MAF Problem, Vacuum, anymore?

[Turbocharged Banana]

Hi Guys

I'll start from the top: Bought a 51 plate octy vRS about 4 weeks ago, loved it, then one day the traction light came on and the car started bucking like bronco, anyway got this diagnosed as the MAF then replaced it (first with a non oem..BIG Mistake).

Anyway so the MAF was sorted (Bosch replacement) and things were ok for a day then noticed a bit of a surge or kick back at 2000rpm (mainly in second) put this down to the MAF still learning until yesterday the CEL came on, read the code and its running lean (bank1) which with the symptoms i'm having sounds like a leaky Vacuum and i'm guessing that when the MAF was faulty it kind of disguised this problem.

This has now been booked in with Skoda for them to locate and replace the vacuum pipe.

Anyway to my point, has anyone else had these two problem and can i expect any other faults and is there anything else i should look for?

Plus am i ok to carry on driving with the engine running lean (and yes i know i've already been probably running it lean since i bought it, just after an opinion of possible engine problems it can cause etc)

Any help/advice appreciated!

[VRS Mike]

probably a vac leak. The car is probably at an age where certain sensors will begin to fail. Mine had a new MAF, N75 and dump valve soon after I bought it, also had a few leaky boost pipes. Once these were all sorted it's been fine since (touch wood)

Where are you based? Is there not a good specialist local to you, can't be cheap taking it to Skoda?

[Turbocharged Banana]

I'm in basingstoke, yeah i think vac leak too. I rang Skoda today and they are going to charge me upto an hours labour just to DIAGNOSE!! I had a 10 min argument with the guy about how it is most likely a Vac leak (running lean, pinking, surge at 2000RPM, error code relating to running lean etc etc) and how can they charge me upto an hour to diagnose when they already have a guid as to what to look for!! Anyway you are right and i'm trying to find a reliable VAG specialist close by, best i can come up with is a place called SJB?

God i hope i don't have too many problems after this! problem is its coming to the scary 100k mark!

[Silver Bullet]

Why dont you put a request on here for a Brisky member (anyone close to you with Vag-com + laptop) to do an

Autoscan for you.

Im sure payment would be only of a selection of liquid currency.

At least you would be armed with a date/time block status printout to show the garage if you still wanted to go there.

NB: Id happily do a scan for you but I think im a bit too far away.

Good Luck

[Turbocharged Banana]

Thanks for the advice, I think i'll have a look for the leak myself tonight/tomorrow and go from there. I'll kick myself if its right at the inlet or something similarly easy to get to.

[Turbocharged Banana]

I couldn't find the leak. Got it booked in with Roy at autobarn (vag specialist in bstoke) on tues so I'll keep this thread updated with the outcome.

[karlbar2k]

lots of pipes to choose from on the 1.8T but very well documented throughout the forum. most likely one to start with is the Y shaped one that comes off the right of the head and goes to the Turbo Intake Pipe (look for the hockey Puck Valve - you will know it when you see it ) Closely followed by the one that goes from the Y pipe down to the crank case valve under the intake manifold... Oh the joy of 1.8T ownership

[Turbocharged Banana]

Yes my thoughts exactly, seems to be more pipe work than an oil refinery!

One of my coils gave up yesterday so I'm wondering if my symptoms were actually the coil breaking down, going to give it a good run later and see what happens. Even if it's all good again I may bite the bullet and get all hoses replaced, some are looking a bit perished and they are all original.

[luize]

mines got the same problem at the moment. ive cleaned out the maf which has helped my idle a tiny bit but it will still hunt over 1400rpm on warm idle. i can hear a hissssss from the front of the engine but can i bloody find it... noooooooo lol

[chicken_eyebrow]

If it's a split in one of the ones under the manifold you'll usually find the little plastic cover in front of the manifold with all the little holes in gets quite a bit of dry oil and crud caked on it over time from where it's leaking out of the manifold via the split hose.

[Turbocharged Banana]

Kudos chicken eyebrow, still had the jerk so had a proper indepth look! Found a massively split air hose under the intake, ordered a new one from skoda today and patched up the existing one for now (only till the new one comes in)