Codes Stored with no CEL?

[Dan DiBiase]

Well, between vacation and a million other things, I never got around to doing anything with this problem. The car was still
very drivable, even took it to Mass. for vacation (needed 2 cars this year). So yesterday my younger son takes it out and the
CEL comes on. Took it to the shop today, they replaced the #1 cylinder coil pack, per the codes. So now I am on my second
go-around with coil packs, apparently! All four have been replaced over the past year, and 2 have been re-replaced as defective.
Fortunately, at no cost to me.

 Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA





________________________________
From: "cobram at juno.com" <cobram at juno.com>
To: d_dibiase at yahoo.com
Cc: quattro at audifans.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 3:09:55 PM
Subject: Re: Codes Stored with no CEL?


Short answer, yes, if it's an intermittent fault the CEL may only blink 
while the fault is occurring, most people will not even notice it while 
driving.  This initial code is usually the key to figuring out the 
rest.  I picked up a cheap OBD/Can scanner on-line to diagnose a CEL, dead 
temp gauge, wacky fuel gauge, constant on radiator fan and On Board Computer 
reading of 6MPG in the wife's car (a Cheby), long before the CEL would come on 
there was a code being generated and saved.  By the time the CEL would come 
on, this original code was triggering a bunch of other red herrings.  
Problem ended up being the thermostat, it was staying open a little too long, 
causing an "out of temp range" condition, which evidently had to domino in order 
to set off the Check Engine Light.  
 
I guess it wasn't that short an answer, the intermittent fault DTC will 
come up in a scan, even if the CEL isn't on.
 
With the history of your model, chances are you may find an 
intermittent coil pack.
 
BCNU,
http://www.geocities.com/cobramsri/
I 
enjoy escargot, but I prefer fast food.
Dan DiBiase <d_dibiase at yahoo.com> writes:
> My 
A4 is having a very intermittent stumbling/hesitation issue. My 
> wife 
has had the problem numerous times, in heavy traffic, while I
> haven't 
really been able to replicate it. I just had the timing belt 
> (etc) 
changed, so I am wondering if it is related. Or perhaps a 
> 
clutch
> slip. Will the on-board computer store any codes that may be 
> generated even though there is no, nor has there been, any Check 
> Engine
> Light flashing or warnings?