I'm a new vRS owner. My 2005 vRS estate has just run out of warranty ('aint it always the way!?) and has developed a couple of issues that i don't know how to cure. I've read a few suggestions on here but wondered if there were any new suggestions?

1/ The car has started to run lumpy on start up for about 10 secs ever since i left it in an airport car park for a week. After 10-20 secs time it's fine. Why and what is this?

2/ In heavy rain there is a small build up of water on the sill of the drivers door. It seems to be coming out of the door panel?

Any suggestions or pointers to existing threads on the subject would be appreciated as it's taking the enjoyment out of driving my new Octy!!

Edited 20 July, 201114 yr by NMB

clean the throttle body to clear up the poor running.

I'm a new vRS owner. My 2005 vRS estate has just run out of warranty ('aint it always the way!?) and has developed a couple of issues that i don't know how to cure. I've read a few suggestions on here but wondered if there were any new suggestions?

1/ The car has started to run lumpy on start up for about 10 secs ever since i left it in an airport car park for a week. After 10-20 secs time it's fine. Why and what is this?

2/ In heavy rain there is a small build up of water on the sill of the drivers door. It seems to be coming out of the door panel?

Any suggestions or pointers to existing threads on the subject would be appreciated as it's taking the enjoyment out of driving my new Octy!!

Hi there the item you raise are common issues to the Octy.

Couple of things:

1. could be your temp sensor playing up. They give similar symptoms where car is lumpy on first start up and then runs fine shortly after start up.

At £20 and easy to fit would change that anyway. Also if you still get problem as stated a good clean of the throttle body (attached to inlet manifold) is a good idea. This will help throttle pick up anyway.

2. with regard to water leak is could be caused by the rubber door seal perishing and thus allows water ingress. Also what can happen is the inner door panel membrane can split leaving heavy rain full to allow water to drip past the membrane and into foot well. If the membrane is ok the water normally drips to the outside of the car, but again if door seal is poor can also drip in wards.

The lumpy starting is still going on, but now the car has started to not start up when warm/hot. The engine turns over fine, but does not fire. Could this be a temp sensor issue, and would it be related to the lumpy running on cold start?

As far as the leaks go, the water comes out from between the door card and the inner metal of the door just below the door speaker. This sounds like the inner skin then?

Thanks so far!

The lumpy starting is still going on, but now the car has started to not start up when warm/hot. The engine turns over fine, but does not fire. Could this be a temp sensor issue, and would it be related to the lumpy running on cold start?

definitely sounds like a temp sensor issue to me,

as for the door leak, have a good look around any inner edges i suppose just a matter of looking for them

Thanks for replies, the issues are now being sorted......expensively!

The hot start issues were down to a knackered cam shaft sensor.

The cold start lumpy-ness is the head gasket about to go!!!!!!!!

The drivers door has also had to have a new foam door seal fitted.

An expensive first 6 months of owning a vRS!!!

How can a head gasket be about to go? Its either blown or it hasn't?

If the miss-fire is due to coolant leaking into the cylinder when cold, if you remove the spark plugs and peer into the cylinders one piston will be cleaner that the others, effectively steam cleaned with coolant. You'll also notice excessive white smoke (actually steam not smoke) on start up.

NMB sorry to hear about your problems.

Head gasket? Not heard of many going on 18.T !

I see your in Devon mate i would recommend taking your car to Volkscraft in Marsh Burton they are vag independent garage and really know their stuff!

Turns out the head was cracked....bad (and expensive) times! :(

I'm using KJM Sevices of Crediton for the work, they are experts in the VAG 1.8T engine and i highly recommend them!!