[V8] Timing belt change - follow up

[John Bysinger]

Ok, after some help from fellow listers, I was able to rebuild the
passenger side distributor.  I completely re-wired the connector to the
hall sensor, and was able to bench test it with a DC 4.5V source.  I
thought I may have assembled the ring on the cam side incorrectly, but
again, thanks to you guys I was able to confirm I got that ring in properly.

But it's still throwing a 2111 and stumbling over ~2500 RPMs in neutral,
and completely gutless and stalling when in gear.  Just to confirm, I did
as SJM's ECU page said and reset the memory by pulling the appropriate
fuse, and trying again, same code.  I pulled the drivers side cover on the
timing belt to see if there was any odd movement going on w/ the
tensioner/dampener when it got to those RPMs.  No odd movement there
either.  According to the SJM site 2111 indicates an RPM sensor failure,
but I just replaced both of the sensors under the driver's dizzy earlier
this year, barely 500 miles ago.  I rechecked their harness plugs, both
were secure.  I also inspected the connectors, wiring and hoses that run on
top of the engine, no real visible issues that I can tell visually.

I'm really at a loss as to where to look next.  I have time this weekend to
tinker with it, I'm hoping I can get it figured out before the Seattle fall
rain gets here.

Any tips/suggestions at this point would be very helpful.  I do have 'an
audi guy' who has a shop 15 miles from here I could take it to, but right
now driving it isn't possible with the stumbling, I'm trying to avoid the
cost of getting it there if I can.  I blew my Audi budget on the timing
belt and PS hoses.

-John
'90 V8Q

On Thu, Aug 16, 2012 at 8:42 PM, John Bysinger <doog at bysinger.net> wrote:

> Well I got the timing belt completed, thanks for the recommendation to use
> BlauParts, their kit and tool rental made it nearly a breeze.  The kit was
> amazingly complete with seals, pulleys, fluids etc.  I also replaced the
> fan and oil pump bearings, because like everyone else said, I was in there,
> might as well.
>
> I used this for reference while I was doing the work, proved very helpful:
>
> http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/enginemechanical/A8timingbeltreplacement.pdf
>
> It was nearly the same, just different Dizzy setup on the back of the
> heads.
>
> I also got my leaky power steering fixed while in there, thanks again
> spokanehose, that was the third hose I've had them done, worked great.
>
> But there's always something....
>
> I ended up having to trim about 1.5" off the end of the drivers side of
> the top radiator hose, hose clamp pinched through it causing a leak.  Glad
> it was there and not elsewhere in the hose so I didn't have to replace it.
>  But the one remaining issue I'm having is keeping me from getting it back
> on the road. It's only throwing one code: 2111.  Which based on a search of
> the list archives is likely the crank position sensor.  Strange.  I just
> replaced it and it's partner about 3 months before the water pump gave out,
> so I'm pretty sure the sensor is still fine.  Behavior is it starts and
> idles just fine, slowly increase the RPMs and around 3k it starts to act
> like it's skipping or stumbling.  When trying to drive, similar behavior,
> idles along just fine, try to give it some throttle and it'll stumble and
> sometimes stall.
>
> I tried peaking under the dizzy to see if maybe the plugs had come loose
> while I was putting the cam lock plates on/off but they look plugged in ok.
>  I haven't tried re-seating them just yet since there's quite a bit of
> engine bits in the way there and I was losing sunlight.  Thought I would
> see if anyone had any suggestions for something to check besides those two
> sensors hidden behind the drivers side header.
>
> Only other noteworthy item is on the passenger dizzy there's a sensor that
> the plug socket had crumbled a bit, I cleaned it up and made a clamp of
> sorts to hold it in place, could that be my issue?
>
> -John
> john at bysinger.net
> '90 V8Q
>



-- 
john at bysinger.net