So the S4 is gone and I managed to get the family schlag through it's MOT without much hassle in the end. So without an S4 to focus on I can maybe try sort all the annoying aspects of this much neglected car while I have to put up with it. It's a facelift '99 1.8T Sport (150)
1. The idle. For a long time now it's had an uneven, misfirish type idle. It oscillates between 760-800rpm, you can see the needle bobbing up and down and there's a bit of a hiccup to the exhaust, in words it sounds like derrrrrrr der der derrrrrrrrrrrrr der derrrrrrrrrr
Have checked coil packs and plugs. Could it be TB needs a clean? or a clogged breather pipe?
2. Throttle control is iffy. In my S4 I could happily put it in gear and lift the clutch without touching the throttle and it would happily cost along at a steady pace. This one I have to give gas, and if I take it away it'll kangaroo. (once driving normally it's completely fine and pulls very strong). It also feels as if there's a lot of resistance to the engine turning over. It has a new battery but cranks quite slowly on startup (does always start but doesn't fire into life like it should) and when you turn it off the engine stops dead immediately. (and yes it has oil!).
3. According to the dials the engine runs very cold. After a 40minute drive in to work this morning both coolant and oil gauges were reading just over 60. I replaced the coolant temp sender last year but made no difference.
Any thoughts on the above? None of this is new, been like it for ages! but since it's not been my daily I've not done too much about it.
1. The idle. For a long time now it's had an uneven, misfirish type idle. It oscillates between 760-800rpm, you can see the needle bobbing up and down and there's a bit of a hiccup to the exhaust, in words it sounds like derrrrrrr der der derrrrrrrrrrrrr der derrrrrrrrrr
Have checked coil packs and plugs. Could it be TB needs a clean? or a clogged breather pipe?2. Throttle control is iffy. In my S4 I could happily put it in gear and lift the clutch without touching the throttle and it would happily cost along at a steady pace. This one I have to give gas, and if I take it away it'll kangaroo. (once driving normally it's completely fine and pulls very strong). It also feels as if there's a lot of resistance to the engine turning over. It has a new battery but cranks quite slowly on startup (does always start but doesn't fire into life like it should) and when you turn it off the engine stops dead immediately. (and yes it has oil!).
3. According to the dials the engine runs very cold. After a 40minute drive in to work this morning both coolant and oil gauges were reading just over 60. I replaced the coolant temp sender last year but made no difference.
Any thoughts on the above? None of this is new, been like it for ages! but since it's not been my daily I've not done too much about it.
I always notice my car running much smoother after a good motorway drive. 
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