Misfire Low RPM w/ Occasional CEL - Concern?

[RedRaider17]

Last month, while cruising in traffic I noticed my CEL flashing. I was in 2nd gear and letting off the gas when I noticed but by the time I looked back down at the cluster it was gone. Then just last week I was pulling up to my house and again in low gear and low RPM and sure enough another flashing CEL. Throughout the entire time I have not had any issues while under load. Of course I get the occasional fish bite while at idle. However, I still decided to the VCDS tool and check the codes and see if there was something larger going on. Upon closer inspection I did notice the misfire events..which were all showing engine RPM around 800-900. I have attached a copy of the logs below. I did a realtime test with the VCDS tool and again I noticed maybe 1 or 2 misfires per cylinder (sometimes not all) during a 45-50 minute drive most of which were occurring at idle or low speeds again. Checked my coils and made sure they are all snugged up & grounding is good; the coil pack is maybe 10k miles old and same thing with my NGK plugs. Now I know these cars tend to misfire but when does it become a major concern and is there anything else I should check besides the plugs and coils? I know people tend to lean towards carbon build-up but I feel like 50k seems to early for crazy amounts of carbon already. BTW, I am APR Stage 3 with IS-38 with roughly 52k miles. The car just seems temperamental at random times; its like okay its that time of the month again better act up but then goes back to the normal and feels good for a few weeks lol.

Initial Scan:

Friday,18,February,2022,16:21:06:24262
VCDS -- Windows Based VAG/VAS Emulator Running on Windows 10 x64
VCDS Version: 21.9.0.2 (x64) HEX-V2 CB: 0.4608.4
Data version: 20210903 DS330.0
www.Ross-Tech.com


VIN: License Plate:
Mileage: 83273km-51743mi Repair Order:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Chassis Type: AU-VW37 (3Q0)
Scan: 01 03 08 09 15 16 17 19 42 44 52 5F A9

VIN: Mileage: 83273km-51743miles

01-Engine -- Status: Malfunction 0010
03-ABS Brakes -- Status: Malfunction 0010
08-Auto HVAC -- Status: OK 0000
09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: Malfunction 0010
15-Airbags -- Status: OK 0000
16-Steering wheel -- Status: OK 0000
17-Instruments -- Status: Malfunction 0010
19-CAN Gateway -- Status: OK 0000
42-Door Elect, Driver -- Status: OK 0000
44-Steering Assist -- Status: OK 0000
52-Door Elect, Pass. -- Status: OK 0000
5F-Information Electr. -- Status: OK 0000
A9-Struct. Borne Sound -- Status: OK 0000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine (J623-CXCB) Labels:. 06K-907-425-V1.clb
Part No SW: 5G0 906 259 L HW: 06K 907 425 B
Component: 2.0l R4 TFSI H13 0002
Revision: --H13--- CVN: EA1A8D18
Coding: 091900122424002F0000
Shop #: WSC 00066 790 00075
ASAM Dataset: EV_ECM20TFS0205G0906259L 001004
ROD: EV_ECM20TFS0205G0906259L.rod
VCID: 372B25D1AFC868D356B-8062
VINID: 0E69C510746511A7421450811CB4594C52

3 Faults Found:
15125 - Cylinder 1
P0301 00 [096] - Misfire Detected
Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 83263 km
Date: 2022.02.04
Time: 21:12:52

Engine RPM: 848.75 /min
Normed load value: 3.5 %
Vehicle speed: 9 km/h
Coolant temperature: 92 °C
Intake air temperature: 34 °C
Ambient air pressure: 990 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 13.847 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Engine: operating status: IS
N_TOOTH: 842 /min
T_AST_SAE: 2054 s
Engine oil temperature: 100.0 °C
STATE_LS_SAE[1]: CL
FUP_H_SAE: 2710.0 kPa
FUP_EFP_MES: 11000.8 hPa

15128 - Cylinder 2
P0302 00 [096] - Misfire Detected
Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 2
Mileage: 81734 km
Date: 2022.01.20
Time: 18:22:16

