GTI 6C rough running at light throttle settings

[GTI_DownUnder]

Hi All,

New to the GTI fold and after some feedback on a issue I am experiencing with a MY2017 Polo Manual GTI with 1500 km on the clock.
Love the handling and get up and go but........

Since new, the car has shown tendencies to 'gasp' at steady throttle settings like it is missing on one cylinder or losing power. Typically occurs in the 1500 - 2200 rpm Rev range. It occurs when the car is warm and I have noted it when driving through car parks in first and second gears. Also noted it when driving through towns in third and fourth gear at about 60 km/h (35 mph for U.K. readers ) also at steady throttle settings. When cold, after a 20 - 30 second warm-up and pulling away in first gear, kangaroo hops are almost guaranteed for first 100 metres or so, feels like it is running on two cylinders. The 'gasps' feel a bit smoother than cylinders actually misfiring but that is the best description I can think of at the moment.

Symptoms not noticeable when the car is warmed up and you are 'booting it', goes like a scolded cat!

When the car had traveled about 1000 km I took it back to the VW dealer where I purchased it and went for a test drive with a mechanic. He was able to replicate the issue in third and fourth at around a steady 60 km/h, even after the vehicle was warmed up. His feedback was that it was due to the turbo starting to spoolup or kick in.
The mechanic thought the issue was 'normal'.
Hmmm... while I agree that the turbo appears to be associated with the issue I would not expect the car to gasp or apparently lose power.

The mechanic ran the vw diagnostic on the car and no errors were reported.

Car has now done 1500 km and i would say that the problem seems to be getting worse.

Manual 6C owners you feedback/ comments would be appreciated. Thanks for reading!

[Penarth Blues]

Hi All,

New to the GTI fold and after some feedback on a issue I am experiencing with a MY2017 Polo Manual GTI with 1500 km on the clock.
Love the handling and get up and go but........

Since new, the car has shown tendencies to 'gasp' at steady throttle settings like it is missing on one cylinder or losing power. Typically occurs in the 1500 - 2200 rpm Rev range. It occurs when the car is warm and I have noted it when driving through car parks in first and second gears. Also noted it when driving through towns in third and fourth gear at about 60 km/h (35 mph for U.K. readers ) also at steady throttle settings. When cold, after a 20 - 30 second warm-up and pulling away in first gear, kangaroo hops are almost guaranteed for first 100 metres or so, feels like it is running on two cylinders. The 'gasps' feel a bit smoother than cylinders actually misfiring but that is the best description I can think of at the moment.

Symptoms not noticeable when the car is warmed up and you are 'booting it', goes like a scolded cat!

When the car had traveled about 1000 km I took it back to the VW dealer where I purchased it and went for a test drive with a mechanic. He was able to replicate the issue in third and fourth at around a steady 60 km/h, even after the vehicle was warmed up. His feedback was that it was due to the turbo starting to spoolup or kick in.
The mechanic thought the issue was 'normal'.
Hmmm... while I agree that the turbo appears to be associated with the issue I would not expect the car to gasp or apparently lose power.

The mechanic ran the vw diagnostic on the car and no errors were reported.

Car has now done 1500 km and i would say that the problem seems to be getting worse.

Manual 6C owners you feedback/ comments would be appreciated. Thanks for reading!

What fuel are you using? I had a similar issue when pulling off from cold where it would just 'bog down' when you put your foot down before picking up again. I'd been using 99 RON fuel and it's gone away since returning to 95 RON.

I just think the car is right on the limits of control and it would take little to just get it out of its operating zone. Others have reported similar problems when turning into roads in 2nd where the car has just stalled.

[Guy]

I get that jerkiness in first with a completely cold engine (which I've just let idle for a few seconds while I close my garage door) as I drive off but it disappears very quickly.

I've also found that the GTI does not like pulling from just rolling in second gear - very prone to stalling especially on a corner. So I tend to select first gear. I don't think I've had another car that was as intractable at very low speeds in second. I wonder if it's the electronics deciding that there is no torque available at those revs in any gear other than first.

I've been running on BP Ultimate (97 RON) since having the car new 2700 miles ago. But I'm going to experiment with BP 95 RON for a few tankfuls. If the car runs better on the 95 I might still use the 97 once in a while for its additional cleaning properties.

[JoeMarano]

It's a turbo engine and it's bad to have them in high gears and low load.

Its fairly normal for most engines to run a bit rough when cold especially when using 95 fuel. It's also taking a lot longer to warm the caR up fully now it's winter months.

Or it could be even worse and your cars turbo is about to go because mine had those symptoms before it let go at 5k miles.

