Loss of power for a few seconds while driving

[pidsy]

My old Audi 1.8t auto has got an intermittent issue with losing power for a few seconds while driving.

It usually happens in the first 10 mins of the engine running. There’s no dimming on the dash or warning lights coming up just a loss of power I.e can be driving at 30mph and with no change of throttle position, the car slows to a crawl for up to 20 seconds, then suddenly recovers.

Not had any other issues recently and it’s just had a service - this only started happening after I got it back from the service.

My thoughts are that the fuel filter is duff?

[Mave]

Send to me to be a bit of a jump to assuming fuel filter. Have you looked for error codes? What did they do at the service - just oil and filter? Did they touch the fuel filter? Any plugs? Anything else changed?

[pidsy]

Just oil and filter. A basic service.

Bit of a jump?

As the loss of power ends - there’s a burst of speed as the car gets back up to the speed that the accelerator position is at.

The loss is best described as going from normal speed to suddenly driving through treacle for a few seconds, then on and carrying on as normal.

[generationx]

You could also check for an intermittent short on the loom controlling the spark plug packs. I had a similar problem on a late model Ford Escort and it was traced to a split loom shorting on an engine bracket occasionally. Gave me similar symptoms.

[E-bmw]

Sounds like MAF to me, but you need to get a decent code reader on it.

[pidsy]

Thanks all.

It’s a 2001 B6 - is that an eBay code reader job or is it easier to drop it back to the e garage?

[E-bmw]

pidsy said:

is that an eBay code reader job or is it easier to drop it back to the e garage?

There are many good code readers on ebay, alas I assume you mean ebay cheapie code reader.

Well if you have one it is worth a try but a good quality/dealer level one will always find more in my experience.

[pidsy]

I’ll just take it back to the garage.

Thanks all.

[Mave]

pidsy said:

Just oil and filter. A basic service.

Bit of a jump?

As the loss of power ends - there’s a burst of speed as the car gets back up to the speed that the accelerator position is at.

The loss is best described as going from normal speed to suddenly driving through treacle for a few seconds, then on and carrying on as normal.

Just thinking that I've had similar symptoms due to spark plugs, intake boot splits, sticking turbo actuator, leaking intercooler, worn distributor, blocked cat...

[pidsy]

Haha.
Quite a list. It’s going back in on Monday, I’ll get them to check all those bits too.

[E-bmw]

You could always do a quick check of the MAF if you are certain that it always does it in the first few mins of starting.

Simply disconnect the MAF prior to starting & see if it does it.

[Mave]

pidsy said:

Haha.
Quite a list. It’s going back in on Monday, I’ll get them to check all those bits too.

Hopefully they'll have a good look and get it sutured soon.

[pidsy]

Dodgy MAF.

Ordered a replacement-

Thanks all.