[A4] puttering

[Kent McLean]

Ken Witherell wrote:
> I have a 2002 A4 1.8MT, this morning car started fine
> and drove through the neighborhood with no issues,
> when entering the highway and coming up to speed, I
> noticed the car started "slipping" at the higher rev
> of 2nd gear, went into 3rd fine, then started
> "slipping" in 3rd.  Immediately pulled off and coasted
> to a stop.  The car sounded fine while idling, but
> would stutter when I tried to go forward.  I limped it
> back home slowly in 1st.  The car now putters in the
> drive.  At first, I thought I had something
> transmission related.  With the engine stuttering, I
> am wondering if it is engine related?

Puttering? Slipping? Stuttering? I'm confused.

Puttering?  I don't know that one.

Slipping -- If the engine revs higher as you step on the gas, but the
car doesn't accelerate in turn, it sounds like a slipping clutch
(assuming you have a manual transmission). The clutch, under load,
doesn't grip enough, causing the clutch to slip (not transmit power). It
may be a worn clutch, or oil on the clutch.

Stuttering -- If the engine stutters, that is, misses a beat when a
cylinder/spark plug doesn't fire, then it may be ignition related (bad
coil/plug/wire/connection), or maybe an injector (dying, clogged, or its
connection). A stutter may also be caused by bad/old gas, or water in
the gas (a fresh tank from a tank that has water in it, or condensation
in your tank that is less than full); a can of dry gas might fix that.

-- 
Kent McLean
'91 200 TQA #1, for sale
'91 200 TQA #2, no name yet
'94 100 S Avant, "Moody"
'89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy", up in smoke