Yet another Car update.

So the car is running...badly. They say it takes a few weeks for the ECU to all the new sensor readings but in the meantime, it continues to dumb down MAPS (Air/fuel/boost matrix) whenever it receives DTC or error codes.

Thank goodness for the VAG-COM I purchased from Ross-Tech. What a life-saver. The VAG-TOOL is a diagnostic/programming tool you load onto a computer and plug into your ECU. It's completely BAD-ASS. I've only begun to scratch the surface of what this thing can do. The car has 157 different sensors monitoring nearly every aspect of the car's performance. I initially wanted it to simply scan for DTC codes so that I can know WTF is going on with my engine; in real-time, and with complete precision. I won't get into all the details but when utilized to it's fullest, I can do the following:

Measure several sensors and graph the results. For example, I can have the program log:
1. Engine RPM
2. Speed
3. Gear
4. Intake air temp
5. MAF density (Air intake volume)
6. Boost (turbo PSI)
7. Fuel consumption
8. Engine misfires
9. Timing advance or retard
10. Exhaust Temp
11. Intercooler density/temp
12. Power
13. Torque
To name a few. And this is the kicker...I can tell the computer to log the results on a graph, tell it to, for example, start logging in 3rd gear, 3000RPM, and end log at redline.

Massive amounts of info converted onto an EXCEL file and displayed ala DYNO plot. Totally more info. than I need but I NEED INFO. Here is an example of some logs:
http://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/2723190.phtml

So far, it's telling me that my car is running shitty.
1. The N75 valve controlling my wastegates are fluttering and confused
2. The Intercoolers aren't up to snuff and sponging a good 3 PSI of boost (I'm shopping for new intercoolers), the engine is lean past 4000 meaning my OEM fuel pump is straining to provide gas (new high capacity fuel pump looks to be the cure)
3. Massive misfires, codes look like this:
16684 P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
16686 P0302 Cyl.2 Misfire Detected
16688 P0304 Cyl.4 Misfire Detected
Gotta pull the plugs and check the tips or re-orient the damn injector? If I wasn't heading out to the East Coast for a couple of weeks, I'd actually pull out the new plugs, check the tips, vacuum out the piston chamber, drop a magnet into the chamber to pull and metal fragments (ARGH! if I find any), check the coil packs for damage or discoloration, and re-torque the plugs to proper spec. Re. the injectors, the CRAFTSMAN and I made sure the orientation was within 5 degrees, I don't think that's the problem with the misfires.
4. And the old problem which I'll be having my mechanic take a look at this Wednesday re. the camshaft position sensors giving readings which are off-spec. Error codes as follows:
17755 P1347 Bank2,Crankshaft-/Camshaft os.Sens.Sign. Out of SequenceThey should read no more than 12 degrees positive and negative 20...mine are running left bank 14 degrees and right bank 16 degrees. It's killing the engine.
5. And of course, the Test Pipe issue and cats are pinging the following:
16804 P0420 Catalyst System,Bank1 Efficiency Below Threshold
16816 P0432 Main Catalyst,Bank2 Efficiency Below Threshold

As I'm reading AUDIWORLD forums, I'm realizing that my experience is not unusual. Practically everyone with Stage III cars end up working on their motors nearly every weekend...and that it's pretty much never ending. It's the few people that take the time to log, examine, pressure test, and VAG the car every week that are rewarded with a smooth running motor...but it takes weeks and sometimes months! It's worse when folks decide to run a manual boost controller and tweak their programming themselves. I could conceivable run 26 PSI, remove all fail-safes, over-boost, run a super-rich file, and get 100 extra HP out of the motor...but at great risk. AWE Tuning tells me not to..."The risk and headache isn't worth it"...and I completely agree.

Again, I just want it to run smoothly and I just want to get on boost without any lingering fear or concern...that's all. If I can just commute to work without worrying about the motor blowing apart, I'll be happy.