1.9 TDi Tiptronic - can someone tell me what i'm missing

[athomson]

Hi,

I'd like to say a big thanks for all the info you've got on here! I'm so chuffed to find this forum, i used to have a hilux surf and with it being an import and relatively uncomon there's a great forum for them, absolutely priceless, but only £5 a year donations asked to keep it going!

Unfortunately after searching here i can't find anything to help with the problem i'm getting.

I've just bought a 2002 1.9TDi passat with the 5 speed Tiptronic box. So far i'm loving it to bits, showing 50mpg with cruise control set to 70! Better than i'd hoped for, i was almost more relaxed getting out after a 2 hour drive than when i got in!

It's got 170,000 miles on the clock but a complete service history and it all feels like new, the engine feels mint and the mpg suggests a well set up system so i'm confused about what might be behind the only problem I'm getting, a definate juddering, usually after coasting at around 1500rpm when applying light throttle but sometimes at higher revs too, sometimes its just a couple of shakes but if i'm in traffic at low revs it can be an long series of rapid juddering. I've taken into account i might be being over sensitive with a new car but still i'm certain something is up, i just don't know if it's serious. It's the 3rd auto i've had (though first tiptronic) and i never had this before.

The gear changes are pretty smooth whatever my right foot is doing, doesn't lurch much or crunch going from P to D, so oil condition ok? All the tip functions are happening on cue, goes in and out of gear without hesitation, so tip ecu ok? The mpg is book numbers so seems to say there isn't too much slip in the box. Seems all ok! (from what i know )

I'll try and look at the engine mounts tomorrow but do they need to be visibly rotten to be in need of replacement?

I was wondering about fuel delivery but it's all smooth with a heavier foot and ticks over lovely, the engine seems sweet as a nut. I noticed a couple of times the revs fluctuating slightly for no reason, maybe up and down a hundred rpm from a steady 2500, but it's not at the times i'm getting the juddering.

I'm missing something here, i'm sure this can't be normal, it's not horrific but plenty disturbing enough to warrant an investigation, at least to rule out a serious problem waiting to happen. That said i'm not keen to take a blank check to the main dealers for them to guess me into poverty. If anyone can shed some light i'd be realy grateful!

Many thanks

[athomson]

Ah no reply..... well it is a strange one. A bit more info in case anyone can help

The juddering only happens after the car has got up to temperature, not even a sign of it when it's cold, which makes me wonder about the auto fluid getting hot and causing problems, there's no warning of actual overheating though and the gear changes don't get any less smooth.

Once hot the car really struggles to accelerate from 1500 rpm in the same gear or even to cruise at 1500 rpm without juddering, is this just turbo lag? It can't be normal though as it's almost unbearable if i'm sitting in traffic at 50mph in 5th, i almost need to change down to 4th manually. Is it the torque convertor not engaging at low revs??? something wrong with the fueling??

VW want £70 just to look at it but if i can't figure it out i'm going to have to put my faith in their good nature.

hope someone can give me a few clues!

thanks

[gralaw]

I see no-one has replied to this yet. I have heard of people buying their own fault code reader before and in the long run they have saved because of the amount of use. But some times you just need to grit your teeth and visit VW.

Is there any lights on the dash? If no, the bulbs might be missing. I did this one with my old car to hide it's problems, I know, I know. The reason I say this is because if there is no warning lights VW could still get confussed. They are computer boffs now days not mechanics.

I know I'm no help but I think VW is the answer anyway.

[EMSCARPROBS]

Hello there, I am a new boy and I have an 03 model with tiprtonic but for the past 3 months it has often selected third gear and wont go into manuall mode or change up or down!!
All I can do is turn the engin off and restart and all goes well until the next time.
The Dealer says the wIring terminals and connections are corroded! They want to take T Ehe car in for 3/4 days to dry out a leak from the gasket on the pollen filter, cut the connections and replace, some 7 hours labour.

Cant believe this as it has only done 41k miles from new.

Anybody else had this problem.

ps the alarm goes off for no reason and they say the same condition exists with the s/connection terminals!!

EMSCARPROBS

[Mike McKinstry]

Yup.

If you do a search under water leaks all these symtoms do seem to be as a result of a full plenum chamber of water getting into pollen filter intake and corroding terminals.
You are not alone.

Mike

[EMSCARPROBS]

Thanks for that, Does VW play ball with what is obviously a poor design?
Regards, emscarprobs

[Mike McKinstry]

Think youll need to search that.
Apparantly there has been a recall for a4s and passats and that dealers will clear the drain holes under servo and battery.
Where water has caused brake damage etc and alot of £ it would appear to be dealer specific and dependant on owners relationship with them i.e. fsh .

Mike

[west4]

I have the juddering too on a 1.9 tdi auto with the tiptronic box. Judders for 1 or 2 secs every 15 sec at 60 mph around 200 revs. The slight judder is directly in time with a slight increase in revs on the rev counter. It also happens, though less markedly between 45 and 75 mph. Problem disappears at 80 mph. No problem with power or acceleration though. Has anyone solved it? I have been told it may be the torque converter.... which is probably not worth replacing on my particular car. Simon