Are we going crazy or is this an issue

[dizziebug]

Hi everyone
It's my first post here ....I'm looking for some guidance from other B7 owners please. We have a B7 RS4 and my husband is struggling with the drive. We are tending to find that the suspension (original DRC) is so solid that the car jolts you about which includes your foot on the accelerator which then makes it more bumpy and erratic. We've also noticed the car tends to rev up for a short while when he dips the clutch- I have a video of this happening if anyone is interest- we thought perhaps it was his driving style but I also struggle with similar when I drive it. He has tried adjusting the seat into all different positions but that doesn't help either. We've changed the sparks and the fuel filter in case the engine was quite running smooth enough but no joy. Is this just the way they are ? I struggle to believe Audi would have been able to sell these with such an issue.
Thanks in advance
Nicky

[docurley]

Never heard of the suspension bring so hard that it jolts you off the throttle which makes me think something not right to make it do that. I can only assume something been upgraded or the possibility one of the springs are broke. The throttle could be some simple like the matt's catching, so take them out and see if it still does it and get the suspension looked at.

[Lukes3]

Would a clutch switch course this?

[dizziebug]

Thanks for the replies - we will get the suspension checked and try without the matts -my husband had mentioned the clutch switch previously and we have one on stand by just in case

[coffey555]

I gave my RS4 to my mate from work to drive just the other day and he commented how sensitive the throttle was. That was in sport mode right enough but non-sport can still be jerky.

Regarding bumps, I have had my foot jolted on the throttle by bumps on a back road but my car is running coilovers and uprated ARB's.

When my clutch switch failed the revs would hang when changing gear and make small throttle inputs a hit and miss affair.

As written above, that would be the first thing I would change. Does the car start with just a quick press of the starter switch or does the button have to be held down for a few seconds?

If you have to hold it down, the clutch switch is broken.

Also, if the car has an MRC map, I have heard the throttle is even sharper than stock.

[dizziebug]

Thanks for the feedback it's really useful - the car will start on a press of the switch but it is a little sluggish to start - another reason we changed the plugs because looking through the history they hadn't been done since 2010, and I suspected they may be responsible. These symptoms are all in normal mode- switch to sport mode and it gets even worse. It wouldn't surprise me if it's a combination of clutch switch and the suspension. We will start with the clutch switch and see if anything changes simply because we already have one- and take a look at the suspension.

[MikeFish]

Yes MRC remap in sport mode is very ON - OFF.
The rise in throttle as you dip the clutch could be the MAF too. Mine used to do it and changing the MAF seemed to fix it. It seem to start the day after I changed the air filter box. Then with new MAF it was fine until a year or so later when I took the air filter out for a clean and it started doing it again so it seems the MAF is very fragile. I replaced the MAF again and I can't remember if it fixed it (only happens now and again and I rarely drive the car now).
Depending on which clutch switch fails your cruise control will stop working too. If you are changing one you might as change the other as they are about £17 each and takes very little time to fit.

[coffey555]

Yes, right enough the revs were all over the place when my MAF sensor failed Mike, so it could also be that.

If I remember rightly the idle hunts up and down and the car can be a bit sluggish to rev as well.

If you plan on keeping the car long-term I would invest in a Ross-tech VCDS cable so you can read all of the fault codes.

Saved me a fortune over the years and speeds up fault finding no end

[dizziebug]

[TommyC]

Had a similar experience when I first got mine. Was worse when cold. Basically would just kangaroo under certain conditions, felt like going over a bumpy road, kind of what your describing.Trip to MRC for a service and a health check reveald the car had a poor map on it. Had them do their stage 2 map as a result and was like a new car. Super smooth in normal and a monster in sport and a pleasure to drive.

Another point is that before the MRC map there was no difference between normal and sport modes.

[irn_bru_ce]

There is a particularly bumpy junction near where I live and when turning right into it in 1st or 2nd at up to 15mph, the bumps can cause my foot to nudge the throttle involountry and make the throttle uneven, I sometimes try pushing my heel into the floor more as I go over the bump to steady my foot.

[MrHilario]

Is changing the MAF and clutch switch a DIY job? I have noticed my car rev slightly on occasions when pressing the clutch, and it also takes a second or two of pressing the button to start, so I may get them changed.

Thinking about it, if I have a dodgy MAF then that may be why my car didn't like the Dyno run a few months back?

[MikeFish]

MAF takes about 2 mins to change if that. Pull the plug off, undo the 2 screws, take it out, slip new one in, screw it down and reconnect plug.
Clutch switch needs the lower dash trim removed for the upper switch. Just pop off the dash end trim Then remove the 3 screws holding the trim on and then swap the swtiches. The lower switch can be done without removing the trim I think.
There is a knack to changing the switches without breaking them but it is covered in another thread on here somewhere; easy when you know how.

[dizziebug]

All great info guys thank you

[MrHilario]

MAF takes about 2 mins to change if that. Pull the plug off, undo the 2 screws, take it out, slip new one in, screw it down and reconnect plug.
Clutch switch needs the lower dash trim removed for the upper switch. Just pop off the dash end trim Then remove the 3 screws holding the trim on and then swap the swtiches. The lower switch can be done without removing the trim I think.
There is a knack to changing the switches without breaking them but it is covered in another thread on here somewhere; easy when you know how.

Thanks Mike, any idea of the best place to get these? Hoping I can get them in time for the Boxhill meet and get the mad russian to help me switch these