96TSI - Terrible Idle - chugging
 

Where to start...ok, well i had my timing belt changed in July but the balancer shaft wasnt tensioned properly so i had that fixed like 3 weeks ago, i noticed the bad idle slightly after this but i dont remember if it was there before because from what i heard - if timing is off in the 4g63, i will grenade the engine...

The Problem:
Feel like a chugging in the engine at idle, at first the RPMs were normal, but two days ago i started it up and stalled it (first time im forever) needles to say, after that the car didnt want to start, i had to give it some gas a couple times and it finally started. Then the really crappy idle started...but it sounded ok above 1,100 rpms. We changed the BISS (set it to 1,100) and it sounded a lil better..but when i started driving it, it was idling at 1500 then jumping down to 1100 while idling at lights...it would stay at 1500 jump down to 1100 then back to 1500 after we set it to 1100 **warmed it up in the driveway b4 driving**.....we took it down to my bros shop and we checked the spark plugs (i just hand new plugs and wires put in like 3 months ago) they were fine...and we checked the injectors..well..he just took out the adapter and we would hear the change in engine noise and the rpm would dip down...and they all seemed fine...my bro is stumped since he doesnt know DSM's at allll and we asked another mech. who said it could be a vacuum leak but my bro said that would prob make the RPM's higher, regardless we checked and didnt notice any (that really flammable spray or w.e). When i turned it on and left the garage...it wasnt doing the 1500 - 1100 anymore..it was pretty steady at 1100..but still sounds like ...like its chugging kinda thing....and when i turn it off...u really feel the chug as the engine stops. We also turned on all the accesories to make sure the ISC was working - the rpms dropped when everything was turned on...but did not quite come back all the way to where it was before with everything off (100-200rpm difference). We revved the engine up to 3000rpm and we didnt really feel the chug, at 2,000rpm you could feel it a lil more and at 1,500rpm you can really feel the chug....and its the worst at idle which is 1,000 right now...kinda like _____/\______/\_______/\______ if i had to draw what it felt like....

I've searched all the forums and can't find someone who has the same issue as me. i was doing research on possible problems: bad ISC, bad TPS, bad FIAV, new BISS o ring, boost leak, vacuum leak. But haven't ready of anyone with same symptons as me...is it possible for timing to be a lil off and not bend valves, do i have bent valves?....i dont think so...bc even when i go WOT, i havent noticed a hugeee change in performance. im trying not to drive my car at all right now unless i have to....please help :wtf:

p.s there is no CEL

OK, so we just checked the timing and it was off by a tooth maybe two...I had my timing fixed in July and this problem happened after i got it re-fixed by the mech (tensioner bc he forgot) 2-3 weeks ago. The spark plugs are covered in black (fuel)....and NOW the car won't even start...i had my foot to the ground and it went to 1500 max, as soon as i left off..it stalled...happened 3 times...... could the valves be bent now in the intake? but wouldnt the spark plugs be smashed too? Its going to be ripped apart on Sunday....ANY IDEAS?

P.S The mech. is trying to say its the hydraulic tensioner that could be shot and #### up the timing...i got the kit off ebay- but i bought the 2nd most expensive kit i could find and did research on the company and they seemed good (they did a lot of heavey truck companies as well)...domesticgaskets was the name..i paid $120 for the kit...just the belts and pulleys....

have u checked for a boost leak? very common i've owned dsms and that is most likly what ur problem is if u build a boost leak tester from home depot and check for leaks im guessing that will solve ur probem if u need more help pm me and well go from there good luck.and if the valves were bent it wouldnt run at all.

wow..that too years to respond haha...nah, it ended being the timing was off a tooth...the tensioner wasnt tensioned properly and it prob. skipped a tooth when i stalled it, hence why the really shitty idle started right after that.. its all fixed and my baby is purring again :)