Severe engine stuttering/hesitation after timing belt service
 

99 A4 2.8 quattro 5sp 83k

My dealer (independent) finished the timing belt service yesterday.
The drive home was fine. During another drive an hour later, I
experienced very significant hesitation--staccato like power drop-outs
while accelerating in 2nd or 3rd gear between about 2000 and 3000 rpm.
Minutes later, the check engine light starting flashing, then went to
continuously on. Fine above 3000 rpm. Made it home--never seemed like
it was going to competely die.

[Service consisted of replacing timing and drive belt, water pump,
thermostat, tensioner, belt roller, front camshaft seals, flushed
cooling system, Audi G-12 coolant added.
Compression test: all cyls 180 psi, except cyl #6--175psi]

Drove briefly later last night. same thing. Then again once more. This
time I drove the crap out of it, and the problem seemed to totally
disappear. CE light went out.

Extensive driving today. 90 F outside, 225 F oil temp (typical). That
particular problem has not returned, but I am noticing some similar
hesitation--stumbling-- around 2000rpm while even gently accelerating
in 2nd or 3rd gear, and also accelerating from a stop in 1st. This is
intermittent.

My dealer's apprentice did say that he spilled some coolant on the
engine, somewhere around the right-rear portion of the engine.

Ideas on this one? Ignition, fuel problem? I've not talked to my
dealer about this yet. I wanted to be armed with some knowledge before
doing so. Googling revealed little.
Dave

Re: Severe engine stuttering/hesitation after timing belt service
 

Al,
Yes, it looks like that is the problem. Compressed air solved much of
the problem. I still get occasional , brief sputtering, but it is much
better. Thanks.
Dave

>"Interious" <ddhartwick@SPAMREMOVERearthlink.net> schreef in bericht
>news:hgqnjvskgtnhjujbuh70f88j4qhjh875p6@4ax.com.. .
>> 99 A4 2.8 quattro 5sp 83k
>>
>> My dealer's apprentice did say that he spilled some coolant on the
>> engine, somewhere around the right-rear portion of the engine.
>>
>> Ideas on this one? Ignition, fuel problem? I've not talked to my
>> dealer about this yet. I wanted to be armed with some knowledge before
>> doing so. Googling revealed little.
>> Dave
>>
>
>Maybe the sparkplugs (and cables) are dirty of the coolant ?
>Once cleaned the engine compartment of a Mazda626. After that the car didn't
>drove well anymore, caused by water/moisture at the sparkplugs. of course
>cleaning (drying) it well fixed the problem.
>
>Al
>

Re: Severe engine stuttering/hesitation after timing belt service
 

"Interious" <ddhartwick@SPAMREMOVERearthlink.net> skrev i melding
news:774qjvkfjr25h25uif3cfd5qlratoq0lon@4ax.com...
> >Maybe the sparkplugs (and cables) are dirty of the coolant ?

I have just recently experienced a similar problem, with severe engine
stuttering/hesitation when accelerating, but after the sparkplugs and all
the six cables were replaced, everything was completely back to normal. Now
the engine runs just fine, and the sun is shining again.