Re. plastic distributor gear?

[Ben Swann]

I'll throw in my $.02 FWIW.

First, the 3B engine management is not CIS but Motronic.  There are provisions to pull
codes, but you will need a VAG scanner and OBD interface converter cable in order to
properly read the codes.  VAG-COM is certainly worth the money, and you can use it on
your PC/Laptop.  You will likely use it over and over if you keep this car or own other
VW/AUDI cars.  You really won't know much until you rule in/out various sensors and
signals and are basically shooting in the dark.  There are a lot of sensors on the
engine and several of them can cause/contribute to the problem.

No doubt replacing the plastic gear is  a good idea, but odds are  that is not the
problem.  Distributor slop can be suspect, but more often than not it is due to timing
belt slop and/or distributor not being dead middle of Hall window.  Review my FAQ for
some details: http://www.gtquattro.com/FAQ.html

You may also have a large vacuum/boost leak and the symptoms you describe are closer to
that.

Other culprits that would not show up  after pulling codes:
	Vacuum leaks.
	Inadequate fuel delivery - relay cutting out, filter loaded up.failing pump.
	Coil assembly including darlington transistor is beginning to fail - exacerbated
by heat.
	Worn cap, rotor causing misfire - this is a good thing to simply replace
outright, or at least check and clean off oxidation.
	Wires, plugs - misfire.  The DOHC setup is susceptible to oil getting in the
plug well as the cam cover gasket ages. 
		 I just replaced mine - it was hard as a rock at 130kmiles. 
	
Again, without ability to pull codes, you are likely to waste time and money on things
that don't fix the problem, although they may improve reliability.

Ben

[Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 07:22:05 -0500
From: "gbs" <gschesel at comcast.net>
Subject: plastic distributor gear?
To: "'200q20V mailing list'" <200q20v at audifans.com>
Cc: gschesel at q.com
Message-ID: <20100723122406.116F7182F9708 at audifans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

I have my 200 in the shop due to severe misfire above 2500 RPM.  This started happening
on Friday a week ago, driving home from work after long engine cranking period.  I had
to kind of limp home, just 12 miles, using highest gear and lowest RPMs.  Vehicle has
"only" 123k miles; acquired in late 2002 with 97,000, so you can see I keep it in the
garage a lot and drive mostly during summers as an alternate vehicle.  And it has been
experiencing very uncharacteristic extended cranking times this season.

My non-audi techs have not been able to find the problem, don't know what to look for,
plus they do not have a way of pulling codes without an OBDI diagnostic meter.  So far
they have not removed the distributor to examine the gear condition.  I'm thinking they
don't want to end up billing me for extensive diagnostic time due to uncertainty on what
to look for.  They are being considerate knowing they have not worked on anything like a
200 20V with CIS. 

Should I assume a bad distributor and tell them to proceed with sourcing one at the
prevailing part cost, probably close to $300?  (I see there is/was one in marketplace
for half that).  I'm not concerned about the part cost.
Just want to get at the correct solution.

Thanks
Gordy Schesel
St Paul
200 20V Avant, Pearl, 123k miles]