Tiguan 125 TSI Manual - Weird Hesitation around 2500 - 3000 RPM

[kroogz]

Update #2

I manually cleaned the valves. Hesitation is still there although not as abrupt.

Things that have been replaced / cleaned so far.

PCV
Spark plugs
Coil Packs
Intake valves manually cleaned

Not sure what else it could be, maybe just a characteristic of the engine.

I did read on an american forum that the intake running flappy motor (vacuum driven) can get a bit worn and so doesn't turn the flaps as efficiently when the engine gets older.

If anyone has any further advice / comments please respond.

************************************************** **

So I decided to buy a $25 dollar LED lit USB camera and see if I could guide it into the manifold through the temperature sensor hole and check for carbon build up.

I havent really seen what bad build up looks like so I have attached the pictures I took (not great quality).

I am thinking my hesitation problem is indeed carbon build up.

Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers



Hi All,

Just lately I have been experiencing a weird hesitation which is most apparent in first gear, but also in 2nd.

When pulling away I try and gently excelerate but the car seems to hesitate and almost jump when in this rev range.

Anyone else experience this in their Tiguan?

As mentioned above it is a manual 125 TSI - Completely stock.

Cheers

[tigger73]

I have experienced something similar in the past, however this was tune related.

I would suggest getting the car looked at - or if you have access to VCDS check if you have any faults.

If you have a misfire it may be a dodgy coil pack, though without proper diagnosis it could also be a host of other things.

[kroogz]

Thanks - I checked everything out with VCDS, no faults logged. It almost seems like slight turbo lag in that rev range that gives a little hesitation.

[tigger73]

Sounds like something may have happened at your 60k service to upset things.

Did they do an update? Perhaps the update is not working properly.

Also the spark plugs should get changed at 60k as well - perhaps these are not gapped properly???

If it's only started happening recenlty I'd be looking at what has changed.

[kroogz]

Interesting - I dont think they did the spark plugs. I did not take the car to dealer for service, instead to a VW specialist in Brisbane. It might just be me being picky. Regardless, the spark plugs from my knowledge were not replaced. Might be worth me checking.

Thanks again for the reply.

[kroogz]

Update - spark plugs were not changed at 60k, now the question is should they have been?

[tigger73]

I just had my 60k service done (yesterday) and I had my plugs changed.

My friendly mobile service guy said that he would usually change them at 100k for stock platinum plugs but given I had bought new plugs I changed them anyway.

The ones that came out looked pretty good so I don't think it was really necessary.

[kroogz]

Update - I had my plugs changed, which is what VW said needed to happen, even though my Euro specialist said that their VW maintenance records say they should be done at 90k.

Anyways, got them done, did not fix the problem, and it seems it the cyclinder 4 coil pack causing the issue, so I have to take it back to VW again to diagnose further.

[tigger73]

Tiguan 125 TSI Manual - Weird Hesitation around 2500 - 3000 RPM

I had a coil pack fail in mine and it went into limp mode. I've since upgraded to Audi R8 coil packs and had no issues.

You can pull the coil pack and swap onto another cylinder to see if the fault follows the coil pack. If so it's a dodgy coil. Unfortunately it's not an uncommon problem - particularly in tuned cars.

Saving grace is your car is still drive able.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brad]

Update - I had my plugs changed, which is what VW said needed to happen, even though my Euro specialist said that their VW maintenance records say they should be done at 90k.

Anyways, got them done, did not fix the problem, and it seems it the cyclinder 4 coil pack causing the issue, so I have to take it back to VW again to diagnose further.

The "book" says 90k but VW changed it to 60k for some reason. Platinum plugs shouldn't need replacement at 60k with a stock engine.

I'll 2nd Tiggers recomendation of R8 coil packs. There's the group buy on this forum for $140 or if you're in a hurry - direct from ECS tuning for ~180 IIRC. Either way it's a quarter of what VW want for a set of coil packs & the R8s have slightly better output.

[kroogz]

Thanks guys.

I have a Golf GTI with same coils, just havent got round to it, but I will put one of those coils in the Tiguan and see if it rectifies the issue. I am hoping the problem is more apparent when I get it looked at. New plugs seems to have reduced the hestiation slightly and is less noticable, but still there.

[kroogz]

Update.

Car has been at VW Kedron but they could not replicate the issue and diagnostics arent showing any faults, however they have been very helpful in trying to find the issue and will be putting new coil packs in for me to fault. If the problem remains they will go through the process of new injectors etc. Their communication so far has been excellent.

[brad]

Has anyone bothered to put a borescope down through the air temp sensor on the inlet manifold & had a look at how much carbon build up is on the inlet valves?

[kroogz]

Not sure - I can ask when I pick it up this afternoon.

[brad]

It's just you're at that mileaage where, if the planets have aligned incorrectly, there might be significant build-up of carbon on the valves. If they are going to blunder on changing parts without having found fault then they may as well have a look in the inlet.