How to Find Engine Misfires on VW and Audi's

If the check engine light is flashing on your VW or Audi this likely means you have misfire issues. In this video we talk about how to track down misfires using the OBDeleven scan tool for VW and Audi models.

Misfires on VW and Audi models are generally related to the ignition coils or spark plugs on the vehicle. This video will help you answer questions like.
How do tell if you have a bad ignition coil?
Which ignition coil is bad?
Are my Spark Plugs Causing a misfire?

This would help you track down faults like
P0300 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
P0302 - Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected
P0303 - Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected
P0304 - Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected

Update - Since making this video OBDeleven has created a next-gen version that works with iPhones! you can still buy the android version if you would like. LINKS BELOW

Next-Gen - OBDeleven VW and Audi Scan Tool HERE

Older Android Style OBDeleven Pro Scan Tool

----------------------------------------------------
Shop for VW and Audi Parts Here

VW AUDI Specialty Repair Cornelius NC

VW AUDI Specialty Repair Kent Ohio

More info on DAP Reward Credit

[erwinvanriel]

What channel to select for the older vw Audi's ?

[famineaffair]

In March of 2018 I purchased a 2015 VW Tiguan 2.0Tsi AWD with about 75000 km. I was buying from a Chrysler Dealership and the vehicle showed regular maintenance at a nearby VW dealership so I brought it to that dealership for a pre-purchase inspection. I let them know that I was bringing it to them because they had been the ones to do all of the work on the vehicle for the previous owner. They gave it a glowing review, I paid for the inspection and that was that.

Four months later (July) I was driving to work in the morning and within 2 minutes of leaving my house, I had acceleration loss, the EPC and Engine lights came on and the vehicle was shaking and clearly struggling. At the time I had just turned a corner and was merging with traffic at around 50km/h. I pulled over, turned off the car and restarted the engine and all seemed fine, no warning lights and decent performance. Later that evening as I was getting ready to go home, I started the car and got the engine light again. I reached out to a friend who works for active Green and Ross and he did a preliminary diagnostic, it was throwing cylinder 1 misfire and a rare cylinder 3 misfire and general low rpm. He ended up swapping the ignition coil on cylinder 1 and all seemed well.
The next day I drove about 150km to a cottage with a couple of friends and had no issue. On the way back, I turned a corner to merge with traffic at about 60km/h and the engine light came back, no acceleration, almost got rear ended. Pulled over and engine off and then again, back to normal with no warning light. I managed to get almost all the way home and then again, while accelerating to pull into the fast lane, lost acceleration and engine light came on. Took it back to my friend and swapped spark plugs out. Misfire started happening more consistently. I decided to take it to a small shop that specializes in VW and Audi. I told them what had been done so far and asked them to change the fuel injector as that is the next piece that I could see that could affect a single cylinder.

When they got into it, they saw that the fuel injector on 1 had already been changed and they suggested that I call a dealership to see if they would cover an intake manifold replacement as they had heard this was something that they may cover. I called the dealership that did the prepurchase inspection and they said that my VIN was not covered for the manifold upgrade. I asked if they could send over the previous owner’s service records and they did. The intake manifold was replaced at 32000km and the fuel injector on 1 was replaced at 62000km. Obviously the previous owner had a similar issue...

I went back to the VW Audi shop and told them to just go ahead and replace injector 1/3 just in case it made a difference (what’s $300?) I also asked them to check the intake valves for carbon buildup. Valve 1 was the most clean and the others weren’t too bad (“we have seen much worse in fully operational vehicles”) so I said that if they didn’t look bad then don’t waste their time and my money. The thinking here was that the trouble cylinder had the cleanest valve of them all.

So they put it back together, did a compression and leak down test (no issues - phew!). They called me to say it seemed to be running well - no misfires. I went to pick it up and started it only to find the same problem. They said it must be electrical and Thu recommended that I take it to a dealership to have them check the computer, connections, electrical system.

I brought it to the nearest dealership (Humberview VW where I had an oil change done shortly after I purchased the vehicle). I explained the situation and work that had been done so far. I left it with them to diagnose and they called me the next morning to say the first cylinder was reading 50psi during a compression test. I called VW Audi, they confirmed cylinder 1 showed about 160psi and they would be very surprised if the same cylinder were to drop by over 100psi overnight (and after driving less than 10km). I went down to the dealership and explained my concern and that the previous compressions AND leakdown both gave good results. The service manager Frank, tried to convince me that these other mechanics were screwing me around and that the issue was Definitely Mechanical and that they would have to charge me $800 to diagnose the issue further (I.e. take the engine apart). I asked if there was anything else to rule out first and he said no, but that I am still covered under a powertrain warranty so if they find that is powertrain related then it will be covered - including the $800 labour. I was pretty thrown off by the compression test fiasco so they performed the test in front of me again and they got 160 on cylinder 2 and 120 on cylinder 1 - a far cry from the 50 psi they had told me on the phone. The mechanic did it again on cylinder one and it seemed like he wasn’t cranking it enough for it to reach max psi but I didn’t know enough at the time to explain myself - he hit 90psi this time. I decided to take the car to another mechanic to verify the first mechanics compression results and sure enough the test was clear 160psi across all cylinders.

I called CAA for some advice on the situation and they recommended that I take it to another dealership and see what they say before possibly persuing arbitration through CAMVAP.

