sluggish off the mark

**Kgee** · 5th February 2009, 07:11 PM

Hi all

I had a thread recently referring to a lack of throttle response on my 2000 D2 TD5 auto. I addressed the possibilities put forward by members but to no avail.
The problem as it is now is that the car is slow off the mark then suddenly you get excessive acceleration. The problem is less noticable when the Air con is off.
To date, I have cleaned the oil out of the ECU plugs had a new injector harness a new MAF sensor and a new fuel pump fitted. All fuses have been checked. My Nanocom is showing no faults and the only fault previously showing was the EGR valve open but that was removed 18months ago.
I have had the vehicle at my local mechanic in Newman and he has been in touch with Rovertech in Perth Triumph Rover spares in Adelaide and neither can offer any further advice. $2600 later and I still have the problem.
I hope someone can come up with some further option.

Thanks

Ken

**Mick-Kelly** · 6th February 2009, 01:55 AM

Tell me you checked the tension on the throttle cable?

**jmkoffice** · 6th February 2009, 08:21 AM

Ken, does it play up when using cruise control? Mine has a hesitation at the same accelerator position and is more evident when towing my 2T caravan.

My problem is the potentiometer on the accelerator pedal. It never plays up when using cruise control, even when towing the caravan.

You can test this by reaching 80 – 100 km/h, set the cruise, make sure it maintains speed with cruise activated, cancel the cruise and allow the vehicle to slow down to around 30/40 km/h. Hit Resume on the cruise and let the vehicle accelerate and reach the cruise speed you set earlier. If you find there is no problem i.e. sudden power, no hesitation etc, then you may have the potentiometer problem.

Worth a try….

**Psimpson7** · 6th February 2009, 08:34 AM

Does it have a Bruce Davis chip?

**discowhite** · 6th February 2009, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Mick-Kelly

Tell me you checked the tension on the throttle cable?

and fit new split fire spark plugs and a pod filter while your at it

cheers phil

**B92 8NW** · 6th February 2009, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by discowhite

and fit new split fire spark plugs and a pod filter while your at it

cheers phil

LOL. In my experience its usually issues with the carburettor that makes Td5s sluggish.

**LandyAndy** · 6th February 2009, 04:27 PM

Would almost bet the wastegate isnt adjusted correctly.
See here http://www.aulro.com/afvb/good-oil/7...djustment.html
Easy to do,have a fiddle.
Goodluck
Andrew

**Kgee** · 8th February 2009, 10:18 PM

Thanks to all for your replies I will certainly check them out.

I have just come back from a weekend in Port Hedland and clocked up 1100 faultless klicks except for the sluggish (not always) response off the mark. The throttle is dead and then all of a sudden you get the lot as though it has been waiting for the turbo to kick in.
Now the interesting bit, if I turn the aircon off the problem disappears.

Please explain ???????????

Thanks

Ken

**harlie** · 9th February 2009, 10:43 AM

Hi Kgee

Do you know the history of the engine ECU? My TD5 was reflashed initially and it was terrible – got a different map file and it’s now fantastic. The TD5 is very sensitive to it’s map files and model of ECU. Has the ECU had a chip replacement (as yours is 2000)? The Chip replacement can also fail after a while with bad solder joins to the board.

The symptom that you describe "The problem as it is now is that the car is slow off the mark then suddenly you get excessive acceleration" is exactly what I had with a Golf TDi we recently purchased. I ended up taking it in to VW to have it flashed back to factory – all solved, previous owner had a crappy upgrade fitted.. However unlike your problem, AC didn’t affect it.

The accelerator position sensor as mentioned above has to be high on the check list
Good luck

**jmkoffice** · 9th February 2009, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Kgee

Thanks to all for your replies I will certainly check them out.

I have just come back from a weekend in Port Hedland and clocked up 1100 faultless klicks except for the sluggish (not always) response off the mark. The throttle is dead and then all of a sudden you get the lot as though it has been waiting for the turbo to kick in.
Now the interesting bit, if I turn the aircon off the problem disappears.

Please explain ???????????

Thanks

Ken

Did you try what I mentioned in my post earlier?

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