Running problem, please help...!

[Mutley]

I found oil on one of my plugs and I presume I need to replace cam cover gasket. I have a few of the symptoms your car is experiencing. Worth looking to rule it out.http://www.s2-audi.co.uk/tech_articl...ver_gasket.htm

[newsh]

I wonder if the brown earth wires on the inlet manifold are all good? Also how about the static timing of the dizzy?

[LHD_Kid]

I wonder if the brown earth wires on the inlet manifold are all good? Also how about the static timing of the dizzy?

Hmmm.... now thats something I haven't looked at yet, good thought John...
I know the static timing is right, as I checked this before for a different problem, and checked again today while the plugs were out...(bloody S2's...!!! )

Earth wires... deffo worth a look...!

Any idea how many earth wires there are under the bonnet worth a check? (my battery is under the rear seat if it makes any difference....)

BTW. I also replaced the cam cover and plug gasket, about 4 months ago.... cured a massive frontal oil leak...

[newsh]

Ground wires are at the rear corner of the inlet manifold, just near the dizzy, I have 2 bunches of them on 2 separate bolts.

[kenoid34]

Hi reading this thread reminds me when mine started to play up same symptoms as you got on starting and running mostly juddering on exceleration and the fluttering noise from up front, after doing a simple preasure test on each pot hey presto head gasket had gave up between 2-3 (from cam pully end) so i would suggest doing a quick test to rule it out, hope any of this helps

[LHD_Kid]

Hi reading this thread reminds me when mine started to play up same symptoms as you got on starting and running mostly juddering on exceleration and the fluttering noise from up front, after doing a simple preasure test on each pot hey presto head gasket had gave up between 2-3 (from cam pully end) so i would suggest doing a quick test to rule it out, hope any of this helps

Sounds as if it might be worth a test, unfortunately I don't have any way of testing it here... Unless there is an easy way of doing it with a compressor or something...!

Been raining all day, so no more investigation done yet...

[kenoid34]

Try askin your local garage or someone you know at a garage to borrow a compression tester it needs to have a long enough pipe to reach plug hole then just test each pot by turning car over 3 - 4 times (remove main ignition lead from coil first) and see if they are all the same reading if there is a noticable diferance then BINGO problem solved

PS; it`s better to remove all plugs first then any fuel can evaporate

[LHD_Kid]

I will ask around, but I dont have a local garage... I am sure someone here must have something like that, I know what you are on about.... Oh to be in the UK, stuff on the shelves, people who understand the difference between 91 octane and 98... etc etc etc...
Cheers
Chris

EDIT... Thought stuff it, and have ordered a tester off the bay, will be here within 2 - 3 weeks I hope...! Lets see what happens....!

[LHD_Kid]

OKAYYYYYYYYYYYYY.....
Good news, (but not totally.....)
Running problem has been solved, turned out to be a 2 part problem...
Was not head gasket, compression test also done, with a non rebuilt engine at 205,000Kms showing exactly 9.95 BAR on each cylinder (is this good?)
Problem was 3fold : breakdown of #5 plug lead... oil inside the dizzy cap
so, after changing dizzy cap, rotor arm, plugs and leads it runs really well once its warmed up, full power at WOT, no fluttering (which was sorted by adjustment of the wastegate preload screw amazingly)
I had replacved the ca,cover gasket, ut not realised how much oil had made it down round the dizzy area...!
BUT, I still have a really bad starting problem..... Coughs and splutters for maybe a minute maximum...
touching the throttle and trying to pull off makes it worse, making the engine almost die, also it tries to die if you start it and leave it.... then after it has run for a while, maybe 30 seconds, all is clear and there is no further problem at all...
The head gasket seems fine, I was wondering at maybe a leaky injector...
There is nowhere for me to take my injectors (Bosch centre) to have them checked, is there any way of me testing them, or finding if they are faulty? I was wondering whether to try and get a set of known good ones, to test.... Mybe it could be a faulty cold start valve (do they exist on he S2? although, the problem is evident when the engine is not stone cold, maybe 2 hours after a run.... or could it possibly be the ICV?
Maybe this is not even what the problem is,
Any ideas? I have nearly sorted everything else out now, so just this last hurdle to cross...!
Thanks for any ideas.
Chris

[220bhp]

Chris I hate to tell you this and I realey do hope I am wrong but every thing you disscribe is the same as happened to my car, especialey the bad starting,try this after a run depressureize the header tank or undo the blead valve a little on the top of the rad, if the car starts ok the next time then I think its head gasket.When the system is hot and pressuized after you stop the car and leave it standing, vaper is forced into the cylinders and fouls the plugs thus bad starting till you clear it then it runs fine till the next time.Thats what I was told and it turned out to be right on my car,but as I say m8 hope i'm wrong.

[LHD_Kid]

OK, what I am going to do, is to run the car until it runs fine, and therefore is not pressurising the water much, but has cleared any problems that there are....
I will still remove the header tank cap, and leave til tomorrow, then on startup in the morning we will find out I guess... if it starts badly then its not water getting through under pressure, if it starts perfectly, I can assume it is the HG......
fingers crossed.....
Hope all is coming along with yours Lou, never know, I might be asking you heaps when / if I have to do mine....!
Cheers
Chris

[Pirvu Eugen]

sounds like injectors poor condition. I had same problem and after cleaning, everything was ok. I have used an carburetor cleaning spray and connect each injector to batery and spray carburetor cleaning solution from the exit end. Try, at me had work, I had a pleasend suprise.