Leon FR 1.5 TSI 150. Bad juddering under harsh acceleration.

OllyKBY23

Active Member
Mar 8, 2023
10
7
Hi, my Leon has just gone over the 34k mile mark and I used it to drive to work this morning, it has had minor issues in the past (relating to starting issues) but today when I accelerate over 2800rpm from 2nd gear onwards I get an almighty juddering situationIt is that bad that my seatbelt locks as it presumes I keep braking very hard due to the force of the juddering.

I have had the spark plugs replaced at my work to find out if that was the issue, however it still occurs. I have zero fault codes and when the judder occurs no lights come on the cluster.

the rev needle flutters slightly when the judder occurs. The clutch is slightly worn but is this looking like a clutch issue or something else?

I recently drove 2k miles too and from Germany where I put e5 in for the first time and now on my first tank back on e10 fuel. Maybe the engine is now picky and can no longer deal with e10 fuel? 😂

my warranty has run out so any help would be good as I can replace the parts myself instead of using a dealer.
 

Walone

Active Member
Feb 10, 2016
1,559
429
Near Heathrow
Hi, my Leon has just gone over the 34k mile mark and I used it to drive to work this morning, it has had minor issues in the past (relating to starting issues) but today when I accelerate over 2800rpm from 2nd gear onwards I get an almighty juddering situationIt is that bad that my seatbelt locks as it presumes I keep braking very hard due to the force of the juddering.

I have had the spark plugs replaced at my work to find out if that was the issue, however it still occurs. I have zero fault codes and when the judder occurs no lights come on the cluster.

the rev needle flutters slightly when the judder occurs. The clutch is slightly worn but is this looking like a clutch issue or something else?

I recently drove 2k miles too and from Germany where I put e5 in for the first time and now on my first tank back on e10 fuel. Maybe the engine is now picky and can no longer deal with e10 fuel? 😂

my warranty has run out so any help would be good as I can replace the parts myself instead of using a dealer.
I believe there was a software update on the 1.5 engine to alleviate the juddering problem, there is a post on this forum somewhere.
 

OllyKBY23

Active Member
Mar 8, 2023
10
7
Thanks for reply, I was led to believe the update sorted out ‘kangaroo-ing’ on initial start up.

My issue is like a jerkiness, but I wouldn’t put it past being a software issue. I would’ve thought though that it would always have been an issue if the software was the cause?
 

OllyKBY23

Active Member
Mar 8, 2023
10
7

OllyKBY23

Active Member
Mar 8, 2023
10
7
I refilled with premium fuel last night and runs smooth ever since. Guessing a bit of dodgy fuel, first time it’s happened to me, it must be quite common I guess
 
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Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,628
910
I refilled with premium fuel last night and runs smooth ever since. Guessing a bit of dodgy fuel, first time it’s happened to me, it must be quite common I guess
Where did you get the bad fuel? The times I've heard or read about bad fuel it has been supermarket fuel, every time.
 

SuperV8

Active Member
May 30, 2019
1,344
594
I have a 1.5tsi 150 T-Roc in the family and am told this runs better (smoother, less judder) on premium vs standard.
 
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Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,628
910
I have a 1.5tsi 150 T-Roc in the family and am told this runs better (smoother, less judder) on premium vs standard.
That's worrying if correct. I've had engines that were a little smoother on premium fuel but the car is designed to run on regular. Something is wrong.
 

OllyKBY23

Active Member
Mar 8, 2023
10
7
Nowadays the slightest debris or change in octane rating can cause a lot of issues. Back in the days of carburettors you would just assume it’s burnt the debris off lol
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
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910
Asda. But I’ve always been fine with Tesco
I don't use supermarket fuel unless there is no choice. Over the years every single fuel issue I've seen was supermarket fuel. Try a few tanks of premium then branded regular.
 
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Walone

Active Member
Feb 10, 2016
1,559
429
Near Heathrow
Thanks for reply, I was led to believe the update sorted out ‘kangaroo-ing’ on initial start up.

My issue is like a jerkiness, but I wouldn’t put it past being a software issue. I would’ve thought though that it would always have been an issue if the software was the cause?
Yes, I should have read your first post more thoroughly! Sorry :(
 
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SuperV8

Active Member
May 30, 2019
1,344
594
That's worrying if correct. I've had engines that were a little smoother on premium fuel but the car is designed to run on regular. Something is wrong.
It's what I have been told by the family member who is a car enthusiast - not personally driven the car on both fuels.
I've only driven it on regular to see how the 'kangarooing' was. They were getting kangarooing when cold - which I noticed on my brief drive - premium fuel apparently makes this better for him.
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,628
910
There was a story that made the national news years ago. Loads of cars in the same area were suffering O2 sensor failure. It took a while to join the dots but it turned out the tanker used to deliver petrol to the local ASDA had been used to transport silicone and not washed out properly. They probably thought it wouldn't matter. The silicone in the fuel was then baked onto the O2 sensors, killing them.

The thing is, how many other people were effected, maybe a few years later, and didn't realize? How many people from out of the area? How many people suffer less serious issue without realizing that it's contaminate fuel?

I remember on a forum someone complaining about their Ford Transit van running rough. Someone told him to stop using supermarket fuel. He did and the problem went away.
 
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