Audi A2 Diesel Stalling Due to Faulty Fuel Heater

Had the exact same symptoms on my 2007 Audi A3 2.0 TDI. The power loss and rough idle turned out to be a failing fuel filter heater connection. A proper fuel filter replacement fixed the issue, but the main problem was actually the wiring harness to the heater unit. The fuel system on these engines relies heavily on proper heating of the diesel fuel, especially during cold starts. When the connection fails, it causes incomplete combustion and significant power loss. The stored error code is quite typical for this failure. The repair required replacing both the fuel filter and the complete wiring connection to the heater element. Not a serious repair in terms of engine damage risk, but it needs proper attention to prevent further fuel efficiency issues. After the fix, cold starts became smooth again and fuel efficiency returned to normal. These symptoms are very specific to this type of failure in TDI engines, and temporary fixes like cleaning connections rarely solve the issue permanently. Based on your mileage and symptoms, this diagnosis aligns with typical fuel heater failures in these models. Getting it fixed properly the first time prevents recurring issues with the fuel system.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the fuel heater issue. Good to hear it got resolved without major complications. Can you remember the approximate repair cost? Also wondering if any other problems surfaced after fixing the fuel line and wiring harness? My Audi A2 seems to have identical symptoms and I want to budget accordingly before heading to the shop.

Thanks for asking about the costs. Just got my Audi A3 back from the mechanic last week. The repair was straightforward, just 95 Euro to fix the faulty cable connection to the fuel filter heater unit. No other issues have come up since the repair. The cold start performance is now perfect and engine stalling is completely gone. The diesel engine runs smoothly again with normal power delivery. My fuel efficiency is back to what it should be. The mechanic confirmed my initial suspicion that the power loss was directly linked to the failing fuel filter heater connection. These components are crucial for proper diesel engine operation, especially during cold weather. No additional problems have surfaced since the repair. The original symptoms you described match my experience exactly, so you should expect similar straightforward results once fixed.

Thanks everyone for the helpful insights. I took my A2 to a different mechanic yesterday for the repair. The total cost came to 120 Euro, slightly more than expected but worth every cent. The mechanic found the exact issue, a damaged wiring harness connected to the fuel filter heater. After fixing it, the cold start problems disappeared completely. The rough idle is gone and the engine runs much smoother now. No more engine stalling issues and the power delivery feels normal again. Fuel efficiency has improved noticeably on my daily drives. Really glad I got a second opinion instead of attempting temporary fixes that might have caused more problems. The repair took about two hours and included a full fuel filter replacement along with the wiring fix. Money well spent considering how much better the car runs now.