[GTI_DownUnder]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

In answer to respondents:

1. Penarth Blues
The car is currently running 98 RON Shell (referred to as PULP in Aust). It has only had three refills since new and while I do not know what the Pre -delivery fill was, my two fill ups have both been 98. When the current tank runs out I will give a 95 RON fuel a go.

2. Guy
I do not want the engine to lug so generally do not change up gears unless I am in the 2000 - 2500 rpm range. During run-in I have generally kept rpms between 2K - 4K. The one, quite enjoyable, exception being when I blew away an overly ambitious Audi driver (Responsibility Disclaimer: no speed limits were broken although some ego damage may have occurred )
The bogging down during cold startup is only a minor annoyance as per your comments it does not take very long for it to settle down.
The uneven/ inconsistent power delivery while navigating car parks when the car has warmed up and running at what should usable RPM ranges is quite annoying and I think rather dangerous if you over compensate when power drops off.

3. Joe
Enjoyed watching your track videos, will not be emulating them due to a certain skill deficiency .
It is in the back of my mind that maybe the turbo is reluctant to spin up and this is contributing to what I am experiencing. I have cooked a turbo in the long distant past and I am keeping an open mind about the one fitted to the GTI. Will try the 95 RON test first before I let the panic set in. Here in Aust we are coming into summer (slowly) so cold weather will not be a major factor.

I am still interested to know if any other GTI 6C drivers get uneven/ inconsistent power in the 1700 - 2300 rpm range, at steady throttle settings to understand if the Mechanics "It's normal" comments are correct. I certainly hope it is not normal!

Due to work commitments the GTI is going to get parked for a week so it may be a couple of weeks before I can update on 95 RON results.

[JoeMarano]

I remember reading on the revo website that the GTI gives 100% power even if the throttle pedal is only held at 60% which is a bit odd. I know their map smooths it out so that if the throttle is held at 50% you get 50% power 25% then 25% and so on if you get me.

I certainly find when driving around town the GTI feels a bit odd compared to other cars I've driven but not sure I've noticed the enhanced symptoms you describe.

Before my turbo went it made a sort of crackling mechanical noise and the car bunny hopped everywhere and was almost impossible to drive around a busy town centre and car park. It then died at 70mph on the way back home but car went into some sort of limp mode and no further damage was caused.

It COULD be that your turbo is on its way out but I doubt VW would take the trouble to take the turbo off and investigate unless it does actually let go.

I've got a video on the channel describing what happened if that helps.


Hopefully it's just because it's a new car or something and not as serious as that.

[joe6]

I have found that the throttle response at very low revs is better than I am used in the Golf GTI but not noticed any uneven running and I am using Shell nitro. Only on my third tank of fuel though. Like the reference to kangaroos

[JoeMarano]

Just been out for a drive and I noticed that the car doesn't like to be in second gear at slow speeds. Had the car rolling in second gear a 7mph and it wanted to cut out so maybe your experience is just what they are like as standard?

[GTI_DownUnder]

At 8 mph ( early in the morning and no coffee brain does quick conversion to about 11 Km/h. Hmmm... no sleepy emoticon to insert off the Smilies bar )
I would still be in first gear. I am guessing a bit here but suspect that I would not be in second gear until about 20 km/h or whatever 1800 rpm in second translates to in km/h. Apart from first gear I really try and keep away from low rpm driving.

Regards to all.
Steve

[GTI_DownUnder]

Hi All,
Well I have run a tank of 95 Octane petrol in the GTI (car took 42 litres so not much 98 Octane left in the tank when I re-filled with 95) and the results are:
1. Car still has bouts of 'gasping' at steady speeds of around 2,000 RPM. The issue seem to have moved slightly higher up the Rev range by about 200 RPM but this may be due to the warmer weather that has finally arrived here in Australia.

2. After driving the car for seven miles or so (so oil etc up to temp) and entering a car park and driving at low rpm in first or second (i.e. car park speeds) the car pretty much Kangaroo hops and feels like it is running on three or maybe two cylinders. Very unpleasant! This scenario is very consistent and gets repeated every morning.

3.The only positive in the whole test is that fuel consumption did not get any worse with the recommended octane rating fuel so no apparent advantage in spending extra for 98 RON.

Not particularly surprised by the results but thank you to all who suggested trying 95 RON fuel.

I will now have to find someone else to take the car into VW to have it looked at again. I am too scared to do it myself because if the Mechanic trots out the "it's normal" excuse again I may do something that I later regret

This is a really irritating issue all the more so as in pretty much every other respect it is a fantastic car.

