papyrus

I appreciate any weigh-in you guys can give. I've been through a lot with my car and thought I'd finally have the latest mystery-ailment fixed after my last tweaks. No dice.
In short, I'm throwing too-rich codes on both banks and have been for a long time. I mix it up with the occasional o2 sensor gripe and a misfire or two. It's a STGIII with the AWE kit. STOCK exhaust for what that is worth. AWE now demands aftermarket exhaust with this kit; previously it was just highly encouraged. I don't have the AWE headers but do have the downpipes. If exhaust alone could cause all of this great, I'm doubting it though and would need some good explanation.
On to the issue. The car has stumbled at idle when cold since the install. It did not throw CELs for a few months though. After that it started with the CEL. While driving I will suddely loose the majority of boost. It runs perfectly smoothly but lacks the majority of power. At this stage vagcom will usually show some too-rich codes thrown. Some mile later the CEL will come on as well. I can clear it with VAG and it'll be good for a few days. Once cleared the car starts and idles smoothly even when cold, but once it throws codes and goes into scheusliche mode it stumbles and sputters cold until the codes are cleared.
I had it in and out of the shop that installed the kit with no luck. They tried coil packs around the misfire reports, new MAF, a new ECU and, lately, new ECT sensor (engine coolant temperature). I also bought a full set of vast o2 sensors to know the rigging was done well with no luck. I'm not fully convinced the ECU is out of the question, as they had to flash it to GIAC specs which took a while and the new ECU wasn't in the car for too long to test. In any event they did try cleaning contacts etc. on the old ECU with no luck. I even had Audi take a look. They tried a new MAF (instructed them to try the Hitachi 01 MAF etc) w no luck and gave up quickly. I'm not sure what to try next. It runs great before throwing the rich code, but then it's shot until clearing it. Ideas?

Thanks much in advance for any input.

latest codes (rich common, misfires something I hadn't seen in some time):

Saturday,04,November,2006,19:25:22
VAG-COM Version: Release 607.3-UD

Control Module Part Number: 8D0 907 551 M
Component and/or Version: 2.7l V6/5VT G 0002
Software Coding: 06612
Work Shop Code: WSC 02325
5 Faults Found:
17537 - Fuel Trim; Bank 2 (Mult): System too Rich
P1129 - 35-00 - -
17535 - Fuel Trim; Bank 1 (Mult): System too Rich
P1127 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
16684 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0300 - 35-00 - -
16685 - Cylinder 1: Misfire Detected
P0301 - 35-00 - -
16688 - Cylinder 4: Misfire Detected
P0304 - 35-00 - -

Readiness: 0000 0001

JordanS4

dd you try changing the spark plugs? might be a bad coilpack...

jtsai

have you pressure tested? might have a boost leak

B5QShip

that supposedly they are working on. Sounds like you've done a lot of trouble shooting already, but have you pressure tested?

bone-doc S4

afetr EGTs were changed everything was fine.

papyrus

Yeah we did.. in addition to adhoc replacement in troubleshooting they replaced all 6 permanently.. no dice!

papyrus

yeah the shop pressure tested at least twice.. says all is well. I assume audi did too but not positive...

papyrus

right. I talked to Mike @AWE and forwarded these details to Todd who is looking into any potential coldstart issue. He felt strongly that these issues were unrelated to whatever he is seeing.

papyrus

That alone is very promising. Did you have any codes or CEL that was different - anything specific to EGTs etc?

Thanks

PaulB | paulben.net

I have this EXACT problem. How did you end up fixing it!!!???