Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire

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Sat 25 Apr 2020 02:09
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Oliver O'Donoghue
I have a Audi A3 1.6 2010 petrol With 95000 miles. The car struggles to get over over 4000RPM. Along side this, in low revs I can put my foot to the floor and it doesn’t go anywhere, especially and most commonly in second gear. When I dip the clutch it picks up again. The engine light is on. When I scan it, it comes up with a Cylinder 4 miss fire.

I used to get a oxygen sensor and a catalyst converter code when I plugged the car in. But since I've used some cat cleaner it hasn't come up again. Along side this I’ve had the car for over a year and it’s always burnt oil. I’ve read that this model is Notorious for burning oil but doesn’t have a PCV valve.

I have put a new ignition coil in, all new spark plugs and leads, I’ve cleaned out the throttle body. I’ve but a new fuel filter in and when I listen to the injectors at idle they all fire consistently sound good to me. About 6 months ago I had a new gear box and clutch put in. It's still coming up with a miss fire.

I’ve tried to be as detailed as possible. Any ideas? Thanks
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Sat 25 Apr 2020 09:04
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - elekie&a/c doctor
What is the 3 letter engine code ? Should be on timing cover , spare wheel well and handbook . Is this an Fsi engine?
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Sat 25 Apr 2020 12:58
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Oliver O'Donoghue
The engine code is BSE. I don’t believe the engine is a FSI nor a TDI. I’m not sure as to what type of engine it is, sorry.
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Sat 25 Apr 2020 17:51
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - elekie&a/c doctor
I would suggest your next plan of action should be to get a cylinder compression test done .
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Wed 29 Apr 2020 21:24
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Oliver O'Donoghue
I’ve just done a compression test, here are the results after 5 turn overs, cylinder 1=185psi 2=180psi 3=190psi 4=185psi. Fairly Consistent
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Wed 29 Apr 2020 23:00
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Big John

To start with I would have checked the coil - but you already have. Compression test rules out burnt valves etc

However after previous faults logged and the struggling to get over 4000rpm and not going anywhere with foot down - I'd suspect a blocked catalytic converter.

I think the BSE is the old 8 valve engine - some where known to be oil burners from new(not all for some reason). Have there been any other jobs done recentley? - mention even if you think nothing to do with the issue. eg Even a cambelt fitted a tooth or two out can cause major issues - I had a Capri 2.0 years ago that seemed way down on power and just couldn't rev after being fitted with a recon engine. The exhaust manifold used to glow red on a motorway at night. In the end preformance was restored when the cam belt was checked - it was 1 tooth out!!!

Edited by Big John on 29/04/2020 at 23:17

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Thu 30 Apr 2020 14:44
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Railroad.

To start with I would have checked the coil - but you already have. Compression test rules out burnt valves etc

However after previous faults logged and the struggling to get over 4000rpm and not going anywhere with foot down - I'd suspect a blocked catalytic converter.

I think the BSE is the old 8 valve engine - some where known to be oil burners from new(not all for some reason). Have there been any other jobs done recentley? - mention even if you think nothing to do with the issue. eg Even a cambelt fitted a tooth or two out can cause major issues - I had a Capri 2.0 years ago that seemed way down on power and just couldn't rev after being fitted with a recon engine. The exhaust manifold used to glow red on a motorway at night. In the end preformance was restored when the cam belt was checked - it was 1 tooth out!!!

Yet another reason for checking manifold vacuum with a vacuum gauge. A blocked exhaust and incorrect valve timing can both be easily identified by using one, or eliminated as the cause of the fault.

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Mon 4 May 2020 19:15
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Oliver O'Donoghue
Sorry I forgot to mention I do occasionally get white smoke from my exhaust. Sometimes it’s worse than others
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Fri 31 Jul 2020 21:33
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Xvolvo
Sorry I forgot to mention I do occasionally get white smoke from my exhaust. Sometimes it’s worse than others

Sounds like the cylinderhead gasket. What is your water level like and is there any white residue on the inside of the oil-filler cap?

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Fri 31 Jul 2020 21:35
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Xvolvo
Sorry I forgot to mention I do occasionally get white smoke from my exhaust. Sometimes it’s worse than others

Sounds like the cylinderhead gasket. What is your water level like and is there any white residue on the inside of the oil-filler cap?

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Sat 2 May 2020 21:45
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Oliver O'Donoghue
The only other job that I’ve done on the car was the anti roll bar linkage as it was a “minor defect” on my MOT. I’m going to change the timing belt for good measure as the car is over 10 years old and has never been done, along side this I can see little cracks in it. When I do swap it I will double check the alignment. Also, I agree that its most likely bad cat due to previous engine codes. Although I’m not getting a code for the cat, just a cylinder 4 miss fire. It’s annoying because I can’t just buy a new catalyst converter to slide in. It’s welded to a big ass pipe that runs to the muffler. Would it be a better idea to cut it off and clamp in a after market cat rather than spending the money on having to change all the piping from the exhaust manifold down to the muffler? Thanks a lot for the feed back so far. I will keep you updated.
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Thu 7 May 2020 10:45
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - sanjupawar

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Wed 29 Jul 2020 17:39
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Oliver O'Donoghue
I’ve still had no hope. Changed all spark plugs, changed coil pack, new air filter, new fuel filter, new fuel pump, new injectors, new breather hose and new cat, cleaned throttle body. Still can’t get the car over 4000rpm. The car has no power, sometimes I have to pull over and turn the car off and on for it to run better. I can put my foot to the floor and the car won’t go anywhere.
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Wed 29 Jul 2020 18:39
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - RT
I’ve still had no hope. Changed all spark plugs, changed coil pack, new air filter, new fuel filter, new fuel pump, new injectors, new breather hose and new cat, cleaned throttle body. Still can’t get the car over 4000rpm. The car has no power, sometimes I have to pull over and turn the car off and on for it to run better. I can put my foot to the floor and the car won’t go anywhere.

Have you had a full diagnosis done with VCDS - that should have been the first step before changing things.

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Wed 29 Jul 2020 21:56
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - John F

Thanks for feed back, this is an interesting problem. You seem to have ensured that enough fuel and air can get into the engine, there is ignition and the exhaust gases can freely escape. You have checked the cylinder compressions. So logically, I can only think it must be a timing issue. Did the problem develop suddenly or gradually? The suggestion of the cambelt being awry makes sense - are you sure it's the original? Perhaps its tensioner has failed in some way and it's jumped a tooth? Is it possible to get the cam cover(s) off and have a really good look?

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Thu 27 Aug 2020 17:18
Audi A3 Sportback - MissFire - Danial Noori

Please ping me when there is an answer to this. I've also been in touch with the audi chat.

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