[Penarth Blues]

Hi All,
Well I have run a tank of 95 Octane petrol in the GTI (car took 42 litres so not much 98 Octane left in the tank when I re-filled with 95) and the results are:
1. Car still has bouts of 'gasping' at steady speeds of around 2,000 RPM. The issue seem to have moved slightly higher up the Rev range by about 200 RPM but this may be due to the warmer weather that has finally arrived here in Australia.

2. After driving the car for seven miles or so (so oil etc up to temp) and entering a car park and driving at low rpm in first or second (i.e. car park speeds) the car pretty much Kangaroo hops and feels like it is running on three or maybe two cylinders. Very unpleasant! This scenario is very consistent and gets repeated every morning.

3.The only positive in the whole test is that fuel consumption did not get any worse with the recommended octane rating fuel so no apparent advantage in spending extra for 98 RON.

Not particularly surprised by the results but thank you to all who suggested trying 95 RON fuel.

I will now have to find someone else to take the car into VW to have it looked at again. I am too scared to do it myself because if the Mechanic trots out the "it's normal" excuse again I may do something that I later regret

This is a really irritating issue all the more so as in pretty much every other respect it is a fantastic car.

That doesn't sound right and is not my experience with the car. Other than pulling off from very low revs in second it is the most docile and easy to drive car with little or no jerkiness. I hope you get it sorted!

[GTI_DownUnder]

The saga continues......
Took the Polo GTI in for it's first safety inspection service (7,500 Km) and mentioned that as well as the 'gasping' issue that sometimes i get a metallic type noise for 30 - 60 second on cold startup. Does not occur every time I do a cold start, maybe once a week or so. I thought it might have been the timing chain tensioner issue.

About two hours later received a call from the local VW Service Centre "We need to replace your Turbo". Spoke to the mechanic and the Turbo has a loose impeller (Sound familiar Joe?) and the impeller fins can contact the body of the turbo housing. I sure hope that I have no bits of impeller running around in my engine ).

VW are going to replace the turbo under warranty and it will be interesting to see if this fixes the original 'gasping' issue.

The local Dealer has been very good and organised a replacement loan car without me needing to ask.
I am now, temporarily, driving around in a Silver DSG Golf that has considerably less get up and go than the Polo. First impressions, after a very comprehensive 4 km 'Road Test' is that feels it a bit more spacious and drives like a truck when compared to the super nimble/agile Polo GTI!

Fingers crossed that I can get my car repaired promptly and Kudos to the local dealer for getting onto the issue quickly.

[Penarth Blues]

The saga continues......
Took the Polo GTI in for it's first safety inspection service (7,500 Km) and mentioned that as well as the 'gasping' issue that sometimes i get a metallic type noise for 30 - 60 second on cold startup. Does not occur every time I do a cold start, maybe once a week or so. I thought it might have been the timing chain tensioner issue.

About two hours later received a call from the local VW Service Centre "We need to replace your Turbo". Spoke to the mechanic and the Turbo has a loose impeller (Sound familiar Joe?) and the impeller fins can contact the body of the turbo housing. I sure hope that I have no bits of impeller running around in my engine ).

VW are going to replace the turbo under warranty and it will be interesting to see if this fixes the original 'gasping' issue.

The local Dealer has been very good and organised a replacement loan car without me needing to ask.
I am now, temporarily, driving around in a Silver DSG Golf that has considerably less get up and go than the Polo. First impressions, after a very comprehensive 4 km 'Road Test' is that feels it a bit more spacious and drives like a truck when compared to the super nimble/agile Polo GTI!

Fingers crossed that I can get my car repaired promptly and Kudos to the local dealer for getting onto the issue quickly.

I have no doubt this will fix the 'gasping issue' and you can finally get to enjoy the car you originally bought!

[JoeMarano]

Just checked back on this, glad to hear your car should now be running as it should be

[GTI_DownUnder]

Got the Polo back after the Turbo replacement and the problems are.........

...........STILL THERE!

Thinking of painting the car a very Lemony Yellow!

Took the car out for a run yesterday and after about a 25 mile warm-up run then tried driving in first gear at about 5 - 10 mph and it (severely) Kangaroo hops just like it always did.
Does not always do it and yes I do know how to drive a manual car.

Had several passengers in the car, for the second test drive, and the verdict was take it back (or get rid of it) I find it hard to disagree with the get rid of it suggestion but not to sure who would buy a car that behaves like that. The 'gasping' effect that occurs around the 1800 - 2300 range is still occurring, possibly slightly reduced in impact. Have not yet heard the, what sounds like camchain noise to me, yet but after only three starts since getting the car back the Jury is still out on that issue as it may take a week or so to manifest itself.

As an aside, I did get to see the original turbo part, after it had been removed and was relieved to see that no impeller fins were missing. The impeller was a bit loose and scratch marks could be seen on the turbo intake body so it did need to come out.