1.8T - blockage.

[brummieboy]

Hi all, looking for some guidance............

my 1.8t has times when it feels very asmatic between 2200 - 3800 revs, including under full throttle. Sometimes under full-on boost its almost as if something was blocking that becomes shifted, and in return it sweeps through the rev range quickly. This happened today and a plume of dust from came from my exhaust and engulfed the car behind!

This situation is intermitent - sometimes it revs sweetly, sometimes it has no guts at all and feels like something is blocked.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.............

[paul b]

It would be helpful if you managed to get a fault code read done with VAG-COM or similar. Without knowing of any fault codes and therefore guessing (not always wise !), I would start by fitting a new MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor. If you change this ensure you buy a genuine one, and stear clear of the fleaBay rubbish because they are fakes and can make your car worse than it already is.

Paul

[brummieboy]

Thanks Paul b. MAF is on my list, but would this provide an intermitent problem,? I think the dust explosion out of my exhaust is a bit strange -Could that be MAF too?

[paul b]

Thanks Paul b. MAF is on my list, but would this provide an intermitent problem,? I think the dust explosion out of my exhaust is a bit strange -Could that be MAF too?

It could be.

However, if you have serious dust coming out of your exhaust on start up then that could mean that your turbo is failing.

I've heard of other stories about the 1.8T, with "oil sludging" or something. Crasher or A8 Tech would be more clued up than myself.

Fault code read... go on do it...

Paul

[brummieboy]

Thanks, i will - just need to find where - Audi wanted £115 + vat!

The dust isn't at start-up; sometimes the car feels like its not breathing properly - a blocked nose is the best analogy. Giving it some high boost sometimes shifts the blockage (not always) and the last time this happened it was daylight and i saw the car behind disappear in a cloud of dust from my exhaust. I understood a dodgy MAF resulted in poor fuel/airmixure and bad running - nothing that would result in a dust explosion. Its all a bit strange............

[a8 tech]

possible collapsed internals in the catalytic converter blocking the exhaust or blocked crank case breather

[a3_1.8_tish]

hello, my 1.8t has been doing the same thing recently, feels like something is holding you back, my engine management light is also on but had that checked and came up as my lamber sensor on my exhaust?? also how much did it cost you to chip your car??

[brummieboy]

today i have had a stainless exhaust fitted. They read the ECU also and confirmed the MAF fault - it is recorded as intermitent, so i've a new one of those to fit on Thursday. Not had any lamber sensor fault recorded.

Seems to be running ok just now, but the problem was intermitent so too early to say. Really hoping for a good result on the MAF.

i paid about £400 to chip the car. I recommend shopping around. Some cars can be reflashed (ECU linked to up PC and software downloaded), others need rechipping (physical opening of ECU and replacement chip fitted) - depends how old and style of ECU. i needed rechip. With hindsight i would attend one of the tuning days communicated on this site - others seem very happy with this and it is considerably cheaper!