Engine RPM: 848.75 /min
Normed load value: 3.5 %
Vehicle speed: 9 km/h
Coolant temperature: 92 °C
Intake air temperature: 34 °C
Ambient air pressure: 990 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 13.847 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Engine: operating status: IS
N_TOOTH: 842 /min
T_AST_SAE: 2054 s
Engine oil temperature: 100.0 °C
STATE_LS_SAE[1]: CL
FUP_H_SAE: 2710.0 kPa
FUP_EFP_MES: 11000.8 hPa

15137 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0300 00 [096] - -
Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 83263 km
Date: 2022.02.04
Time: 21:12:52

Engine RPM: 848.75 /min
Normed load value: 3.5 %
Vehicle speed: 9 km/h
Coolant temperature: 92 °C
Intake air temperature: 34 °C
Ambient air pressure: 990 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 13.847 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Engine: operating status: IS
N_TOOTH: 842 /min
T_AST_SAE: 2054 s
Engine oil temperature: 100.0 °C
STATE_LS_SAE[1]: CL
FUP_H_SAE: 2710.0 kPa
FUP_EFP_MES: 11000.8 hPa

Readiness: 0000 0001

 

[RedRaider17]

Welp, looks like its gone from bad to worse...my EPC light kicked on while on the highway. Pulled the following codes below, looks like I might have another stuck/leaky/bad injector. This would be the 2nd time already this has happened. Or maybe the O2 sensor is going bad too?


4 Faults Found:
15074 - Cylinder Disabling
P130A 00 [096] - -
Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 83552 km
Date: 2022.02.07
Time: 13:46:27

Engine RPM: 3654.75 /min
Normed load value: 30.6 %
Vehicle speed: 123 km/h
Coolant temperature: 92 °C
Intake air temperature: 12 °C
Ambient air pressure: 1010 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 14.277 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Engine: operating status: PL
N_TOOTH: 3644 /min
T_AST_SAE: 1510 s
Engine oil temperature: 102.0 °C
STATE_LS_SAE[1]: OL_ERR
FUP_H_SAE: 20060.0 kPa
FUP_EFP_MES: 11000.8 hPa

 

[RedRaider17]

So this issue is still on-going unfortunately and have still be unable to diagnose the issue. The issue is super intermittent and happens randomly. I took the car to a couple shops and of course since the misfires and EPC is super sporadic neither were able unable to determine the issue even after driving and logging being done on the car. The coils, plugs look good...still only 10k - 12k miles on them. Had the injectors checked they did not look awful but since the shop was already there I had both injectors on 1 & 2 replaced. There was no significant carbon build up. The shop did a leakdown and compression test and all came back good. This week I drove the car Monday - Thursday without any hiccups and car felt solid. Then Friday morning I drove the car for roughly 5-10 minutes.. flashing CEL kicked on and then shortly thereafter EPC hit. Unfortunately I did not have my VCDS in the car that day (go figure). Got home and this time noticed that misfires and cylinder 1 disabled.

At this point I am not sure what else to even check. Been checking AFRs, boost and battery voltage when driving and nothing sticks out. I am not getting an other Faults except for the misfires. Any ideas what else I can look at because I don't want to keep throwing parts at the car if it doesn't need any but I don't have any other leads since there aren't accompanying faults.

 

[Diggs24]

Get a cheap boroscope off amazon and snoop the cylinder. Considering that injector is farthest on the rail it could be low fuel pressure.

 

[RedRaider17]

Thanks for the reply. Well I am also getting significant misfires on Cylinder 2 too. This morning I drove the car around logging and maybe 3-ish minutes into the drive Cylinder 2 started misfiring. It did not pop a flashing CEL but I felt it and noticed it in the logs roughly 28 misfires were flagged. I was also tracking my AFR during that time. Drove the car around for 30 minutes and everything else felt fine. Although to your statement I primarily see significant misfires on Cylinder 1 or 2. Never 3 or 4. Is there anything from a log perspective that I can do to check low fuel pressure to see if its acting up?