I’m at another dealership today and they showed me the carbon buildup in the valves and the sure enough the first valve is almost clear but there is a bit of a buildup near where the head of the valve seats and so I’m sold on the acorn shell cleaning (6hrs -$700) oh and he says I should have come to them first as they would have done the injector replacement under the power train warranty (d’oh!). Cleaning is done and it’s still misfiring. They are working on figuring it out but my question is: what the heck should I do next? I’m almost out of money and I’m already $1000 over my annual repair budget...

What is wrong with this thing?

[ProjectSimRacing]

Hi! Great video!
I have a Golf R mk7 2016 with 5k miles, and when i run obdeleven for 15 minutes on idle theres no misfiring at all but as soon as I accelerate like 5% quickly and let the gas go it misfires. I did that for like 5 minutes back and forth and got 9 misfires on cylinder 1, 5 on second and 3 & 3 on the others. If i accelerate hard no misfire only when I accelerate a little and quickly let go. I really appreciate any help! Thanks

[GIOXK]

on a regular running car what values should i expect? all 0 or some misfire is it normal to see it?

[MagicEditingFX]

My misfire issue was resolved, here is how.

So my issue was EPC lights come on when the car oil temp is around 90C, and it starts misfiring and again between 2 to 3k RPM there is that sound.

Cylinder 3 was misfiring all the time.
Check spark plus, they were clean
Change coils (Issue was still there)
Cleaned injectors (Issue was still there)
Check throttle body, it had an issue so I changed it (misfire was still there)
Found I had an oil leak, through the PCV and got it fixed (issue was still there)

Screw it, opened up the engine.

Issues I found.
Valve springs needed replacement
Camshaft was a little damaged
Piston rings were gone.

And I changed the timing tensioner while at it and fixed the headers.

After these changes, the car is driving fine.

My engine drove the same 150k KM, stage 1 tune REVO.
Tune did not add the issue, I track the car all the time.

I hope my input helps anyone desperate.

[Alexander.]

Thank you so much! I'm currently having a problem with this exact thing on my 1.2 TSI engine. Cylinder 1 and 2 misfires and the car jumps like a kangaroo. This video will help me track down the issue, hopefully.

[cc]

Here's something for you.
I have a EA211 (1.2TSI, same as 1.4TSI except capacity). I have no misfire error codes being thrown. No check engine light lit.
Yet those counters show misfires across all cylinders and they're currently at 20, 000 to 30, 000 per cylinder.
Watching the live data I see misfires logged at idle and while driving. I can understand the ones at idle, but not at speed and load.
Yet I have no detectable engine vibration and no rough sounding exhaust.
Something is going on and I can't figure it out as occassionally this car is a total dog on the highway and can be a struggle to get beyond 75mph. Sometimes there's no such issue and the little 1.2 can go full tilt.

What do you reckon it could be?
Injectors? Carbon issue?
Or is something else tripping up the misfire detection as I understand this is determine by crankshaft speed before and after firing.

[Deutscheautoparts]

Update - Since making this video OBDeleven has created a next-gen version that works with iPhones! you can still buy the android version if you would like. LINKS BELOW

Next-Gen - OBDeleven VW and Audi Scan Tool HERE

Older Android Style OBDeleven Pro Scan Tool

[RLTPDX]

Hi. How are you. A question:
I have to Audi 2004. A4 Quattro 1.8.
Panel light turned on ( check engine. )
Code P0302. The found coolant inside cylinder, so they ll remove head to repair, most likely head gasket.
They did, but 8 days later, from the repair, he turned the light on the panel ( check engine ) the same code. What could it be

[peacefrog]

@ 2:00 If it were Scotty Kilmer, he'd grunt "uunngh" while pulling off the engine cover...

[jwsehm]

Thank you for this, I'm fighting a misfire myself. This is probably a good tool to invest in since I plan on keeping the car for quite some time. What ended up causing the misfire on your car? Stock plugs?

[evgenialexandrov]

thank you for the video, however, how did you reset the counters back to 0 before running new live data?

[icannotbeyoursuperman]

Hey, I'm trying to do the same thing on my 2007 gti but when I click the live data it only opens the list of channels, and it doesn't let me look up the misfires

[XiderOmri]

So what was the problem? You just swept coil 1 & 2 with 3 & 4 and it's gone?

[deborahanntallon]

I have a 2.5L VW Jetta 2008, just changed thermostat housing, ran it hot cause it broke off. 2nd day after repair check engine light came on when I started it. Reading misfire in 1, 2, 3, 4 cylinders. If it was running good but initial start up idle is rough for 5 seconds then normal. Runs fine after that, would that be a sensor for air intake or a vacuum leek. If vac leek how do I find out why and where?

[GabrielMoraes]

Hey. In Brazil it's common for the Up TSi model to have a fuel injector dripping issue, which causes difficulties to turn the car on, weak engine, rough idle and in some rare cases, even hydrolocking, depending on how long was the car parked. My Up TSi just began showing the first symptoms of this (hard to do the first start of the day). I'd like to know if there's any way in OBDEleven to check this particular issue. Would it somehow know an injector is working differently from others? Thanks!

[kenmh]

Thanks much. Purchased plugs and coils from ShopDap a while ago (summer) and didn't get around to replacing till now. Wet and cold weather caused misfire codes recently. Replaced plugs and coils, so far so good!

[GTI_CHHA]

Thanks Paul, good info. I assume that one can do the same read-outs with VCDS.

[deetailing]

Can you do more of these videos please, they are massively helpful and generally good to watch to get the most out of the device

[willamina_official]

Hey my audi a3 1.6 petrol engine shows p3011 misfire duz this means my car has up to 11 cylinders?