She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

[LaDubDude]

OK . . . this is the second time that I've been out cruising around - both highway and city - and had my engine stumble while stopped at a red light. I had just exited the highway when it happened and i was driving just a tick above the speed limit.

I don't have access to a VAG-COM, so my question is two pronged:
1)Is there anything in particular I should check visually? (ie: a recalled part that may or may not have been replaced by the previous owner or maybe somebody else has had the same problem)
2)I've got a notebook . . . can I just get a harness and software to plug into the car and how much?

The engine is a 1.8T code AWW (2001) and the plugs are new. My mechanic ran a diagnostic before I bought the car and fault codes came back for misfires in all cylinders which was fixed by replacing the oh-so-worn plugs. I've noticed no loss of power through the rev range and no hesitation off the line.

[Khyron]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

My car has always done that - vortex searches say it's just the car keeping idle just above the stalling point so it "stumbles" every now and then. I notice it's worse when the AC compressor is working. I raised my idle 100 and it's far less, but I only did that for autostarter reasons. I wouldn't worry about it.

Khyron

[Kor]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

You can advance the idle speed a tiny bit with the VAG-COM. Solves the problem.

[VAG_Tech]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

Drop by, I'll help you out with my Vag-Com. Unless your in Halifax, then it would be a hell of a commute.

[munky1.8t]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

hey, bring this up on

www.customobsessions.com

I think there are some guys on there that have vag-coms and they are local (halifax)

[Aleks]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

Mine does the same thing, and I was told the problem was its a 1.8t hehe........I noticed it less after the coilpack replacement, but its still there.....Some people say the coolant temperature sensor is the culprit....

[LaDubDude]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

Drop by, I'll help you out with my Vag-Com. Unless your in Halifax, then it would be a hell of a commute.

Thanks for the offer, man . . . but, like you said, one hell of a commute (though I hear great things about the Deerfoot 500!)

[LaDubDude]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

hey, bring this up on

www.customobsessions.com

I think there are some guys on there that have vag-coms and they are local (halifax)

Thanks . . . i'll check it out.

[VAG_Tech]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

Thanks for the offer, man . . . but, like you said, one hell of a commute (though I hear great things about the Deerfoot 500!)

The good old Deerfoot 500.. Ahhhhh.. There are winners and losers everyday!

[Stonewall]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

The good old Deerfoot 500.. Ahhhhh.. There are winners and losers everyday!

No winners... just loosers.

[uv23]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

Now that you guys have solved that problem, maybe someone can tell me why the hell my car whistles so loudly. I thought it was normal until Simon told me he'd never heard such a loud sound coming out of a 1.8T -- stock, no less.

[James]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

Now that you guys have solved that problem, maybe someone can tell me why the hell my car whistles so loudly. I thought it was normal until Simon told me he'd never heard such a loud sound coming out of a 1.8T -- stock, no less.

Where's the whistling coming from? When my window (driver side) is down I have a god-awful whistle that comes from the housing of my side-view....what a PITA, nothing you can really do about it haha

[uv23]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

Nah it's not wind, it's turbo-related. It changes pitch depending on RPMs and is louder when the car is cold. I even recall a tech at the dealership commenting on it about a year ago but I never really started to think about it again until recently.

[Kor]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

Its a loud, low pitched whistle... I have never heard it and I have been in and around all kinds of different 1.8T's and modded 1.8T's.

I am thinking maybe some kind of leak pre-turbo that is sucking in air... you probably wouldn't notice any negative effects, especially if it was pre-MAF. However, if there is such a leak, it would slowly be sucking dust and grit into your turbo, it could harm it in the long-term.

Other possibilities... ummm... it could be your DV doesn't hold pressure... maybe air is whistling through that all the time...

Will it make the noise if you rev the engine, or only when driving under load? If you can make it happen while the car is standing still, we can probably figure it out in 5 mins.

[uv23]

Re: She likes it rough sometimes (the idle that is)

I'm heading out right away so I'll see if it happens when revving but not moving. From what I remember, it only happens while I'm driving, which is typical.