I will try to make this short: 2001 2.8 A6 FWD car. Timing jumped and the valves punched holes in several pistons. Got a good used motor and put it in.

The guy I got the motor from runs a large Audi/VW recycling place in Miami and showed me the new timing belt, etc. When quizzed about a few things he seemed to know what he is talking about so I am fairly confident the timing is correct.

Here is the current issue: Attempt to start car and it does start and runs pretty bad in closed loop. Surges and in general sounds sick. After a few minutes I assume it goes open loop and then pops a bit and shuts down. Yes the check engine light is on and no I do not have a VAG COM cable (ordered one, won't be here till later in the week).

It has one vacuum leak (which oddly enough was there on the previous motor). Plugging this does not help the situation.

I double checked all of the major sensors that I could see. There is one connect coming out of the same part of the wiring harness where the alternator cable comes out that I can not for the life of me find out where it goes. * Can take pictures if anyone would be willing to help.

I am looking for some ideas on what to look at to fix this. The one thing I do not really want to go back to at the moment is the timing. I have the cam tool but the thought of taking the front end support and everything off again is just not altogether appealing if there are other items to check first.

Many thanks in advance.

 

I went and took a quick 1 minute HD video of the motor running until it shut off (open loop?). Maybe this will give some more to go on. Praying for some feedback, thanks.

Link to video on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Dg8...=youtube_gdata

 

You are stuck without VAG-COM. You could try rechecking the cam timing and doing a throttle body adjustment, but until you have codes, you are blind.

 

Thank you for the reply. I was hoping that was not the answer. Did you listen to the video by chance?

 

Not just blind but almost helpless until you get the codes. Even a generic OBD2 scan would help since you purchased a replacement engine in an unknown condition.

 

OBD2??? I have an OBD2 scanner but the plug does not fit the port under the dash. Am I missing some other connector?

I have an update, I pulled the front end off again and checked timing, it appears spot on, please see pics. My other two threads show the two wiring harness connectors that I can not find a sensor for.

Thanks again

 

It looks close. Did you verify with the tools? I'd probably use both the bar and the pin, since the key on the back of the crank sprocket could be partially sheared (seem this more than once).

 

I did verify with the bar and pin

I just used my el cheapo OBD2 scanner and got 5 codes.

Random Cylinder Misfire
Cylinder 1 misfire
Cylinder 3 misfire
Cylinder 2 misfire
Cylinder 4 misfire

Why not 5 and 6? I checked the wires they look correct. Did I put something on backwards?

Thanks

 

I cleared codes and ran again with the same codes coming up. What would cause 4 cylinder to misfire?

 

Hey...the little bark at the end was kind of cool.
But it sounds more and more like valvetrain noise, perhaps a flattened camshaft lobe(s). It's definitely a clatter.

I'd pop off the cam covers and look at the condition of the cams and next what is happening when the engine is cranked with the starter. It should turn over fairly quickly with the coils/plugs out and the valve/cam covers off.