URGENT help needed - engine trouble

AHarvey · 7 Jan 2015 at 13:22

Hi all,

I've an 06 Audi A4 2.0 Petrol. Last year I had an issue with a coil going and replaced it.

Engine light has come on again with the exact same symptoms, I've managed to limp to a safe spot and checked the engine. This time there is a burning smell and part of the engine is glowing red hot. I'm not mechanical enough to know if it should be or not but I'm guess it shouldn't be:

Can anyone tell me what that is?

TehBluebear · 7 Jan 2015 at 13:38

Looks like it could be the catalyst. Definitely part of the exhaust system at least as thats either a temp or O2 sensor in there.

Firestar_3x · 7 Jan 2015 at 13:40

The can with the sensor in is the CAT, odds are if a coilpack has gone unignited fuel is going into the exhaust, burning and causing it to glow red hot since you EGT is sky high!

AHarvey · 7 Jan 2015 at 13:41

damn it

Thanks guys, looks like its going to be towed until I can get new coils sent. Just hoping that is the problem and its nothing more costly

touch · 7 Jan 2015 at 13:44

TehBluebear said:
Looks like it could be the catalyst.

Yep, i think so.
Glowing red hot usually means too much unburned fuel getting into the exhaust. Maybe one of the spark plugs isnt firing? (due to a broken coil?)

minimadmotorman · 8 Jan 2015 at 09:28

If you don't know the history of all the coil packs I'd personally stick 4 x new coil packs and a set of plugs in there.

When a Coil Pack went down on my 1.8t the subsequent fouling killed the plug too.

Fortunately it had an outstanding recall on it for coil packs so I just bought a 2nd hand gen CP dropped it off at Audi and it came home with 4 x brand new ones FOC :-)

AHarvey · 8 Jan 2015 at 11:30

minimadmotorman said:
If you don't know the history of all the coil packs I'd personally stick 4 x new coil packs and a set of plugs in there.

When a Coil Pack went down on my 1.8t the subsequent fouling killed the plug too.

Fortunately it had an outstanding recall on it for coil packs so I just bought a 2nd hand gen CP dropped it off at Audi and it came home with 4 x brand new ones FOC

Well according to the post on here, it was Feb last year, I ordered 2, only had to replace 1.

the 2 new ones have arrived and have been used with the 1 spare from last year and it now has all 4 of the new ones in and is running a lot better at idle. Going to take it for a spin shortly.

Just got to remember how I got the engine management light to go off like last year :S Either than or there's another problem in which case I really am going to have to invest in a vag-com unit

Jez · 8 Jan 2015 at 11:53

You'll be able to reset that engine light with a £5 OBD2 thing off ebay and torque app for a phone by the way. They cant do much other than view and clear codes but its a fiver and zero hassle.

LupoLover · 8 Jan 2015 at 11:57

Remove battery for an hour will normally do it.

rodenal · 8 Jan 2015 at 12:01

Yeah just pull the battery - a cheap obd reader is useful to have though

minimadmotorman · 8 Jan 2015 at 12:21

On VAG stuff the light will usually go out of its own accord after so many start cycles if the problem no longer exists. It will still remain logged in the ECU though for reading at a later date.