Finsfan1313

I have an 07 a3 quattro s3, with the 3.2v6. I keep getting the following codes... P0321, p2415, p2181, p0040. The p0321 says crank sensor, or cam sensors. The p2415 is an 02 sensor code, p2181 says either low coolant, thermostat, or temp sensor. P0040 is 02 sensor swapped. The vehicle runs fine, until about 3500 rpm. Then it sputters. At highway speeds, it sputters, then regains itself, then sputters. Its a vicious cycle. I also replaced the coolant temp sensor a week ago. Works fine once i clear the codes. Then, it just randomly stops working entirely. Im thinking the thermostat? Ive also read that the coolant sensor/thermostat code could affect the 02 sensor codes popping up. Atleast the p2415 one. Which is sensor 1, bank 2 exhaust sample error. Can someone please steer me in the right direction? Ive even unhooked the battery, and used a jumper wire between the two cables to drain the system of any power, resetting the ECM. The lights stay off temporarily, but still come back on within a short time period. WTF...
please help.

Geomeo

Likely the intake valves need some cleaning. A compression check is usually quite cheap/inexpensive. I would probably change the thermostat out about 80k miles or 10 years. I think they might be more prone to blowing head gaskets than anything else.

Finsfan1313

Thanks geomeo. Im going to run some good intake cleaner through it. The thermostat looks like it might be a bear to change, so im gonna do it on my next day off. I was actually considering replacing both cam sensors, and the crank sensor. Thats gonna cost me about 100 dollars or so, plus my labor. I really want to get this issue taken care of, its no fun driving an s3 under 3000rpm everywhere i go. Feel like an old lady. 😆

Geomeo

Lol a little tic and you’ll be back to dust clouds in no time. Don’t run over any old lady’s though. It might be the one that does my laundry....

Also borescopes are pretty cheap nowadays too. You can view it through the spark plug hole. I’m not sure how you point the camera up the way to look at the valves though. I know there are 10k systems out there that do articulation on the end only coz I used to work with them. But that real pricey. I’m not sure about the cheap version maybe it’s done with side view lens.