Re: Audi A3 1.8 Turbo 1999 Very low power problem.

Rangiawhia wrote:
> This car has covered 102,000 kms and is in top condition. Suddenly, in
city
> driving at about 50 kph power drops suddenly. As speed slows I selected
a
> lower gear on the automatic which helped a little. After perhaps one
> kilometer of spluttering along it was very difficult to coax along. In
> neutral it will rev freely but it is very averse to much load. We
> suspected an unburned fuel smell which would point to an ignition flaw.
> The car will start but too power deficient to go anywhere after being
> towed home. Is there anything us amateurs can check out / maybe fix
before
> unloading vast quantities of $$$$$$$$ on the problem. This is my
daughter's
> car which makes low cost repair highly desirable!! Any advice greatly
> appreciated.
>
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>   
If you can find someone with a VAG system to pull the error codes you 
will be able to narrow down the problem.

But just guessing, things I would suspect are:
- large vacuum / boost leak in the intake between the turbo and the 
throttle body
- broken timing belt tensioner causing the belt to slip. If this is the 
case running the engine at all is very likely to destroy it completely.
- one or two failed coil packs (likely due to the fuel smell)
- Failed waste gate actuator possible but wouldn't cause this much loss 
of power

It is probably a high risk to drive it at all until the codes are 
available to diagnose.

Call a recommended independent Audi mechanic. Do NOT take is to a 
general shop that is not familiar with Audi