1996 RS2 No spark

[bazgreener]

Hi all,
looking for some help with a no spark situation on an RS2. Car been parked up for 5+ years and very wet inside, another garage fitted new cam and both crank sensors and also a TFSi coil conversion. I have a good cam and crank signal at the ECU and the fuel pump relay is being triggered by the speed sensor but no spark. Does this car have an immobiliser? ECU number is 8A0 907 551 C. There are no dash lights to show its been immobilised. I have a blink code of 1421 but I can't find any reference to this code. An auto electrician says its the ECU faulty but this is dry and no signs of corrosion to connections.
Any thoughts?

thanks

[rxl]

8A0907551C is with factory immobiliser.

[K Simmonds]

Baz first of all to forum, fellow RS2 owner here... You would be much better off getting an OBD2 conversion lead and a knock off VAG COM set up if you plan on keeping the car long term, the Motronic ECU can give you a lot of useful data. Blink codes work but suck in comparison to being able to get proper diagnostic info.

RXL.... So his ECU will only work with his key's as presumably they've got the proximity chip in them for the immobiliser?

I only ask as I'm curious as to how viable it would be to try his ECU in another car to establish if it's faulty or not given the cost of replacing an RS2 ECU I'd want to be 100% sure it's required before shelling out.

A quick Google tell's me that blink code means the ECU detects a short circuit to ground, but that could wrong so please don't take that as gospel... Given the car is wet inside this could be something simple as opposed to a knackered ECU.

[bazgreener]

Baz first of all to forum, fellow RS2 owner here... You would be much better off getting an OBD2 conversion lead and a knock off VAG COM set up if you plan on keeping the car long term, the Motronic ECU can give you a lot of useful data. Blink codes work but suck in comparison to being able to get proper diagnostic info.

RXL.... So his ECU will only work with his key's as presumably they've got the proximity chip in them for the immobiliser?

I only ask as I'm curious as to how viable it would be to try his ECU in another car to establish if it's faulty or not given the cost of replacing an RS2 ECU I'd want to be 100% sure it's required before shelling out.

A quick Google tell's me that blink code means the ECU detects a short circuit to ground, but that could wrong so please don't take that as gospel... Given the car is wet inside this could be something simple as opposed to a knackered ECU.

Many thanks for the reply K Simmonds.
I'm trying to repair the car for a friend and my next plan was to back pin into the ecu and use vcds to read the k-line which will hopefully give me some more info.
The car has already been looked at by various garages including an auto electrician who diagnosed a faulty ecu but i don't think it is that. I wasn't sure how the immo system worked (if it did have one) There are signs of an aftermarket system been fitted in the past with ultrasonic detectors on the pillars which have been cut off.
I noticed on Saturday that the steering lock doesn't engage when the key is removed so there could be ignition switch issues too but i have all the powers/grounds and sensor inputs at the ecu to start the car so i'm leaning towards an immo issue.
thanks again, i'll keep you posted on my progress :-)

[Tractor Dave]

Aftermarket alarms at this age are best methodically traced back and removed. If someone has messed with the ignition barrel maybe it has the wrong key and no transponder. It might be worth hunting down an aby ecu with no immobiliser and see if it will start?

[K Simmonds]

As Dave's say above aftermarket alarm's at this age are highly prone to causing no starts and a host of other issue's with the central locking etc, I hate the bloody things... I'd start by removing all non OE wiring to do with any aftermarket alarms/immobilisers. It can look a little daunting as often by now car's like this may have had a couple of aftermarket systems but it's straight forward enough if you go about the process methodically.

If it's got an OE immobilser, which it has from the ECU part number, they work by having a proximity sensor surrounding the ignition barrel which detects the key's chip, these systems are normally very reliable.

If the steering lock is not working then someones had a serious go at the ignition barrel, as these take a bit of breaking on VAG car's of this age. Does the key still work in the doors?

