How to Solve Engine Performance Fault in Audi TT
Out of all the sports cars produced by Audi, the Audi TT is arguably the most well-recognised and revered by modern enthusiasts. The nifty little car is manoeuvrable, fast and outright amazing in looks. In other words, it is a piece of art and an equally brilliant piece of engineering.
Don’t believe us? Well, you can look at the roadster’s rich twenty-five-year history and make up your mind. The Audi TT battled with the likes of the Mazda MX-5, the Porsche Boxster, the Jaguar F-Type Coupe, and the Mercedes SLC Roadster. The sportscar still survived and lives to this day!
The Audi TT surviving for so long, against competition like this, is a testament to the outstanding work done by Audi on this compact sports car.
But cars are not flawless, especially sports cars that are meant to be driven to the max. They are never too far away from developing a fault because that is the nature of a machine – at some point an issue will arise.
As a result, sometimes the first thing to go is the vehicle’s performance. In other words, the main thing supporting the case for a sports car like the Audi TT.
If something like this happens, you should drive to the nearest specialist Audi garage to get your car fixed.
One of our clients did the same when he saw some problems develop in his 2012 Audi TT. Mr A was quick to make a decision and bring his car over to us at Links Automotive. He was experiencing a drop in his roadster’s performance, which affected the client’s driving experience. Mr A explained that the Audi TT was running rough and misfiring at times, which we agreed is dangerous for the engine’s health.
As soon as the client entered Links Automotive, our Audi specialist greeted him and took the vehicle into his care. Dan is an expert when it comes to Audi repairs and dealing with performance issues in sports cars.
So, it was natural that he took the roadster under his wing and began diagnosing the issue. He talked with the client in detail and tried to make sense of Mr A’s complaints. The client outlined the TT’s loss in performance and misfiring at frequent intervals. But on top of that, he also told Dan about the Engine Management Light (EML) and Electronic Power Control (EPC) light on the dashboard.
The warning lights meant that there was a deep-rooted problem inside the engine. Dan was unfazed as he learned all the facts from the client. He was adamant that he would find the root cause and employ the solution within no time at all.
Therefore, he began his work by verifying the faults of the car and the claims of the client.
Faults Found
A technician’s job is not easy because they have to sift through several clues and symptoms to find the most relevant solution to a vehicle’s problems. If they waver slightly from the path the diagnosis could take more time and frustrate the client.
That’s why Dan feels it is an important step to verify the claims of a client before working on the diagnosis and solution. He did the same on Mr A’s Audi TT.
Our Audi specialist started the car and let the engine run for a while. After some time had passed, Dan noticed the misfires, and he could confirm that the engine was indeed running quite rough. Our Audi specialist also looked at the warning lights in the dash and confirmed them to be the EPC (Electronic Power Control) and EML (Engine Management Light) lights.
Dan had now got the confirmation he needed to start with the diagnosis. So, without wasting another moment, he initiated the 15-step diagnostic procedure, used by all the mechanics at Links Automotive.
Diagnostic Procedure
The 15-step diagnostic process helps our technicians to be accurate and efficient, which in turn helps them offer the clients great value for their money. It is a comprehensive procedure and has proven to work every time! So, Dan had no qualms about starting the repair job with this diagnostic approach.
Our Audi expert had already conducted a visual inspection and ratified the existing faults. His next step was to perform a complete vehicle scan to find out more about the particular issue.
The fault scan shows a clearer picture, allowing the technician to save time with the diagnosis. Dan did exactly that as he performed the code scan using the Audi dealer diagnostic tool. He found the following error codes:
- P0300 – Misfiring Detected
- P0301 – Cylinder 1 (Misfiring recognised)
- P130A – Cylinder Suppression
The vehicle scan directed Dan to a problem inside the cylinders. Perhaps the spark plugs required maintenance, or there was carbon build-up in the system. These speculations had to be quashed to reach the correct diagnosis. And so, our Audi technician performed live data checks, including a full engine inspection and vehicle history check.
Luckily, all was good in these departments. The data checks turned out positive, and there was nothing out of the ordinary in the vehicle’s history. This meant that Dan had to divert his attention back to the engine cylinders and look for the fault there.
Our Audi specialist used the Pico scope and tested the four coil packs by noting their primary and secondary waveforms. After that, he looked at the dealer’s diagnostic information and compared the four waveforms.
Dan hit the spot and found the fault lying in cylinder 1. Thanks to the Pico scope, our technician was able to pinpoint the fault and cut down the diagnostic time and remove the need for guesswork.
Solving The Problem
Our Audi technician found that the coil pack for cylinder 1 had malfunctioned, causing all the misfiring issues. The repair was straightforward and Dan wasted no time in wrapping it all up.
He removed the no.1 coil pack and replaced it with a new one. Afterwards, he also replaced all the spark plugs to ensure no misfiring occurs in the future. The plugs were slightly brown and near the end of their life, which prompted Dan to replace them.
Once the coil pack was in place and the spark plugs installed, our Audi expert retested the car for fault codes and found no new errors on the system. So, Dan cleared the codes, and as a result, the EPC & EML lights disappeared on the dash.
Now our technician started the car and heard the engine’s sound. The engine was idling smoothly, and there was no hint of a misfire.
In other words, the repair job was a success!
All that was left to do now was to call Mr A and give him the good news about his 2012 Audi TT.
Summary
A client came into our garage complaining about a misfiring and rough-running engine. Our expert technician looked at the client’s decade-old Audi TT and confirmed a possible issue with the car’s engine.
Dan worked his magic and using the 15-step diagnostic procedure, quickly reached the core of the problem. The dealer’s diagnostic tool showed a fault in the cylinders, possibly leading to the coil packs. So, our Audi expert tested the coil packs using specialist equipment and found the no.1 coil pack to be at fault.
He changed the relevant coil pack and solved the problem within an hour. Our technician came out victorious, using his knowledge and the special technology available at Links Automotive. He saved the client’s time and only changed the parts that really needed to be replaced. As a result, the client got excellent value for his money and a quick turnaround for his car.
If you are looking for an Audi garage that offers value for money, look no further than Links Automotive. You can contact us on 01625 402262 to learn more about our services.
