RS2 Down On Power

[Cobstar]

Hmm, my RS2 isn’t behaving as an RS2 should. Got her booked into the garage for a check up in a couple of weeks time. But in the meantime - grateful for any suggestions as to what the problem(s) might be.

Don’t seem to be getting the massive kick and surge in power as the turbo kicks in first at 3,500 rpm, progress seems much more linear than normal. Also definitely down on power – still quick but rather gutless. Seems to be operating at higher revs for the road speed – ie normally expect to be at around 3,000 rpm at 80 miles an hour in sixth gear but closer to 3,500 revs at the moment.

There has been an intermittent problem for some time. Serviced and MOT’d in June and garage could find nothing wrong and typically operating OK when I took her to the garage. But problem returned.

Two or three weeks ago, him indoors took her for a good blast up the motorway and coming home, suddenly the turbo kick seemed to have returned to normal and the grin factor was back. But it didn’t last for more than a few days and we now seem to be down on power all the time and the turbo doesn’t have the same impact. Also the power seems to come in surges, and then hesitates – doesn’t matter whether the car is hot or cold.

Also on a few occasions, when pulling away from stationery, I’ve had to use more revs to get away and have stalled the car on a couple of occasions. Again – not normal behaviour for the car.

Car has done 141,100 miles.

Any ideas?

[alastairg]

Check/replace/clean
MAF
DV
N75 valve
Boost leak

These are all worth doing prior to blaming the turbo which seems still to work on occasion. I am sure you will get lots of more technical advice with a detailed story like that, but thats what I would do with the help of my local specialist initially.
My money is on the DV if its not being changed as I had similar but less severe problems during the first few weeks with mine.
Good luck

[Cobstar]

Thanks for the feedback, Alistair.

DV was faulty when I bought the car last year. New one fitted by QST about 18 months/ 20,000 miles ago. What's the normal life for them?

Garage ruled out MAF being the problem in June. But I guess as time has rolled on, it might be an issue.

[alastairg]

DV should be Ok
Try a new N75 valve. I am not a car tech ! but it sort of controls various varibles to optimise boost and can wear and stick in the wrong postion. For a more technical info I would search this and S2 forum. Got mine from vag parts on the grounds that it seemed to cause various problems as it aged and I was having work done at the time.
Boost leaks are a favourite theme on the S2 forum and seem to solve a miriad of performance problems. From your S2 forum reply I wonder if hole has devloped or you do have age related hose/pipework problems. Not certain how to check for these but I am sure a search would yeld the answer.
I would consider a trip to QST if no luck

[Jani]

Sounds like a leak to me. It's always the first one to check -quite easy yourself too.

[robo]

Yep, air leak , check all hoses but all of them, I've checked all my hoses couldnt find nothing took the car to qst and they found one for me.My car due for re-booking with qst next week, still down on power.

[jubjub]

I don't know the life span of a DV but mine was replaced with a Bailey one.I remeber my original DV had rubbed a hole in the side of the casing where it had been in contact with the body at the bottom of the headlight mounting.........
BTW, does it feel anything like mine did when you went in it at PTS in December? Mine was cured that time by changing the MAF and DV.
However, mine seems to be lacking something at the minute

[Cobstar]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Jubjub - The linear power delivery rather than the kick at 3,500 rpm etc seems similar. But then mine was like that when the intercooler was the issue.
Didn't have this feel like the power is coming in surges though. Did yours feel like that?

Hope you and Robo get your issues sorted out soon.