I can't work it out

[Mrk_Mickey]

This section seems to be just BOOMING with questions about VR's...so here's mine!

I just bought a new coilpack and installed that because I was having a pretty weird intermittent powercutting issue. It ran fine for a day but now it just still feels underpowered...it's a bit hard to explain, but basically what will happen is it will feel sluggish the whole way up the rev-range and it will feel rough when changing gears, almost like it's forced to 'knock' into gear. I know for a fact that it can run smoother than this because it was a lot better a while ago.

I thought my gearbox felt loose at one stage, but I've just got absolutely NO idea what the hell is happening...can someone offer me any advice or knowledge? I'm happy to bring it to someone provided it isn't too far away; I'd love to sort this crap out.

[Tim]

are you throwing any codes?
how many kms do you have?

[Mrk_Mickey]

are you throwing any codes?
how many kms do you have?

I think it's up to about 190,000km's and no I STILL haven't scanned the damned thing...

[Tim]

scanning it is always a good place to start.

my cam position sensor failed at about 175k
Car still ran smooth enough but was pretty sluggish. It threw a code for it as well.

Might not be the same issue as yours but you are in the ballpark km wise

[Mrk_Mickey]

Finally getting a scan on Thursday - Thanks Seb! I'll see how I go from there, cheers for the advice Tim; I thought it could be some sort of sensor-related problem..

[Mrk_Mickey]

Big thankyou to Seb for giving me a VAG-COM scan. Today it threw three codes that would mean the car wouldn't start if they were all true...so we cleared them and i'll go back and get another scan in a few days to see what's up. Car isn't running too badly right now..

[Jmac]

Still hasnt fixed the problem though, i would be doing a data dump again real soon and looks like you are already onto that, along with reading measured value blocks when its in strife. Faults dont always throw codes, but im sure that statement has already been exhausted.
Cheers
Jmac

[jmystaki]

Also sounds like one of the leads could be faulty / playing up - and you have either dropped a cylinder or have a misfire.

When were the leads changed last?

Are all the leads seated on the plugs?

[Mrk_Mickey]

Also sounds like one of the leads could be faulty / playing up - and you have either dropped a cylinder or have a misfire.

When were the leads changed last?

Are all the leads seated on the plugs?

Leads should be fine. I bought them off Loon at the start of the year I think..and yeah as far as I know they're well and truly pushed onto the plugs lol. I was thinking maybe the THIRD thing to replace (my spark plugs) might be on their way out....stupid bloody electrics.

[decksla]

put the old coil pack back and see if you still have the problem.

but before you do, have a REALLY good look at the one youve just mounted and make sure you havent over tigthend the bolts and cracked the housing.

if you have, youll have the problems you speak of. theres also a thing you can do with a water bottle spray. with a car on idle, spray the coil pack with a fine mist. if you see little sparks, your coilpack is damaged in some way.

just my 2c

[Mrk_Mickey]

put the old coil pack back and see if you still have the problem.

but before you do, have a REALLY good look at the one youve just mounted and make sure you havent over tigthend the bolts and cracked the housing.

if you have, youll have the problems you speak of. theres also a thing you can do with a water bottle spray. with a car on idle, spray the coil pack with a fine mist. if you see little sparks, your coilpack is damaged in some way.

just my 2c

Might try that next week with the old coilpack. I'm not spraying the new one! lol. Cheers.

The problem seems to have dulled down now that the codes are cleared. Next week will tell me if any of those sensors need replacing.

[Tim]

which codes did you actually throw? do u know?

[Mrk_Mickey]

Yeah, engine speed, cam position, lambda probe. Seb reckons if all three are inactive then the car won't start so we're re-scanning it to see which of those (if any) are faulty.

[william]

Yeah, engine speed, cam position, lambda probe. Seb reckons if all three are inactive then the car won't start so we're re-scanning it to see which of those (if any) are faulty.

well change them anyway
lambda probe $90
cam angle sensor $75


sound of a problem free healthy VR6 engine.. priceless

so start doing more hours at woolies

[Mrk_Mickey]

Haha ok...I figured things like that aren't expensive, but the thing I thought would make the job difficult is the positioning and accessibility of all the sensors....I was told the lambda is in the exhaust somewhere and i'm assuming the cam angle sensor is somewhere near the top, maybe underneath engine covers?

What I'm trying to ask is...can i do it myself easily? lol.