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laurahuber2

Audi Q3 MAP Sensor Issues Causing Power Loss

Longer cold start time

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Check engine light on

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Loss of engine power

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Poor fuel economy

My Audi Q3 2.0T from 2011 started acting up recently with reduced power and higher fuel consumption. The check engine light is on and the engine feels sluggish, especially during acceleration. I suspect the MAP sensor might be failing, as I found similar symptoms in some forums. Has anyone dealt with a similar pressure sensor failure? Specifically looking for info on how your repair process went and if replacing the MAP sensor fixed these issues. Also interested in typical repair costs for intake manifold or sensor replacement if that was needed. Would appreciate any insights on diagnostic steps that confirmed it was indeed a sensor problem.

4 comment(s)


ida_lehmann8

As someone with some hands-on experience, I dealt with nearly identical symptoms on my 2013 Audi Q5 2.0T last year. The manifold pressure readings were inconsistent, causing similar performance issues. Initially, I suspected a faulty MAP sensor too, but when I took it to my workshop, they discovered a significant vacuum leak in the intake manifold system. The diagnostic process revealed that the pressure sensor readings were actually correct, they were detecting the real pressure loss from the leak. The repair involved: 1. Full system pressure testing 2. Replacement of cracked vacuum lines 3. Testing the manifold sensor function 4. Computer system reset Total cost was 235 Euro, which included parts and labor. The car runs perfectly now, no more sluggish acceleration or high fuel consumption. Before jumping to conclusions about the manifold sensor itself, you should get a proper diagnosis. Could you share: Any specific error codes? Does the problem get worse when the engine is warm? Have you noticed any unusual sounds, especially a hissing noise? Any recent work done on the intake system? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if it might be something else in the pressure management system.

laurahuber2 (Author)

Just had my 30K service last week, so mileage is now at 28816 KM. Pulled the error codes and got P0106. The problem does get worse when the engine warms up. No hissing sounds noticed, and no recent work on the intake system. After checking the wiring connections as suggested, I found they were clean and tight. The engine performance issues remain consistent with what I described, still experiencing power loss and the manifold pressure readings are erratic according to my OBD scanner. I am leaning toward automotive sensor replacement based on these additional checks, but want to confirm if anyone has other diagnostic steps before proceeding with the repair.

ida_lehmann8

Thanks for the update and the detailed information. The P0106 code specifically points to manifold pressure sensor issues, which aligns with your symptoms. When I had similar problems with my Q5, I initially tried cleaning the MAP sensor with electronics cleaner before replacement, it worked temporarily but the issues returned within a week. The erratic pressure readings you mentioned mirror my experience exactly. Given that: The wiring connections are good, No vacuum leaks are evident (no hissing), Problems worsen with engine temperature, Your OBD shows inconsistent manifold sensor readings This strongly suggests a failing pressure sensor rather than a vacuum system issue like I initially had. The sensor replacement on my Q5 cost about 180 Euro including labor. The repair process was straightforward and resolved all symptoms: Power restored to normal, Fuel consumption returned to spec, Check engine light cleared, Consistent MAP readings One final check you might try: monitor the live data stream from your manifold sensor at idle vs higher RPMs. If the readings jump erratically between these states, it further confirms sensor failure as the root cause. The 30K service timing actually works well for this repair since the sensor is easier to access with some service items already removed.

laurahuber2 (Author)

Thanks for the input. After reviewing the feedback and checking the live data stream from my manifold pressure sensor as suggested, I definitely see erratic jumps between idle and higher RPMs. The MAP sensor readings are all over the place, which matches what others experienced. I have scheduled the sensor replacement for next week. The quoted cost is 165 Euro for parts and labor, which seems reasonable based on the prices mentioned here. Really hoping this fixes both the power loss and fuel consumption issues. Will update the thread once the manifold sensor is replaced to confirm if it solved the problem. The consistent symptoms and P0106 code make me confident this is the right repair path, especially since all the vacuum lines and wiring checked out fine. Thanks again for helping confirm my initial suspicion about the MAP sensor being the culprit. The diagnostic steps suggested here were really helpful in ruling out other potential issues with the intake manifold system.

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