View Full Version : Leon 110bhp Tdi - TCS ??!
Well I've had my leon now since June 13th 2001, and I've covered nearly 10K in it - very impressed ! My first derv powered car and excellent MPG - but I have a couple of niggles, has anyone else noticed the TCS is pretty lame ?? if you give it too much right foot in the wet, the wheel's do spin and when the TCS kicks in it's like a jack hammer !! my teeth nearly shook loose the first time I tried this, compaired to the Audi A3 (my previous car), the traction control was smooth ? or is it my lead foot ?!
I can't comment cos my 2000 model doesn't have TCS.
I too am impressed with it, I bought my Ex-demo in March and now have covered 23K, yours should loosen up quite a bit more.
I wonder if TCS is an ECU controlled thing, and whether it can be retro fitted.........any ideas?????
Neil
I have no idea if it's a ECU mod that you can change / modify,
your not missing much in my opinion , just some ball shuddering ! when you try to take off quick in the wet....
It's been by far the best bang per buck than any motor I have had in the past, I actually purchased the car blind ! I read a few reviews on the net, but I had never seen one up close or actually driven one before... risky I know, but it paid off.. compaired with my bosses bora, you just simply get stacks of goodies and the cd changer / ice is pretty darned good !! - it looks good , drives very well for a "derv" - I'm getting about 500 - 600 miles on 34 quids worth of smelly fuel...
Mike
Wow, either your fuel is cheaper up there or you drive alot more causiously than me. I fill up on about £38-£43 (about 76-79p/ltr) and get between 450 and 520 miles on a tank (still 42-45mpg). It does drop to 35mpg when flat out at 125 in Holland and Germany though.
The reason I wanted TCS is that I use alot of damp, leave covered road on the way to work, having to pull out onto 60mph roads, and at current I have to be very carfull as it spins far too easily.
Neil
Well looking at the pile of fuel receipts I squirt in 52 LTR's of diesel, and pay £37 pounds (supermarket fuel) - this lasts me about 8 days of careful driving.... to be honest I've started driving the car a little harder now and the mpg has dropped slightly, but it's still better than my prev car , in which I was putting nearly £8 a day !!! - regarding the TCS I pull out onto damp roads and my wheels spin , the TCS doesn't really seem to happen quick enough - maybe it's faulty ?? or maybe I'm expecting too much from it - it must be working tho, because I don't get any torque steer... weird ?! what colour is your leon ? I have the imp blue.
what other cars did you look at before going for the leon ?!
Mike
Mine is Anthracite Blue. Does yours have switchable TCS? I wasn’t even aware that the 2001 model TDi’s came with it.
I looked at a multiple of cars, both petrol and Diesel. My quota was, buy a car to replace a Company car as I had changed jobs, it must last 5 years @ 35,000 miles per year and be cheap to run, max cost about 13,500.
Economy excluded a few such as 2yr old 100K BMW 528’s, Audi A6 V6’s etc, and mileage on a few others such as 2yr old 100K mile Audi A6 TDi’s and Rover 75 CDT. Even though I’m 24, insurance with direct line was ok full comp on anything upto group 18 (approx £950), I even considered a Volvo T5-R.
Finally sense got the better of me and I short listed a new Ibiza TDi, Ex-Demo Leon TDi 110, Rover 25 TD and a Focus Tddi. I’m happy with my decision, although I still wince when I see a Leon Cupra:(
Neil
Had my SE since April this year and got a hell of a fright when I first encountered the TCS. almost hit the steering wheel !! Found it is reasonable if you learn to give it less gas when you notice the light flickering (kind of defeats the porpose). As far as mpg goes, i use it as a company motor so have to keep a log and getting on average 53 motorways and 42 in town. Still an excellent car so far, I too bought it blind. Thinking about an Upsolute chip but bit wary if the clutch etc can handle it. anyone had eperience with the TDis yet.
Cheers:)
Originally posted by Mikieo
but I have a couple of niggles, has anyone else noticed the TCS is pretty lame ??
I can't quote on the Leon but I drove a Ibiza TDi and found that the traction control wasn't a patch on my Ibiza Cupra. Much more abrupt and less useful in my opinion.
