Hello,

I have an '04 8 and recently went on vacation and came back to a car that wouldn't turn over (that's after the check engine light had just come on the day I left (of course!).

Replaced battery as it was dead. Check engine light went off but it won't idle without stalling.

Needing a tune up (coils, plugs, etc.) but don't want to pay dealer prices on parts or labor.

Any suggestions on places that are reasonable and good???

Thanks!

 

check the DIY section. Plugs/coils is one of the easiest to do.
Check with autozone or mazmart (a vendor of these forums) for reasonably priced packs.

Just as an fyi, if your battery died while you were gone, your ecu probably reset itself, causing a bad idle. So the fuel trims will have to be relearned. Take the car out for about 5 drive cycles (bring to normal operating temp, allow to cool for a few hours, then repeat is ONE drive cycle) to relearn the trims.

 

yep when you disconnect the battery car will need to be driven to learn trim cycles again.
just letting it set will not help and dont take to the dealer they will take your money.
to do what you can do which is drive the car til it settles.

 

^+1
Whenever start cold, let it warm up and idle for at least 10min before you drive.
It'll take anywhere from 3 to 12 or more drive cycles for the PCM to relearn fuel trim.
You'll have to hold up the rpm at stop to prevent it from stalling.