The FAQ's are great, used them quite a bit the last couple of days, so thanks Ed for setting them up.

Here's a few pics from today; I pulled all the coilpacs and plugs (maaliish posted a good troubleshooting link yesterday (link below) that had a line was pretty useful - matched my symptoms, including a recent history of non-cylinder specific misfires - leading me to think more possibly packs and/or plugs) in spite of the bad condition of the wiring harness; also Petervan made comments that he'd had no trouble with the same harness condition (though I went on and ordered a harness anyway from the dealer early this morning - but in the meantime I might just clean it and bed it in silicone)

Anyway, looking at the cp's and plugs:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/53277/06_01_07_029.jpg">

This looks like it should be the problem, but since I didn't ever get a cylinder-specific misfire, I'm not sure:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/53277/06_01_07_031.jpg">

All the plugs looked pretty good, except that the gap had worn to a uniform .036 or so - way overdue... Turns out these were IK20's; I dropped in IK22's, gapped at .028

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/53277/06_01_07_026.jpg">

Anyway, as Steve suggested, dropped a new green sensor in - turns out the dealer had one in stock, so I'm not sure that that might not have been it either, but I did clear all the codes before a test drive and had no misfires when I read them after, so good.

Thanks again to all that gave me suggestions and help - including reading my logs - and for the suggestion early on to get a VAG-Com ;-)<ul><li><a href="http://www.elitedubs.com/index.php?topic=988">troubleshooting link</a></li></ul>

 

that gap could cause misfires.

 

I'm still not positive that my front O2 sensor is good, but need to do more readings to be sure; thanks a bunch for your help too Robert - btw - you were one of the sources in the faq's also! :-)

 

With a bigger gap! Changed them out then too. ..From the rust it Looks like you got some water in the tunnels which could have been the misfire issue...One of the reasons I like the other style CP's that have an O-Ring seal and bolt down, preventing this...Glad ya got her going!

 

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/53277/06_01_07_033.jpg"></center><p>
are they interchangable? That damage is definitely from water, probably from me cleaning, &amp; possibly exacerbated by not running with the engine covers.

 

<center><img src="http://images104.fotki.com/v476/photos/7/7305/1238274/DSC02604-vi.jpg"></center><p>

 

ok - more for "the list"...

 

Great news!

 

Indeed! "when my car feels bad, I feel bad..." &amp; vice versa!

 

<center><img src="http://images17.fotki.com/v8/photos/6/645139/3518036/coil001-vi.jpg"></center><p>although the moisture down there probably didn't help. That shield covers the coils, really thick with another casing under that one.