I'm curious as to how it's gotten so wet inside as Avant's don't tend to leak, am guessing the drain holes in the scuttle have gotten blocked with crap if is been stood for ages, there's one each side that drains into the inner wing which you probably already know if you've be in the fuse box..

[bazgreener]

As Dave's say above aftermarket alarm's at this age are highly prone to causing no starts and a host of other issue's with the central locking etc, I hate the bloody things... I'd start by removing all non OE wiring to do with any aftermarket alarms/immobilisers. It can look a little daunting as often by now car's like this may have had a couple of aftermarket systems but it's straight forward enough if you go about the process methodically.

If it's got an OE immobilser, which it has from the ECU part number, they work by having a proximity sensor surrounding the ignition barrel which detects the key's chip, these systems are normally very reliable.

If the steering lock is not working then someones had a serious go at the ignition barrel, as these take a bit of breaking on VAG car's of this age. Does the key still work in the doors?

I'm curious as to how it's gotten so wet inside as Avant's don't tend to leak, am guessing the drain holes in the scuttle have gotten blocked with crap if is been stood for ages, there's one each side that drains into the inner wing which you probably already know if you've be in the fuse box..

Well I managed to scan the car with vcds via the comm port in the fuse box but can only communicate with a few modules including ABS/Airbag/immobiliser etc, no comms with engine ecu. Immo had a fault of low signal and also warning light in cluster open circuit but after clearing it hasn't come back despite my attempting to start the car. I don't have any k-line signal at the ecu either.

[newsh]

Well I managed to scan the car with vcds via the comm port in the fuse box but can only communicate with a few modules including ABS/Airbag/immobiliser etc, no comms with engine ecu. Immo had a fault of low signal and also warning light in cluster open circuit but after clearing it hasn't come back despite my attempting to start the car. I don't have any k-line signal at the ecu either.

Hi Baz

Sounds like you have an immob fault, IIRC the immobiliser breaks (or grounds) the K line..

Whereabouts are you? I have an ECU with non-immo chipset you could use to see if the car will start.

[bazgreener]

Hi Baz

Sounds like you have an immob fault, IIRC the immobiliser breaks (or grounds) the K line..

Whereabouts are you? I have an ECU with non-immo chipset you could use to see if the car will start.

Hi Newsh,
i've been playing around with a scope today and i have k-line at some modules there is nothing out of the ecu. I 've just been on Erwin and downloaded all the audi 80 info which does give a little info about the rs2 but no specific wiring info so i assume its the same as the 80.
The vehicle has been brought over from France for a full restoration and i have been asked to prove the motor is ok before the car is stripped.
I'm in South Devon :-)

thanks

[andyg plym]

Hi I’m in Plymouth if I can be of any help drop me a line

[le mans]

There is an RS2 specific workshop manual and there is some wiring info in there. It’s available on Erwin or you might be able to find a copy online elsewhere.

[K Simmonds]

There is an RS2 specific workshop manual and there is some wiring info in there. It’s available on Erwin or you might be able to find a copy online elsewhere.

I'm rubbish at finding things like that online being something of a Luddite, but will see if I can source it. Thanks for the heads up.

I wasn't aware there is a proper hard copy of the RS2 specific manual, I'd really like to get my hands on one of those.!!!

[K Simmonds]

Hi I’m in Plymouth if I can be of any help drop me a line

Heya Andy! Haven't seen you on here for years, last time spoke was when I came down for those 3B rims and you had my SRS clutch kit.

That was the day Charlies A4 1.8T Sport oil starved the head and wrecked the top end when I was just before the Severn bridge.

[bazgreener]

Hi I’m in Plymouth if I can be of any help drop me a line

That could be a massive help Andy :-)

[bazgreener]

There is an RS2 specific workshop manual and there is some wiring info in there. It’s available on Erwin or you might be able to find a copy online elsewhere.

I downloaded all the RS2 stuff i could find on Erwin last night, i'll try and share it.