An update on my LCR

[emocionR225]

An update on my LCR...*now 2 days later*

Hi

Over the past few months I've posted a few threads on here concerning my LCR; since February the performance and overall feel of the car had taken a bit of a downhill turn; basically feeling like you were driving with the brakes on half of the time and the smooth crisp power delivery of the 1.8 20VT was replaced by a throaty / strained feeling.

After replacing the MAF, standard Bosch DV and trying a new N75 (thanks Steve) nothing really seemed to change. The closest we got to restoring faith in my car was after doing a throttle body allignment - for the 3 days which followed, utter driving bliss But then it slid back to feeling rough again.

Anyway I pretty much gave up on things after that.

Today however I took my car for its 20k mile service - I took a 2.5 hour drive to a VAG Tuner / Specialist who have a fairly good reputation on here, I guess as a final fling to see if they could make my car well again. Having done a few tests and checking components over, no faults were apparent (I am used to this by now) but they decided to strip and clean the throttle body to see if this would make a difference.

Ok so what was the result. Well, I'm never one to curse myself so I shall give things a few weeks before coming to a final conclusion but....that 2.5 hour ride home had me griing from ear to ear - the throttle pedal now feels totally 'in sync' with what the car is doing - the car feels relaxed again yet the 'notable' crisp punch and uber smooth pull of the turbo is back too.


So, has the car been cured of it's ills....for good? We shall see, but this is the best it has driven in my ownership and bear in mind it was very hot indeed today!

In the meantime just a big thank you to the Tuner in question for their general service, workmanship and sincerity.

Russell

 

[Empi5]

Excellent news fella, but why your hesitation in naming the tuner, thhis is what its all about fella, word of mouth, etc

 

[emocionR225]

I thought about naming them but.....supposing I did, then posted a few days later to say that my car feels like a bag of spanners again...People might then think negatively of the Tuner and I certainly would not want that as they were very helpful and it's not their fault that my car has very unpredictable behaviour lol.

I tell you what, if all is still well a few weeks from now, I shall name them as it will be very well deserved.

 

[emocionR225]

I should add, that after cleaing the TB, a reset / adaptation was carried out.

 

[jetsetjimbo]

I think the throttle body clean should really be in one of the service intervals to be honest. It definatley needs doing every so often especially if doing a lot of stop start driving...

 

[emocionR225]

Ok, a further update.

The day after posting this thread, my car has reverted back to losing it's crisp smooth edge and now feels sluggish again. Depressing as that it is, I am glad I had another day of being reminded how this car should run and it has made me even more determined to sort it out. To me, this is proof that nothing is major mechanically wrong or broken, otherwise it would NEVER be able to run as perfect as it did. The issue has to be something very small but big enough to impact on how the car runs.

Working on the experiences I have had so far then, it seems that doing a throttle body adaptation restores excellent performance which only lasts for a day or two. It would seem therefore that as the car /ecu is adapting itself, something is throwing a spanner in the works.

The only thing I have yet to change is my black coolant temp sensor for the revsied green top version. Now, does anyone support this theory:

On Monday when car had the throttle body adaptation reset, I drove home pretty much straight after - NOTE that my engine would have been warm and it was also the 2nd hottest day of the year, absolutely boiling where I was. If my coolant sensor was slightly goosed, could the ecu have overlooked this whilst going through it's learning procedure, thus making the car run sweetly? The next journey I made in the car was the following morning - the car started off very averagely but then by the end of the 30 minute jouney it had lost it's restored edge and has been sluggish, less responsive ever since. Could the ecu by this time have finished it's learning process and was now working off a dodgy coolant temp sensor singal? (should this item be the cause of the problem)

It just seems odd that my car has felt so good twice after doing the TBA but it doesn't last.

I have done lots of reading about problems with the back top coolant sensors and here is just one of many examples:

"Ok, so I have been wondering why my R seems to be sluggish when it is warmed up. VAG = nothing; no codes shown. So, I searched and figure I’d try a new green top temperature sensor. I found the numbers here 059-919-501-A temp, N-903-168-02 Seal, 032-121-142 Clip. The parts locally were 12 bucks and it took about 10 min to install.

Result: WOW what a difference my R came to life. Throttle response is better than before and the sluggish is now gone.

