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hanneswagner3

VW Atlas Misfire Issues: Symptoms and Real Solutions

My VW Atlas 2018 with gas engine has been acting up lately. The check engine light came on accompanied by rough idle and jerking during acceleration. Engine power feels notably reduced. Based on the symptoms, I suspect combustion misfire but want to confirm before heading to a shop. Has anyone experienced similar symptoms and had them diagnosed? Specifically interested in what exactly was causing the cylinder misfire in your case and what repairs were needed to resolve it. Would appreciate hearing about repair costs and how long the fix took at the shop.

4 comment(s)

timbaumann10

I had nearly identical issues with my VW Tiguan 2016 gasoline model last summer. As someone with some basic mechanical knowledge who does regular maintenance, these symptoms immediately pointed to fuel delivery problems. The engine was misfiring badly, especially at idle, and the acceleration felt very inconsistent. After scanning the error codes, the workshop confirmed a faulty fuel injector was causing the misfire. They found the injector was not atomizing fuel properly, leading to incomplete combustion in one cylinder. The repair involved: Replacing the defective fuel injector, Cleaning the remaining injectors, Running tests to ensure proper fuel pressure, Clearing fault codes and test driving Total cost was 515€ and the work took about 4 hours. Since the repair, the engine has run perfectly with no misfiring or power loss issues. To better assist with your Atlas issue, could you share: Current mileage, Whether the check engine light is solid or flashing, If you notice the roughness more at idle or during acceleration, Any specific error codes if you have had them read, When was your last spark plug replacement These details would help determine if your issue is also injector-related or possibly connected to the ignition coil or spark plugs, which can cause similar symptoms.

hanneswagner3 (Author)

Last service completed at 23000km where they performed the standard interval maintenance. After getting the codes read, it turns out my issue was indeed spark plug related. Two spark plugs were badly worn, affecting throttle response and causing the check engine light to illuminate. The root cause was actually traced to a small vacuum leak that made the engine run lean, which accelerated spark plug wear. The rough running and jerking during acceleration makes more sense now. The fuel injectors and fuel pump were tested and functioned normally. I am relieved the fix was relatively straightforward. The repair included: Full set of spark plugs replaced, Vacuum leak repair, System diagnostics, Test drive verification Total repair cost was 290€ with about 2 hours labor time. Engine now runs smoothly with proper power delivery.

timbaumann10

Thanks for the update on your Atlas repair. Its interesting how our issues had such similar symptoms but different root causes. While my Tiguan needed fuel injector work, its good you caught that vacuum leak early, as running lean can damage more than just spark plugs over time. The smooth throttle response and elimination of engine misfiring shows they found the real problem. The repair cost seems reasonable too, less than what I paid for my injector work. This really highlights how proper diagnostics are crucial since rough idle and check engine light warnings can stem from multiple issues. In both our cases, the symptoms suggested fuel delivery problems, but the actual fixes were quite different. Since the repair, have you noticed any improvement in fuel consumption? When my injector was replaced, I saw better economy along with the restored performance. Also, with the vacuum leak fixed, your engine should be running at optimal air-fuel mixture now. Remember to keep an eye on those spark plugs during future services, especially given the previous lean condition caused premature wear.

hanneswagner3 (Author)

Based on everything the shop found and fixed, I am really satisfied with the outcome. The check engine light has stayed off and there is no more cylinder misfire or rough idle to deal with. Getting both the spark plugs and vacuum leak addressed in one visit definitely solved all the drivability issues. At 290€ for parts and labor, the repair was very reasonable. My fuel economy has improved noticeably now that the engine is running with the correct air-fuel mixture. Power delivery is consistent with no more jerking or hesitation during acceleration. Will definitely keep monitoring spark plug condition more closely going forward, since the vacuum leak caused them to wear prematurely. But for now, the Atlas is running perfectly again. Really glad I had this checked out when the symptoms first appeared rather than letting it get worse. For anyone experiencing similar issues with rough running and reduced power, make sure to get proper diagnostics done. While fuel injectors and pumps can cause these symptoms, dont overlook basics like spark plugs and vacuum leaks as potential culprits.

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