.:R32 -- 2000 to 3500 rpm stutter

[VW R32]

My first post...

I've recently purchased one of the 'Edition 200' R32s...

A problem has just begun to surface...

When the motor is warm, and only in the band of 2000 to 3500 rpm, the motor can be felt to ‘stutter’ as it is accelerated through, or, starting from within this range, under partial or full throttle.

The power delivery can only be described as flat.

This is most noticeable when in 3rd gear around the city (lower speeds), and 4th and 5th out on the freeways (higher speeds).

How many of the other 199 R32 owners are on this forum?

Any had similar problems?

[balkanac]

Hi mate, good to see another R32 owner joining. Welcome!!

I never had that problem with mine. Are there any mods done to it? Try disconnecting the battery, give it a few minutes and reconnect. This will reset your ECU and give it a go. If it's still there, get someone with VAG-COM software to scan it and see what kind of codes it comes up with.

Almost forgot, you have to post pics of your car on this forum!

[quozl]

The flat spot is a known issue with stock ECU R32's, all cars have it, do a search on VWVortex for R32 flat spot or read this thread http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1699664

The only way to get rid of it is to get an ECU upgrade from APR, GIAC or the like. I have the APR upgrade and have had it since I got the car and am very happy with it.

Cheers Al

[balkanac]

mine runs fine, and im pretty sure it has a stock ECU. Never hesitates, shutters, nothing.

[quozl]

mine runs fine, and im pretty sure it has a stock ECU. Never hesitates, shutters, nothing.

If you bought your car second hand you may find that it already had the 6463 ECU software update from VW at a previous service which was also released to fix this problem. It could be something else he is experiencing but the way he describes it and the RPM it is happening at for him sounds exactly like the ECU issue. There are around 22 different threads in the R32 archive on Vortex about this issue so it is a known problem and was acknowledged to be an issue by VW. The easy way to see if it is the ECU is for him is to go and get the free 6 hour trail from APR if it fixes it he knows it's the ECU code and he can deal with it either by taking the car to VW for the 6463 update or getting APR or GIAC code.

Cheers Al

[balkanac]

Quozl, you are probably right about my car, it might have had the update done. I have the service records for it and they say that the previous owner kept buying wheel centre caps (at least one per service ) but nothing about an ECU update. Anyway, it runs fine and im happy.
VW R32, it might be a good idea to have this checked out

[99gti]

Will VAGCOM tell you the software version? I've only seen it very briefly...

[FknDubbin]

Will VAGCOM tell you the software version? I've only seen it very briefly...

Yes it tells you what version it is.

[balkanac]

HI VW_Tech, welcome to the forum. Where do you live? I could come and see you if you are in WA....?

[VW R32]

If you bought your car second hand you may find that it already had the 6463 ECU software update from VW at a previous service which was also released to fix this problem. ... The easy way to see if it is the ECU is for him is to go and get the free 6 hour trail from APR if it fixes it he knows it's the ECU code and he can deal with it either by taking the car to VW for the 6463 update or getting APR ...

Thanks Al.

I've been in touch numerous times with both VW Australia and the VW dealer - they deny that any factory ECU updates were issued within Australia for the Mk4 R32.

My guess is the #6463 update was for the UK. They had many more cars delivered than Australia and perhaps as a result, many more people noticing the problem.

As a result of many more customers asking questions, perhaps VW felt obliged to fix their problem in that market.

I'm giving the APR trial a go this week - could be a solution (even if $1499!)

[balkanac]

APR sounds good, please let us know how you went. I wouldn't mind getting it done on mine as well

[quozl]

I've had the APR reflash on my car since Feb 2004 when I got the car new and am very happy with it and have had no problems at all, Guy actually used my car so APR could develop the code for the Aus spec ECU. I got the full suite of programs and recently they updated the code for me to enable left foot braking without it cutting the throttle input.

Cheers Al

[thepowercosmic]

Thanks Al.

I've been in touch numerous times with both VW Australia and the VW dealer - they deny that any factory ECU updates were issued within Australia for the Mk4 R32.

My guess is the #6463 update was for the UK. They had many more cars delivered than Australia and perhaps as a result, many more people noticing the problem.

As a result of many more customers asking questions, perhaps VW felt obliged to fix their problem in that market.

I'm giving the APR trial a go this week - could be a solution (even if $1499!)

I'm sure that any ECU update will fix the stutter / flat spot that you speak of.

http://www.goapr.com.au/ states that they've got 10% off imported prices, perhaps this might include the ECU updates also.

If you find that the price is a little steep, I would suggest that you look at other alternatives.

I don't have an APR flash, I have the GIAC flash, which I'm sure is as equally good as the APR

If I recall correctly I paid about $1k, I'm almost certain that I didn't pay more than that.

And yes my car also had this flat spot in the rev range.

[VW R32]

quozl, thepowercosmic,

I'm currently on the APR trial.

The 2000 to 3500 rpm stutter is gone. Yay!

The trial is supposed to be only active for 6 driving hours - not to be confused with elapsed hours since trial upload. After those 6 hours, the trial is supposed to revert the engine management back to factory AFTER next switch off - i.e. not whilst driving.

Aside from more power and torque, APR supposedly "raise the rev-limiter".

IIRC, the factory rev-limit is normally 6500 rpm ??? (at the moment mine is currently in the red and 7000 rpm)

balkanac, your Mk4 R32 engine management is still untouched - would you be able to please confirm my recollection of 6500 rpm?

Thanks in advance.

[quozl]

Yup APR takes it to a smidge over 7000 RPM, Good tp hear it fixed the problem, wait until you get the full suite of programs and put some race fuel in and run that program

Cheers Al