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franziska_schulz2

Audi A6 Diesel EGR Valve Symptoms & Repair Costs

My 2005 Audi A6 diesel has been acting up lately. The engine feels sluggish with poor acceleration and jerks occasionally. There is smoke and a hissing sound when pressing the gas pedal. The check engine light is on and fuel consumption has increased significantly. The engine runs rough, especially at idle. I suspect an EGR valve issue but had a bad experience with my last mechanic. Has anyone dealt with similar symptoms? What was the actual problem and how much did the repair cost? Car has 96,611 km on the clock.

4 comment(s)

oliverwerner1

Had similar symptoms on my 2008 Audi A4 2.0 TDI last winter. The EGR valve was completely clogged with carbon deposits, causing a vacuum leak and throwing a check engine light. The symptoms matched exactly, rough idle, excessive smoke, poor throttle response, and increased fuel consumption. The automotive repair revealed the EGR valve was stuck in a partially open position, preventing proper exhaust gas recirculation. This caused unburned fuel to enter the catalytic converter, which could have led to catalyst damage if left unfixed. The carbon buildup was so severe it required complete EGR valve replacement rather than just cleaning. The fix involved: Removing and replacing the faulty EGR valve, Cleaning the EGR passages and intake manifold, Resetting engine management system, Testing exhaust gas recirculation function This was a serious issue that could have damaged other engine components if ignored. The car runs like new after the repair, smooth idle, proper acceleration, and normal fuel economy restored. Regular EGR system maintenance is now part of my service schedule to prevent future problems. The repair took a full day at the shop, but prevented potentially more expensive engine or catalytic converter damage down the line.

franziska_schulz2 (Author)

Thanks for sharing those details about the EGR valve replacement. My Audi A6 had almost identical symptoms last year and the fix sorted everything out perfectly. Could you remember roughly how much you paid for the full repair? Also wondering if youve had any other emissions-related problems since the work was done. After my repair I noticed the check engine light came on briefly a few weeks later but turned out to be just a loose connection on the new EGR valve.

oliverwerner1

After getting the EGR valve replaced at the shop, my total repair cost came to 355 Euro which covered the new valve, labor, and cleaning of the intake system. Since the repair, the exhaust gas recirculation has been working flawlessly with no check engine lights or emissions issues. The mechanic did a thorough job testing the system after installation, making sure there were no vacuum leaks or connection problems. This likely helped avoid the loose connection issue you experienced. The car easily passed its last emissions test and fuel economy remains much better than when the valve was faulty. Regular carbon cleaning maintenance should prevent future EGR valve problems. The investment in fixing it properly was worth it to avoid potential damage to the catalytic converter or other engine components.

franziska_schulz2 (Author)

I took my A6 to a different mechanic this time who specialized in diesel engines. The entire repair process went smoothly, they diagnosed and fixed the EGR valve issue in one day. Total cost was 390 Euro including parts, labor and system cleaning. The automotive repair shop did a proper job testing all connections. Since the fix, my engine runs perfectly with no smoke or hesitation. Fuel consumption is back to normal and the hissing noise is completely gone. The sluggish acceleration and jerking have disappeared. What really impressed me was their thorough check for vacuum leaks and proper exhaust gas recirculation after the repair. They explained everything clearly and showed me the clogged old valve. The diagnostic fee was even waived since I got the work done there. Six months later and no check engine lights or other issues. Will definitely stick with this shop for future maintenance to keep the EGR system working properly.

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