Seat Leon Mk4 Manuel Gear- Noise and Loss of Power

[jmorris0644]

My car has 53,000 km on it, and it has been running a Stage 1 tune for about 8 months.

For the past month, I've felt that the car has lost some power and has become inconsistent under acceleration, so I took it to the dealership. However, the service staff told me everything was normal.

Yesterday, I took it to an independent mechanic, and he noticed something interesting. For example, when cruising in 4th gear at around 1,800 RPM and then pressing the accelerator, there's a brief squeaking/creaking noise—almost like a piece of metal flexing—and then the noise disappears immediately.

Has anyone experienced something similar? I've read on a few forums about issues related to the wastegate actuator rod, the wastegate actuator, or a loose actuator rod clip.

I'd really appreciate any advice or if anyone has had the same problem.

 

[oldglosracer]

Sounds like the clutch is failing, which can happen when you tune a car and don't upgrade the clutch.

 

[shadowforge]

My car has 53,000 km on it, and it has been running a Stage 1 tune for about 8 months.

For the past month, I've felt that the car has lost some power and has become inconsistent under acceleration, so I took it to the dealership. However, the service staff told me everything was normal.

Yesterday, I took it to an independent mechanic, and he noticed something interesting. For example, when cruising in 4th gear at around 1,800 RPM and then pressing the accelerator, there's a brief squeaking/creaking noise—almost like a piece of metal flexing—and then the noise disappears immediately.

Has anyone experienced something similar? I've read on a few forums about issues related to the wastegate actuator rod, the wastegate actuator, or a loose actuator rod clip.

I'd really appreciate any advice or if anyone has had the same problem.

That sounds like a really frustrating issue, and combinations of unusual mechanical noises paired with a noticeable loss of power under acceleration usually point toward a few common culprits on these manual setups. If it is happening under load, it could be worth checking the turbo actuator or wastegate for any play, as a loose rod or pressure leak will cause that exact drop in boost and performance.

Alternatively, if the noise is coming directly from the transmission or clutch area during shifts, it might be related to internal bearing wear or a slipping clutch/dual-mass flywheel starting to fail under torque.

Have you noticed any specific changes in the pedal feel or whether the noise changes depending on which gear you are in?

 

[jmorris0644]

The cause of the noise has finally been found. I removed stage1 because of it. But, the problem turned out to be something completely different. The exhaust heat shield had bent, and it was making this noise under load. Since I had mentioned all the possible causes—including the wastegate, engine mount, and exhaust—the service center checked the exhaust as well and found the issue. If you ever come across a similar situation, it might be worth inspecting the exhaust too.Thanks all for replies

 

[shadowforge]

The cause of the noise has finally been found. I removed stage1 because of it. But, the problem turned out to be something completely different. The exhaust heat shield had bent, and it was making this noise under load. Since I had mentioned all the possible causes—including the wastegate, engine mount, and exhaust—the service center checked the exhaust as well and found the issue. If you ever come across a similar situation, it might be worth inspecting the exhaust too.Thanks all for replies

That's great news! I'm glad you got it all sorted out.