Audi A3 - Lumpy When Cold

[petersLUFC]

Another ongoing problem with my oh-so-reliable german car

1997 Audi A3 1.8T Sport

When the engine is cold and has bothered to start without human intervention (see other thread), if i accelerate hard whilst the engine is cold it starts to run lumpy and rattly, with pretty much zero power until the temp gauge has reached the mid way point, after this it's fine and returns to normal. If i drive it like an old woman until it reaches this temp, it's fine.

A symptom of this may or not be the coolant warning symbol (and accompanying beeeeeeeeeep) coming up on the message centre when i start the car as it performs a self-test (only happens when engine is cold as stated above). I've had the message checked and was told it was a duff sensor. The engine is getting coolant and has plenty of it.

I've changed the coolant temp sensor just to be sure, but i still get the lumpy running and message centre warning (flashing thermometer symbol)

So...what next? I've found a list of seemingly never ending stuff it can be on "vw vortex" which doesnt really help me much. Thinking of giving the MAF a clean out with some isopropyl and seeing if that helps

any suggestions? Want to try everything i can do myself before shelling out for a garage to take a look

Cheers

Dave

Edited by petersLUFC on Tuesday 17th November 17:27

[MintyChris]

I take it you dont have a copy of vagcom? You could go on diagnosing for a long time when a simple scan will tell you all thats wrong.

[petersLUFC]

Looking into that as well, struggling to figure out which cable to buy off ebay for it though - there seems to be a few types, all radically varying in price!

[Dr G]

Coolant temp sensor is the obvious one - either get yourself a copy of vagcom or get it in to a garage for a diagnostic; decent independent will not charge the earth to take a look. There's no sense in throwing money at the problem!

[00161wj]

It'l want a new reservoir for the coolant warning light, the sensor thats faulty is in there. As for the poor running when cold get the faults read and if nothing comes up basic set the throttle body and clean out the air mass meter.