Cheers
Andy
I am also considering the UPsolute chip. I can't see a problem with the clutch etc cos its the same unit as fitted to the Gold TDi 130 which has more torque than a chiped TDi 110.
Maybe all those interested in the chip should club together and try and get a bigger discount than the 10% they are currently offering us.
Neil
Originally posted by TDi 110
Mine is Anthracite Blue. Does yours have switchable TCS?
Yes - there's a button near the handbrake - but like I say the TCS is pretty nasty (IMHO) - I had a quick try in a friends A-Class merc, and even that little thing had TCS and it worked fine, no juddering steering wheel, infact I didn't even notice it working until the little warning light flashed away.....
My Leon is a company car too, I got a great deal from Seat in Liverpool - they chucked in cd player, exec mat's etc etc....
I looked at and short listed the focus, bora, golf gti - but got a better deal with the seat and my boss was more than happy at the wonga it saved.....
I hired a Merc A-class TD in Spain this year, and i too found the TCS system very good.
Neil
Has anyone else noticed a small red led located by the drivers side door push thingy (near the window)....??
If so I have never noticed it working or blinking or anything ?
On some car's I have noticed that they flash when the alarm
is on, doors locked etc ???
Cheers
Mike
Thats the Alarm LED if its not flashing it aint active.
Press your lock button on your key and hold if for a couple of seconds, it then should begin to flash, that will also arm the alarm.
If it doesnt then take it to a dealer and get it checked out.
Thanks for that ! - I just nipped out to try it - pressed the key fob lock and the doors locked - kept the button pressed until my thumb turned blue - nothing !!! no flashing door led - but I did notice that the light (small red led) on the radio was flashing....
The alarm is armed because sometimes the stupid swinging acorn air freshener set's the bloody thing off (stupid gift from the wife, and even tho it's lost it's pong it more than my lifes worth to remove it !!!)....
Mike
Yep looks like it could just be a dodgy LED or even a wire loose.
If the alarms armed then thats not too bad, but ask to get it seen to, cause at the end of the day the little red light is a detterant in itself.
As i say pressing and holding would activate it, or turning the key in the lock and holding it turned for a few seconds activates the alarm too, but as you've tried this it must be a fault.
Also if you didnt know, your car has auto power windows on the key too, unlock the car with the keyhole and keep it turned to the open position and your windows should all wind down. Good for hot days before you get in you can let all the hot air escape.
If you leave the windows open and get out and lock it in the keyhole and again keep it held the windows will all close up but only while you leave it held.
No way !! I didn't know it could do that !! - I'm off outside to
try...... I'll report back....
M
That is way cool... I just nipped out to our packed company car park and stood playing with the windows for about 10 min's.
Excellent.....
Hmmm, next time I'll remember to take the baby's sun shield
out of the window before winding it down :D
Thanks for the tip, next you'll be telling me it has auto folding wing mirrors or something ;)
Hehe glad i could help
It is a cool feature just a shame it doesnt work off the keyfob. :cool:
Not sure if they auto wind up if you leave it for a while, cause i know the SEAT Alarm does have an autolock feature, if you leave it unlocked for a while it will lock up but only if the keys are not in it, which is good cause you wouldn't want them to be locked in :)
Well thanks for the info, I'd be intrested in coming along to the NW meet, but unfourtantly the mighty "CREWE ALEX" my home team are playing a team called "STOCKPORT" ?? on the 24th !
BUT I'm defo up for the next meet....
Stocky are crap you'll win no worries :) I live here i know :p
We have regular meets anyway so your more than welcome.
Not sure if my cruising day's are over ? - what's the format....
1) let's see who's got the loudest ICE ?
2) who can get their girlfriend to flash her assets !
3) Best skid / handbrake turn....
Actually sounds like fun... when's the next one :)
Seriously what do you do ? and are 30 something mid life crisis
males welcomed ??? - I don't want to be called dad.
Mike
i know the feeling , for the answer , you are reading it :p
you log in all nite and leave silly messages to each other :p
as for 30 sumthing , im not there yet , but hear DAD every 5 mins ,good thing is car insurance is cheaper :rolleyes: , im off before i start a riot :D
If I was five years younger i'd give ya a clipped ear... or at least throw my walking stick at you from a safe distance.
I'm off now for a nice cup of coco, and to watch ground force.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz