Ursula 2.7T

Just today, seemingly out of nowhere, my car started shaking really badly. The check engine light came on and the car started shaking (vibrating) very noticeably, more so at low idle (<1000 RPM) and tending to almost disappear at higher idles (apx 2500 RPM) with the check engine light remaining on.

I've dropped the car off at my mechanic's shop - he's not there now but will be looking at my car later tonight. In the meantime, I am worried and wondering what could possibly be the cause. (I just finished paying my VISA bill today after racking up close to $4,000 in Audi maintenance and repair costs since October, and now I'm looking at who knows how much more!) Here are some pertinent (or not) facts:

2004 A6 2.7T
86K miles
car just had major maintenance service at 85K
timing belt replaced at 75K
new tires and balance at 80K (I don't think it's the tires causing the shaking)
car has *started* showing signs of oil leakage; checked the oil today and the level was perfect

One last fact, I'm sure it's not related, but am mentioning it for the heck of it: I've always used name-brand gasoline (Shell or Chevron), and today for the first time I put in gas at the Costco station. Within 15 miles of doing so, my problem started. It's probably just coincidental and not correlated, but am mentioning it FWIW.

Any ideas anyone? Thanks in advance!

PS - I searched the forums first, but didn't find anything. Also, I hope I'm posting correctly. It's been a while since I've been here and it looks like the format has changed a lot. Thanks.

4Driver4

Bad coilpack. Step one is the use VAG-COM to pull codes. You could probably fix this yourself in about 30 minutes for less than $50.

5speed6 v.2

Ursula! It's been a while....

Hopefully your mechanic is Audi savvy and does has the VAGCOM program/diagnostics.

Hopefully it's a coilpack as 4D4 mentioned.

And yes, the Audiworld forum just had a software "upgrade" about a week ago. Most of the "regulars" from here left for a new forum site using the old software.

Ursula 2.7T

Thanks 4D4 and 5S6 for your replies! I'm keeping fingers, toes, eyes, everything crossed that you are right about the coilpack!

My mechanic is awesome (Freddie Apodaca, for you NCal folks) . . . he's a certified master audi mechanic, so at least my Audi has got that going for her.

I'll reply again once my car's been diagnosed, for the benefit of anyone else with this problem who might be searching the forums in the future.

(Thanks for remembering me 5S6! It's been quite a while! )

Ursula 2.7T

You nailed it, 4D4 and 5S6! It was, indeed, a bad coilpack! And it was the least expensive repair I've ever had on my Audi ... under $100! Thanks for your help yesterday while I was fretting about my car.

RAUDI S6

Would have been under $50 for a DIY, keep an extra coil pack in your truck or glove box, you never know when those buggers want to go out. You can replace yourself in under 10 minutes. Piece of cake. Glad it was nothing serious.

WOWDee

Sometimes you get lucky. Maybe just a loose plug wire after the maintenance maybe one of them didn't get seated fully and vibrated loose.

4Driver4

No plug wire on her car. Moisture is possible but highly unlikely. Rough running and flashing CEL are almost always a bad coilpack...or a plug blown out of the head.

WOWDee

Can't believe you guys / gals would actually buy fuel at a COSTCO!! AHAHAHA

kbulava85

Mine just has an annoying shake if sitting in the driver's seat, the idle bounces like 50rpm sometimes as well. no check engine light, its A 2000 A6 2.7t manual quattro with 185k, my buddy says idle air control valve, but i cant find anything by that name. anyone know if thats right, and if so whats it called on this car? i dont think my issue is a bad coil cause i have no engine light.