this was significant, and something that would make you pass on the car, or whether I was being too cautious. I don't want to get into a situation where I have to lemon law the car, and look back and say I should have known on the first day.

I also think its terrible that although I might have dodged a bullet, someone else will buy that car and may have a difficult time with it. The dealer should find the root cause of the problem and make sure its properly fixed, but they clearly don't think that way at all.

In my mind, there's a reason for those misfires, and I don't see how the dealer service dept simply clearing the codes is an answer. If they thought the gas was bad, shouldn't they have drained out all the gas and put in all new gas? If there's a chance that the spark plugs were fouled, shouldn't they pull the spark plugs and clean them or replace them? Could it be that one or two fuel injectors weren't working right? (but if that were the case, why would clearing codes make it run properly?).
At least if the gas and plugs were changed, that would leave only fuel injectors (maybe?) and ignition items (for which there would be codes, right?) as the culprits.

I was hoping to hear from someone who had seen this type of thing before, either on a new or used B8 S4.

By the way, there aren't that many B8 S4's left (at least not in the color and options that you want), since they stopped production of the B8.

To be honest I agree... Stay away from the car. In support of the dealer though, clearing the codes will make the car run better until the codes come back. Two of my injectors were shot and my car wouldn't start. After I scanned my car and saved the codes, I cleared them and my car started right up. (I didn't drive on it but just wanted to test this exact method)

[Sailingtime]

could be a million things. move on and keep looking.

What the above person said just keep walking!!