Help - sudden total loss of power when accelerating

[nordictorque]

Hoping someone can help explain what is happening to my 2011 S4. It just started happening tonight.

When I accelerate moderate to hard the power cuts completely. And its very abrupt - it cuts so hard that is actually throws me forward. Hammering the throttle up and down does nothing, no power at all. After about 3 or 4 seconds the power just switches back on, I get whiplash and we are back in business... then after a few seconds it will cut again. I can drive it lightly and it is fine, but any moderate to hard acceleration cuts the power.

Sounds familiar to anyone? I've read about bad coil packs and Limp Mode, but neither seem like they result in a complete loss of power...

My car is a manual stick and all stock components and ECU, plenty of fuel, no other issues that I am aware of. I drove 800km yesterday with no issues.

Thanks for any tips!

Chris.

[iraudi]

no idea. wish i could help. i have not personally heard of anybody having this issue.
Keep us posted.

[Dr GP]

That will happen if you hit the rev limiter. Just kidding!

[Deckdout2]

Does your ECS light blink when this happens? Could be the coils and ECU going into limp mode. Did this twice last week on my car. Turned the car off and back on, and it was fine.

[tomh009]

Coil packs definitely can cause a complete loss of power ... but it doesn't come back.

ECU detecting something and going into limp mode is the most likely explanation. Plugging the car into a VAGCOM should throw some light on the situation.

[trinacria]

Similar situation. I have DSG, and had 2 incidents.
1- Downshifted 4-3 in a turn, lost power and stalled.
2- Downshifted 4-3 making turn, go to step on throttle, nothing. Revs to 3k and nothing. I'm now coasting from turn. Depress accelerator multiple times before it wakes up and resumes as if nothing happened.
Dealer found 2 fault codes for G71 Pressure Sensor. Opened tech case and was authorized to replace G71 Upstream Pressure Sensor. Happened with 12,500 on odometer, now at 14,500 with no issues.
Of note, never had cel from these 2 incidents.
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[nordictorque]

Thanks Everyone. Making more sense now. Off to the dealer I go....

[trinacria]

Good luck

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[Kay15]

It could be your mechatronics I had this same thing happen to me where the throttle died! I was making a left though! Mechatronics get it fixed also make sure it can be anything else its a huge saftey issue it may not be a mis fire unles your engine starts jumping.

[nordictorque]

what is the mechatronics? this was definitely a safety issue. it happened on the highway and i was freaking out cause the car cut power so hard that i thought i was going to stop...

[trinacria]

Op is a manual, mechatronics I believe is for DSG. I had mine updated and readapted at 5k. Still didn't fix 1-2,2-3 hangup.

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[tomh009]

Thanks Everyone. Making more sense now. Off to the dealer I go....

Let us know what you find out!

[nordictorque]

Ugh. Now it does care if I'm accelerating or not. Lets me drive for a about 1 minute then power cuts and doesn't come back for about 5 minutes. Stranded. Tow truck is on its way :-(

I will keep you all posted.

[nordictorque]

No warning message. And this is not a 20kmph limit... it cuts power completely.

[nordictorque]

All - just to close this one out - my fuel pump control unit died. All fixed and back on the road. Thanks for pitching in to help me solve.

[Wah]

I was going to mention something about fuel. You were running very lean so ECU is cutting power.

Glad you got it fixed.

[Kay15]

They replaced the Mechatronics and the car stilll died on me.. throttle went dead car did not accelearte and itw as after making a right turn after rolling to slow down trying to accalerate from about 10-15km/hr the cars revs shot up and the after that car went limp for 3-4 seconds and jumped back in.. since it threw no codes it didnt happen as per AOC. I am going to stay on them for this one because if I make a left and hit a bus full of people they will hear about this.

I cnat believe they continue to send me home with this car unable to replicate it. it also does the workd HARD SHIFT from 2-1 off a stop sign ive ever felt in my life but they dont feel it.. its a shifting point change your driving habits and such.. Stay on them I have to see I will eventually ask for the G71 pressure sensor but my car threw no codes.. ugh i had a huge thead on this they refused to continue testing it because they saw that my car was not stock.. I am sure the AOC rep peep through the forums as he knew I had a pulley as well and i know no one can tell that by eye balling it.. B/S.

[motionneon]

Kavan-
How many times have you lost power? Its happened to me only a few times, but only for a second or two at most, so I haven't worried too much. Do you think it could just be a software issue? I'm glad my 2011 S4 is leased...other than STASIS ECU I will keep mods minimal until I can be certain that this issue is fixable. If not, I will return after lease. A guess these bugs will happen in a new platform (DSG and Supercharger). Anyone with 2012 and this issue?

EDIT: Obviously, if Nordictorque, Kavan, and myself have loss of power of same etiology it has nothing to do with transmission. OP is manual and I (? and Kavan) are DSG.

[showcarmike]

something like this happened to my old 2010 S4, turned out to be a faulty supercharger.

[Pworld]

Had something like this happen to me Tuesday night. Mashed on the gas to pass a car *kick down switch and all*, car downshifted, hauled ass, then cut power, jerked me forward, then kicked back in last minute. If the car delayed a split second more, i would have been in big trouble, like a big mess.

[Kay15]

^^ It could be the SC but I had a feeling it was the transmission for some reason because it wouldnt engage the car was dead/limp .. it has happen to me 3 times in last 8months of owning this car.

[hahnmgh63]

Resurrecting this thread as I'm having a similar issue. '13 S5 3.0t DSG w/51k miles. No fault codes thrown when it cuts out. Very abrupt. A couple times in the last month alone. I've went around and checked all of the connections I could think of at the Alternator, ECU box, right rear fuse compartment. One guy said a Fuel pump control module solved his problem so I may just replace that as it isn't too expensive. I hate to start on the replace one thing after another train.

[gert]

I'm having the same issue as well. Just started today, but seems to be getting worse. Began at the tail end of a 400 mile road trip. Seems to work okay (sometimes) if I restart the car, but it happens every 5-10 minutes.

btw, mine is a 6mt, so I doubt it has anything to do with the transmission. Feels like a fuel issue, like it stops feeding or something. I was thinking maybe spark plugs too? Did replacing the fuel pump control module work on yours?

[onelowboi]

I'm having the same issue as well. Just started today, but seems to be getting worse. Began at the tail end of a 400 mile road trip. Seems to work okay (sometimes) if I restart the car, but it happens every 5-10 minutes.

btw, mine is a 6mt, so I doubt it has anything to do with the transmission. Feels like a fuel issue, like it stops feeding or something. I was thinking maybe spark plugs too? Did replacing the fuel pump control module work on yours?

Any lights? I had an EPC light going Stage 1 and then I replaced my spark plugs and then it ran perfectly.