03 A4 cabrio 3.0 engine/cvt transmission problem

[mahota4]

Hi, I have a 2003 Audi A4 3.0 Cabriolet FWD. I am located in Albany NY and just purchased the car from a dealership. It already had this problem but dealer doesn't want to have anything to do with it. I was wondering if there is anyone that could help me at least diagnose the problem so that I know what to do next and how much it will cost me.

The problem is that when I take off lets say from a traffic light it kind of "yanks" the car while shifting. On the highway it is perfectly fine. I don't even know how to name it, either the transmission slips and the catches after a pause. Please let me know what this could be or if you need more info or description or even if someone would be willing to work with me on it.
Thanks a lot! any help appreciated!

[mahota4]

ok I took it to a local transmission shop they ran the vag com and these codes came up:

16684 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire detected
16687 - random missfire cylinder 3
16625 - Evap

The mechanic told me that I should replace the coil packs which are recalled at the Audi dealership. And that it would hopefully solve my problem above.. and that a software update is recommended, which he quoted a few hundred bucks!

Is there anyone possibly in the capital district or close by with a vag com?
I really need someone to help me out PLEASE!!

[A4 Maine-iac]

Coil packs yes take it to the dealership and they will check your current and replace under the recall. A software update ? Dont let him do that. That is a rip off. there isnt what he says software update. You can get your car chipped/tuned and that is like$500 - $600. take it to the dealer first about coil packs and report back.

[mahota4]

ok took it to the dealership today and they checked by the vin and told me that the coil packs were replaced in May of last year 2010.. and told me to make an appointment with them to diagnose for $110 to start, but may be more!! That's "encouraging"

Anyway he said that something must be triggering the codes to come up and that they are general and the problem is unknown.

Thanks for the reply above!! much appreciated!

[A4 Maine-iac]

Swap coil packs 3 & 4. See if it follows. Also when was last time you replaced your plugs.

[mahota4]

Ok thank you I'll try that and let you know! As far as the plugs I just bought the car so I wouldn't know that. So should I check the plugs first and if they're bad replace them or with the coil packs?

Would you happen to know where I can find someone with a vagcom in my area? there used to be a site but its shut down now so I don't really know where to look. Maybe someone on this site has it and is close to me, how could I find out?

[A4 Maine-iac]

As far as finding one local . Will just need to wait and see if someone is out there. You can buy one for $71 here:
http://www.obdtool.com/default1.asp

Best thing i ever bought for my Audi will save you alot of $.

[mahota4]

Swap coil packs 3 & 4. See if it follows. Also when was last time you replaced your plugs.

about swapping coil packs 3 & 4, just curious what will it do or how does it work? I replaced my spark plugs Saturday seems like it works a little "better" but still has a problem.

I swapped 3 & 4 i think that it started to do it worse than before. I can explain in a little more detail now as to what it does.
   So if my foot is steady on the pedal and the rpms are too but they jump lets say if its 1.5 it will go up to about 1.7 and then back to 1.5, and so on in about .1-.2 increments. But on the highway its perfect when i drive 50-60mph. So now it almost seems like its the engine not the trainy.

should I bring it to the dealer for diagnosis so that they can see that it may be the coil packs(and replace them on that recall even though they replaced them a year ago)? or replace the coil packs myself you think? All? Which ones(brand) should I buy? Where(store/online) is it the most affordable to buy them?

Thanks in advance!

[A4 Maine-iac]

When you did the swap 3 & 4 did the misfire follow? Here is a good price on CP's

http://www.audipartssuperstore.com/product_info.php?products_id=473

Worth a shot. And you can keep spares in your trunk.

[mahota4]

When you did the swap 3 & 4 did the misfire follow? Here is a good price on CP's

http://www.audipartssuperstore.com/product_info.php?products_id=473

Worth a shot. And you can keep spares in your trunk.

Thanks for the info! and yes the misfire did continue.. Seems like my clutches went, according to my friend who's a so so mechanic. any ideas or suggestions for those?

[A4 Maine-iac]

did the misfire move from 3 - 4 ? or stay on the same cylinder ?