Is it the MAF or something else?

[TURBOPROP]

Hello,

I have owned my A4 1.8T for a couple of months now, and no matter how I drive it, it is almost impossible to drive smoothly.

It seems to struggle when pulling away and changing into 2nd gear and almost stall every time, and then once I rev it some more it seems a lot better. As I drive more it seems to struggle to pick up sometimes, and then others it is right on the button and alert as I expect.

As a result of all of this, it is a bit of a nightmare to predict how it will drive from one minute to the next, and I am desperate to find out what it could be and get it sorted as it is not making for a pleasurable driving experience.

Is it purely down to a shot Mass Air Flow Meter, or could other things be causing it.

I would like to get the car re-mapped in the future, but don't want to do this until it drives better. If, however a re-map might cure it or help, then that might be another course of action.

Any help or advice from those with similar problems in the past, or a 1.8t 2000-2001 plate would be most appreciated.

[N47HAN]

....with the description you've given, and my limited knowledge i would hazard a guess at the MAF sensor. The symptoms you've mentioned sound like the sensor is not able to calculate the air amount. Has it got a dump valve? - (aftermarket i mean)

Do you get any type of warning lights coming up?

A friend of mine had a similar prob with his A3 & turned out to be the blower, fingers crossed for you, its not that!

[lonky]

cheapest solution is to plug in to the ecu, and check for faults.

If you have a laptop, then you can pick a lead up for £20 and use the freeware version of vag-com to check the basics.

[TURBOPROP]

Thanks for responses, to answer questions so far, I have not got a dump valve fitted aftermarket, there were no codes when a code reader was used in the ECU and no warning lights are coming on.

Don't know if those answers would help narrow down potential problem but I am likely to try a new MAF as it seems the most likely solution.

I suppose my other question is whether the 1.8 Turbo petrol is just naturally a bit of a difficult car to drive smoothly with it's power delivery the way it is. I used to own an old S4 100 Avnt and the turbo on that seemed more progressive without such a thrust, but maybe that's just my driving style!

Cheers for stuff so far,

[jkay2008]

I had a 1.8t passat last year and was totally undriveable. It was a knackered AMMM(maf).
Easiest thing to do if you havent got VAGCOM etc is to unplug the Maf (in airbox) and if the driveability improves, then change the MAF.

[TURBOPROP]

Well I've bought a new MAF just in case, and obviously know where it is located in the engine bay, but is there any diagrams or photo's of how to change it, as it's a bit tight for space under there.

If not, did they make a haynes for the series 1.5 A4 from 1999 on?

Cheers

TP