Flat spots in acceleration when less than 60mph in 6th? 2006 TDi

**oxtailsoup** · 06-12-2010,01:38 PM

I have a persistant problem with my 2006 passat TDi (140). When cruising on a motorway in 6th gear and my speed drops just below 60mph, when I put my foot on the accelerator to speed up there is a flat spot. To get around the problem I just drop down a gear.

My car has done 115k miles. The car has been doing this since I bought it 18 months ago and I have just learnt to live with it as it isn't a big problem. However I may be selling the car soon and would like to get the issue fixed as a matter of consience!

The car has a full VW service history and I did mention the problem at the last service earlier this year but they said there were no error codes. I've checked and the fuel pump recall has been done too before I got the car.

Any suggestions greatly received!

**ToMBoY_C** · 06-12-2010,01:56 PM

6th Gear is meant for motorway really, so if you're dropping below 60 then it should be in 5th gear anyway? It's like riding a bike, if you go into 6th gear or biggest gear and try pedaling when you've slowed down, it's quite hard until you get a rythmn going again.

**Chrisman** · 06-12-2010,02:14 PM

My 05 BKP is still pretty lively 50mph + in 6th gear so shouldn't be causing a problem you describe in my opinion.
But then I suppose that depends on how much acceleration you expect.

Are there times the car seems much better then???

**oxtailsoup** · 06-12-2010,05:44 PM

Originally Posted by ToMBoY_C

6th Gear is meant for motorway really, so if you're dropping below 60 then it should be in 5th gear anyway? It's like riding a bike, if you go into 6th gear or biggest gear and try pedaling when you've slowed down, it's quite hard until you get a rythmn going again.

I've driving for 20 years and this isn't normal plus you should be able to use 6th gear at around 50mph too. It 'feels' like fuel starvation.

**gireada2005** · 06-12-2010,06:32 PM

Check the fuel filter maybe, but i don't think 50 mph is enough for the 6th gear to try to accelerate fast.if you take it slowly i don't think you'll get flat spot.

**Teflon** · 06-12-2010,08:55 PM

TomBoy_C has it about right.

My 2.0DSG would prefer to be in 5th at 50-60mph if it is under load. If I force it to change up, it will just drop down first chance it gets. At 60+ it is dead happy in 6th. I have to assume that VW spent millions optimising the ECU and gearbox for performance & economy.

**Quatrelle** · 06-12-2010,09:13 PM

Depends what you want the car to do. At 100kph (about 60) mine will accelerate smoothly, but gradually.

If you want instant (e.g. overtaking) acceleration change down. Putting your foot to the floor at that speed in 6th won't get the same response.

When you say 'flat spot' are you saying nothing happens at all?

**oxtailsoup** · 06-12-2010,10:03 PM

Just to clarify - I'm not talking about hitting the accelerator hard, just a gentle push and it feels like a flat spot.

If you push harder it almost feels like an engine stutter and because it stutters you would stop pushing immediately so I've never tried to accelerate through the stutter in case I was causing damage.

I just live with it tbh. If I forget that my speed has dipped a bit I can feel the problem straight away and lift off and change down. I do it intinctively now and never get to the stutter bit.

**oxtailsoup** · 06-12-2010,10:06 PM

May be I should stop fretting and sell the car

**Chrisman** · 06-12-2010,11:10 PM

Might be an idea to take another one for a test drive and compare the difference.
As I say mine is very lively in 6th from 50-60 but it does have a tuning module giving me extra torque.