Below are the logs that I received during the last EPC light:

15074 - Cylinder Disabling
P130A 00 [101] - -
Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 3
Mileage: 88131 km
Date: 2022.05.12
Time: 09:05:15

Engine RPM: 2254.00 /min
Normed load value: 11.8 %
Vehicle speed: 56 km/h
Coolant temperature: 93 °C
Intake air temperature: 35 °C
Ambient air pressure: 1000 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 13.789 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Engine: operating status: PL
N_TOOTH: 2265 /min
T_AST_SAE: 623 s
Engine oil temperature: 89.0 °C
STATE_LS_SAE[1]: OL_ERR
FUP_H_SAE: 15540.0 kPa
FUP_EFP_MES: 11000.8 hPa


15125 - Cylinder 1
P0301 00 [100] - Misfire Detected
Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 4
Mileage: 88165 km
Date: 2022.05.12
Time: 12:24:56

Engine RPM: 1833.25 /min
Normed load value: 3.5 %
Vehicle speed: 90 km/h
Coolant temperature: 90 °C
Intake air temperature: 29 °C
Ambient air pressure: 1010 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 13.808 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Engine: operating status: PL
N_TOOTH: 1810 /min
T_AST_SAE: 360 s
Engine oil temperature: 64.0 °C
STATE_LS_SAE[1]: OL_ERR
FUP_H_SAE: 5500.0 kPa
FUP_EFP_MES: 11000.8 hPa

15128 - Cylinder 2
P0302 00 [101] - Misfire Detected
Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 4
Mileage: 88131 km
Date: 2022.05.12
Time: 09:04:49

Engine RPM: 2202.25 /min
Normed load value: 5.9 %
Vehicle speed: 108 km/h
Coolant temperature: 90 °C
Intake air temperature: 29 °C
Ambient air pressure: 1000 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 13.769 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Engine: operating status: PL
N_TOOTH: 2188 /min
T_AST_SAE: 347 s
Engine oil temperature: 63.0 °C
STATE_LS_SAE[1]: CL
FUP_H_SAE: 9210.0 kPa
FUP_EFP_MES: 11000.8 hPa

15137 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0300 00 [100] - -
Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 8
Mileage: 88165 km
Date: 2022.05.12
Time: 12:24:56

Engine RPM: 1833.25 /min
Normed load value: 3.5 %
Vehicle speed: 90 km/h
Coolant temperature: 90 °C
Intake air temperature: 29 °C
Ambient air pressure: 1010 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 13.808 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Engine: operating status: PL
N_TOOTH: 1810 /min
T_AST_SAE: 360 s
Engine oil temperature: 64.0 °C
STATE_LS_SAE[1]: OL_ERR
FUP_H_SAE: 5500.0 kPa
FUP_EFP_MES: 11000.8 hPa

Readiness: 0000 0001

 

[RedRaider17]

Think it’s worth swapping out HPFP if a spare can be located to test?

 

[RedRaider17]

Again the car drove fine for a little bit. Had to refuel and got 93 at the local Shell. Shortly after leaving I felt misfires but no CEL. After pulling into a parking lot. I checked the oil levels. I removed the oil cap and re-seated it. Then drive home, 2 mins into the drive I got the flashing CEL. Hard to isolate if it’s an electrical, fuel or bad sensor. Anything worth checking such as the purge valve or PCV valve? Not sure where to take this as multiple shops have already looked into this and again no resolution.

 

[FooDogg]

Super frustrating!!!
Sympathetic, -and following with interest.

I mentioned on another thread my similar symptoms (but possibly apples vs oranges as I am in Alltrack with APR1 getting similar ECL/codes but under very ambient high heat while towing).

Performance shop also found nothing wrong and did not feel fuel injector R&R was warranted at 80k miles.

So, not much to offer, except:
(And This may be odd/random as it was for me-but one logged code for me indicated electrical fault,)
So per one commenter here...
Perhaps double check electrical...

So, a couple thoughts:
1. Have you gone thru and checked wiring connections? Wiggled while running at idle, where you can, safely? To see if that generates same codes?
2. Inspected integrity of wiring and connectors themselves? Apparently VWs switch to soy based material has made these yummy for rodents...

After that, if
3. "Plug and chug" diagnosis
Then do so by putting in new parts, as related, by cheapest:

A.FcpEuro notes PCV is common and relatively inexpensive preventative maintenance easy to DIY...

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/how-to-per...ve-replacement-mk7-gti-golf-jetta-passat-more

B.New gas tank cap is another...
C. Coils, reseat or R&R
D. Plugs- check gap and condition, R&R

What else?
Let us know...

