Scirocco Central

Hi Guys,

My first post picked up an ex demo 1.4 tsi (160) maual a couple of months ago, really pleased with the car but would like some advice on a couple of things:

1. Im pretty sure I have the classic boot rattle issue (it can be quite annoying), will the stealer be open to me bringing it in just to have the fix done on it (i beleive there is now an official bulletin for a fix...) or wait till 1st service (only on 5.5k miles)

2. This may sound stupid but as ive never driver a twin charger engine before nor driven one to compare mine too, but it seems to pull very strongly from the give-go (supercharger i presume) but can feel somewhat lethargic therefter, so I guess what im asking is there any way to know if the turbo's spooling up/ reaching the psi it should be as i thought it was supposed to pull harder from 3.5k to 5.5k? it doesnt feel like it does or am i expecting to much as its only 160nhp after all...

Not sure if anyone can shed some light on 2. from their experience of the engine? sometimes it does feel as though it pulls pretty hard but it definately varies (even when foot to the floor, up to temp etc), again get stealer to check via vag.com?

Any advice/experience would be great,

Cheers,
Tom

Recently had to run mine without the revo for a bit and it did feel pretty lethergic past about 4k rpm compared to with the revo but still had very decent pull

Tom,

1. The bulletin only covers the adjustment to the hatch rubber bump stops. You will find more on here through the search. There's the rear parcel shelf hinges, boot panel plastic trims, failed bodywork spot welds, the rubber balls on the end of the two parcel shelf cords and the rear seats themselves for afew to consider.

2. The boost in the VW map is fairly well controlled at 2.0bar all through the range upto about 6,000 rpm before the engine begins to show signs of flagging, which is minimal. There is no surge at the crossover area. The charts below illustrate the behaviour of the accelerator, available boost, supercharger & turbo control signals. (Note the throttle angle even though the accelerator pedal was floored for the whole rpm range.)
If you are loosing power above 3,500 rpm, one suspicion is the Charge Pressure Control Solenoid Valve - N75. It is not uncommon for the valve to fail, even on a new engine. Or a hose which is connected is leaking. If it is not working properly, it can result in a lack of power above 3,500 rpm. The other is Turbocharger Air Recirculation Valve N249 is leaking.

The "pull" on mine is the same throughout the rpm range if I drive all the way from 780 rpm to 6,500rpm in the first 3 gears.

Chris

if you have the car remapped it feels so much better, you still retain the initial pull as the supercharger works but at about 4,500 it pulls better like a turbo should do rather than a boring flat torque curve where you have to rev it to get anywhere.
fuel ecomomy hasnt changed much still getting 43mpg at steady 70mph
dont think i will have a 1.4 again tho, its a good little engine but not smooth like the 2.0l

Thanks for the responses guys, I guess performance feels a bit inconsistent but it might just be my perception, Im thinking I might get it checked out for peace of mind as its a bit of a unique engine/drive. Ideally id like to drive another 1.4tsi that would give peace of mind!, but Matt your comments on the flat torque make me think thats what im experiencing an initial pull then it stays steady right through the rev range...which i guess is the point of the set up...

Chris can VW tell if the n75 n249 have leaked failed?, Im probably going to book it in for the rattling and mention possible loss of power if they can check all is ok...

Re-mapping is tempting no obvious loss of mpg and REVO'd i've heard these things go straight to 210?!, which is pretty crazy. Only caviat is these engines appear to be a bit fragile, or its just plain luck...

Cheers again,
tom

Seadoo110 wrote: Chris can VW tell if the n75 n249 have leaked failed?, Im probably going to book it in for the rattling and mention possible loss of power if they can check all is ok...

It should be detectable through diagnostics.

C.

I used to have a Golf GT 170, and as the car became older, it definitely started to pull harder in the turbo range than in the supercharger range, although not very noticeably so. I did test the Scirocco 160 while I was considering my present car, and I found that in comparison to the same engine in my 170, VW had made the 160 much more linear (even in terms of the effect of the supercharger), so you really shouldn't expect much of a "kick" as the turbo comes in.

Im not sure if you have a problem, because I had my Pressure Valve fail on my Golf and the effect was very noticeable (the boost gauge drops past 3500ish RPM to half and I started to hear strange whining noises). I agree that the best option for you might be to try another 160. Maybe go back to VW and arrange a test drive?

Thanks Chris, might just ask for the diagnostics to be run when i take it in for the rear end rattling then, however with the linear comments above im beginning to think it goes as it should, however the engine makes all manner of whining noises (not bad noises i might add) so not sure if id notice, also no boost gauage on the roc.

Anyways interesting stuff, am beginning to wonder if i should have goen for the 2.0l, as im starting to doubt if theres that much between them mpg wise based on what im getting, I can just about get 40mpg being careful at 70 on the M way thats over 60-70miles and around town is sub 30's, so quite a ways off the book figures, but i hear this is pretty common.

It's still a great little unique engine and fun to drive though! (feel like im slagging it off a bit now, which is not my intention!)

give it a chance to loosen up Tom, i've just gone past 13k (had the car 16 months) & it noticeably loosened up more mpg wise past 12k. also do bear in mind the book figures are on a rolling road without wind resistance, minimal rolling resistance etc etc ie not really normal driving situation.

S

trix,
Ah thats good to hear, it definately has a bit of tight feel to it at the moment, but your experience sounds promising of it generally loosening up and getting more efficient, as its such a unique motor not always sure if its just meant to be that way, if that makes sense.

Thanks again

i rarely go over 3k rpm, with petrol so expensive these days. however, using the Sport mode of the ACC the dynamic changes and it becomes a beast.

i have noticed that above 90mph, 'something' kicks in and within a very short time, you are more than 110mph.

I am happy with it. along with the DSG , accelaration is as smooth as J-Lo's back.

just remember there is enough torque very low down and very high up in the rev range, but not really much in the middle so you have to be careful if you have to pull out in 6th to overtake which strangly it will drive ok from 50mph to 110mph in six gear, if you drop it a gear lower than you think you will be ok.
even tho the 2.0 is smoother you have to ignor the day to day mpg, my friend gets high 28-30 where as the chipped little 1.4 still gets 36-40