I’d figure I would pass along the positive result"

The above was taken from VW Vortex which if you do a search for 'green coolant sensor' brings up about 80 threads on the subject! It also proves that it won't always show a code if it's not working as it should.

What does everyone think?

 

[Ruddmeister]

Sounds like you say that when adaption is cleared all is considered right by the ECU, then as time progresses 'something' is making the ECU back off or throwing out the TBA.

Odd that it won't show any VAG COM codes / errors though.

Unfortunately this is now trial and error and your latest guess is well worth trying.....then again it could be a re-occuring TB fault ??

However, I wonder if it's also worth posting up logs of a 3rd and 4th gear run 2,500 - 6,500rpm and seeing if anyone can spot something else in the figures??

I had a problem with suspension which was another trial and error issue.....got there evetually but it was bl00dy annoying.

 

[emocionR225]

Yep Rudd, and that 'something' pretty much stays permanent until I can find the willpower to try something else out.

But the more I read about the coolant temp sensor theory, the more I think this is the problem. Stumbling / hesitation / surging on cold starts are another symptom and my car does this, coupled with a fluttery soudning idle and poor fuel mileage...in fact the day after (Tuesday) the car did actually backfire upon slowing down after a bit of brisk driving (car is 100% standard)

 

[Tallpaul]

For the sake of £20 and 10 mins it's well worth trying.

Guide here: http://www.wak-tt.com/tempsensor/tempsensor.htm

Anyone that's still running the black temp sensor should swap to the green one IMO, regardless of having any problems. It's bound to fail sooner or later!

 

[jetsetjimbo]

For the sake of £20 and 10 mins it's well worth trying.

Guide here: http://www.wak-tt.com/tempsensor/tempsensor.htm

Anyone that's still running the black temp sensor should swap to the green one IMO, regardless of having any problems. It's bound to fail sooner or later!

I'll check mine tonight but I think it was replaced by the dealers recently. Will they have replaced the original black one like for like or are they likely to have put the green one in?

 

[Ruddmeister]

Yep Rudd, and that 'something' pretty much stays permanent until I can find the willpower to try something else out.

But the more I read about the coolant temp sensor theory, the more I think this is the problem. Stumbling / hesitation / surging on cold starts are another symptom and my car does this, coupled with a fluttery soudning idle and poor fuel mileage...in fact the day after (Tuesday) the car did actually backfire upon slowing down after a bit of brisk driving (car is 100% standard)

Hope it works for you.

If it doesn't I would consider a second hand throttle body from a wrecked S3 / TT etc and replace the whole unit.

As I said though it's trial and error now which is a major PITA

 

[Tallpaul]

I'd have thought they'd put the green one in. Bought one for my A3, when i asked if i'd need to order it, the guy laughed - he had a big box of them under the counter!

 

[emocionR225]

What prompted you to switch yours Paul??

I'm ordering the part £26 and fitting myslef (Seat in Cheshunt quoted £77+ VAT for fitting not including the price of the sensor itself lmao!!!!)

 

[Tallpaul]

What prompted you to switch yours Paul??

I'm ordering the part £26 and fitting myslef (Seat in Cheshunt quoted £77+ VAT for fitting not including the price of the sensor itself lmao!!!!)

I had a lumpy idle in hot weather after the engine had got to temperature.

I might still have it as it's cooled down a bit since i last had the problem! Still, i didn't have the green one and it's a cheap thing to try. If it's not that i'll be changing the MAF next.

 

[Feel]

I got your PM (obviously)

When I read your first post I was thinking it might be the coolant temp sensor...

Like everyone says, it can't hurt to try a green top, and £20-£30 is nothing really. I got mine from ECP mail order.

 

[jetsetjimbo]

I'd have thought they'd put the green one in. Bought one for my A3, when i asked if i'd need to order it, the guy laughed - he had a big box of them under the counter!

Just checked. They did.

 

[m0rk]

This sounds exactly like.... erm I've forgotten his name.

Red LCR, Lives 'south' of me & used to have a CTR

always felt better once I rest the ECU, but the car got worse after a few days.

 

[emocionR225]

Hello Mark, it is me - Russell

Phil, thanks for the reply. I shall let you know if the green CTS makes a change.

 

[m0rk]

that'll be you then

now you've said your name I've remembered your old login!

 

[emocionR225]

Yup, lost my password so got a new account :S