 

[RedRaider17]

Super frustrating!!!
Sympathetic, -and following with interest.

I mentioned on another thread my similar symptoms (but possibly apples vs oranges as I am in Alltrack with APR1 getting similar ECL/codes but under very ambient high heat while towing).

Performance shop also found nothing wrong and did not feel fuel injector R&R was warranted at 80k miles.

So, not much to offer, except:
(And This may be odd/random as it was for me-but one logged code for me indicated electrical fault,)
So per one commenter here...
Perhaps double check electrical...

So, a couple thoughts:
1. Have you gone thru and checked wiring connections? Wiggled while running at idle, where you can, safely? To see if that generates same codes?
2. Inspected integrity of wiring and connectors themselves? Apparently VWs switch to soy based material has made these yummy for rodents...

After that, if
3. "Plug and chug" diagnosis
Then do so by putting in new parts, as related, by cheapest:

A.FcpEuro notes PCV is common and relatively inexpensive preventative maintenance easy to DIY...

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/how-to-per...ve-replacement-mk7-gti-golf-jetta-passat-more

B.New gas tank cap is another...
C. Coils, reseat or R&R
D. Plugs- check gap and condition, R&R

What else?
Let us know...

Yeah definitely annoying since its quite hard to isolate what exactly is causing it. I'm sure most of the shops think I am crazy since they can't immediately replicate.

1/2. So I have sifted through the wire connections but only while the car is off but I will definitely give it a shot while the car is running and see if I get anything. Was thinking perhaps a bad ground as well? But not sure exactly where all the grounds are throughout the engine bay.

3. Was thinking about throwing parts at it but just figured where to start was the hard part lol.

A. I was seeing a lot online about bad PCV and since its cheap and fairly straight-forward install I might start there.

B. So funny you mention gas cap, I know that anytime the cap is not sealed properly it can through a CEL light. So I was doing some research and came across vacuum leaks as a possible cause and hard to diagnose. I opened the case cap after I got home and noticed a sound like gurgling/bubbling? Is that normal common in these cars because of the air in the tank or would that actually be indicative of an issues?

C/D. It's worth a shot but I will re-seat the coils and inspect the plugs again to make sure they are still solid.

Also, it worth noting. After I got home yesterday and parked the car. I went back out after maybe 2-3 hours and was checking the logs. Decided to start the car up and as soon as I did the car was misfiring like crazy; when I took the car out of gear and put in neutral it's as if the car was going to stall (it never did). This is the first time that I have seen this problem which hopefully is another clue. Which keeps me stuck in this weird flex of is it an electrical or fuel problem?!

 

[RedRaider17]

So had the plugs checked and Cylinder #2 plug was super scorched and smelt like fuel. The other plugs looked good. Looks like another bad injector ( ~ 700 miles on the injector). Compression was still good and boroscope did not show any leaks. Looks like I need to buy the Fuel Injector Kit from FCP Euro cause I keep getting burnt by faulty injectors. Is it common to have them being going bad like this especially with only a few hundred miles on them?

 

[Diggs24]

Where did the previous injector(s?) come from?

 

[RedRaider17]

The previous injectors were only replaced on cylinder 1 & 2. I had a pretty reputable mechanic in the area do it and he ordered since I had the car parked at his shop. I didn’t ask specifics of where he bought them so perhaps my fault for not double checking but I would’ve assumed he got the OEM ones. This time I’ll just go straight through FCP Euro pull these out and look. I’m going to get the kit this go around.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vw...ySZQo_UD8Ik36YaqAzKXPJIaAotyEALw_wcB#warranty

 

[Diggs24]

Good God that is expensive. I get the fcp easy returns angle but those are ridiculously overpriced.

 

[RedRaider17]

Good God that is expensive. I get the fcp easy returns angle but those are ridiculously overpriced.

Yup :/ my thoughts exactly but this is the 2nd time I’ve been burnt by the injectors… just not sure how much more I want to keep doing that.

 

[RedRaider17]

Is there anything upstream that could cause an injector to fail prematurely? Perhaps bad fuel pressure or anything like that?