2001 A4 1.8T - Stumbling Problem

[Mitchell Segal]

Hello all,

I have a 2001 A4 1.8T.  All of a sudden this week, I'm getting a stumbling
problem.  Usually occurs around 1800-2100 rpm under light load.  Engine
would hesitate, buck.  A few times when starting lightly away from a light,
it would stumble or stop on me, and I have to restart the engine.

I've noticed this like once a week for the last month or so, but this week
it's gotten worse.  Today it's happening a lot more.  Tried to call the
dealership to check with them, but it's now 2:30pm, and around here, they
close up the service at 2pm on Fridays (but since tomorrow's a holiday, they
closed early today, nice of them).  So now I'm stuck driving like this till
Monday.

I got the recall notice for the ignition coils, and I believe they were all
replaced at my last service, but I'm going to check my papers tonight when
(if) I get home.  

Anyone experience this before?  Could it be the ignition coils?  ignition
TDC sensor?  Could it be anything else, like a fuel problem?  

I have the APR chip in my car.  I have tried going back to the stock
program, but it doesn't make a difference, so I don't think it's the chip
that's causing this.

Of course, yesterday was my 4 year anniversary of the car, so it has the
happen the day after I'm out of warrantee (the bean counters really know
their statistics, the engineers design things to last EXACTLY 4 years to the
day).  So unless it's the coils, it looks like it's going to come out of my
pocket.

Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Mitchell Segal