Hello All
I purchased a 2007 S6 with 73,000 miles, from the Manheim auto auction. It was a one owner car, with full service records, one accident reported. The dealer service descriptions were terribly vague, so I don’t know exactly what has been repaired.
Wanted a more refined car with power, comfort, and a great exhaust note.
The car has hideous aftermarket 18” rims with new continental DWS’s (no TPS), and a lean bank one check engine light. The black interior is fairly clean, with the non-sport seats (bummer). These issues resulted in a very lower starting price, which I had won.
I spoke to the original owner since he had left his info in the contact list. I know it may have been creepy on my part, but I needed to know about the extent of the accident damage. I was relieved to hear it was a very minor fender bender on the rear bumper, however he did confess he ran over something that messed up the bottom of the front and rear bumper. Luckily, the actual undercarriage was untouched.
The previous owner mentioned the car was running very poorly before he sold it, and Audi suggested an intake manifold, amongst other thing he couldn’t recall, to fix the lean code.
The car drove very neutered (obviously). I suspected the intake manifold needed replaced at the bear minimum.
Fast forward to today. My friends friend is a tech who did a quick assessment with his diagnostic tool, and suggested the PCV valve was the issue. With hesitation, I picked up a new one to try, since it’s easy to swap. No luck. Car started idling rough.
Last night I was reviewing Counts intake manifold DIY, and during step one of removing the 2 PCV hoses off the passenger side intake tubing (before the throttle body), the #1 connector he warned about being fragile, was broken. The line going into the intake port wasn’t even plugged in and could t be since it wouldn’t latch. I macgivered some zip ties to hold the hose in the port it belonged to. Thinking this may have been the fix, I reset the CEL, and fired up the car again.
The engine seemed to buck in park/idle and seemed pissed off. Once warmed up it seemed to idle better. I drove it to see if the CEL would take off, to get the car inspected, and it immediately came on this afternoon again.
Reading some of the lean code issues on this and other forums, I suspect that the gasket on either the Y pipe going from the throttle bodies is leaking, the intake manifold gasket is leaking, carbon cleaning was needed AND / OR the IM itself is just shot.
Items I have accumulated/on order right now:
JHM IM
JHM IM Spacer
Additional IM gasket
10 NGK 5592 plugs
10 Hitachi injectors with injector seal kits from FCP
Bentley Manual
Injector extractor/install tool
Carbon cleaning brush set
( by next week I’ll get a Ross-tech VCDS, PM if you have even one vin left to sell)
I am going to hold off on coil packs for now (I know I know), but I want to inspect the manufacture date and see if I can ohm them out to determine if they are defective.
Concerns about the car running WORSE after installing the new PCV and hose back on, is setting in. Did I buy a dud? I plan on pulling the front end off and beginning the IM removal, carbon cleaning, injector replacement, and plug replacement.
This is all new to me, as I’ve never worked on an Audi before. Key thing is to have the tools and manual to do the first large project ( harbor freight did not have M8 3 square sockets).So far, this community has been super helpful.
Plans for the car, get it to run correctly. I am open to other places to check for the vacuum leak for lean bank 1, but I feel confident it is in the IM. Counter argument: if it was the IM, wouldn’t both banks be lean?
Yes, I need a proper Ross-tech VCDS. I hit my budget for the car for the month and figured I address the items I was going to do anyways, In my hopes of fixing it.
Get a custom 3” exhaust made as my reward for wrenching on and fixing this car. Yes, I’m getting ahead of myself, but I work well if I have treats to work towards.
JHM tune, JHM pulley by end of year.
At 100,000 miles, do an engine out service, replacing chain guides, pulleys, O2 sensors. Gut the cats before placing the motor back in.
Wish me luck. 