Tonight on the way back from the outlaws, I experienced something new in my vRS. Whilst accelerating in 5th at about 3000rpm, there was a distinct judder through the drivetrain. It's not happened before so it's a worry. Oddly, it doesn't happen in gears 1-4.

 

Any ideas?

Further to my post, when the judder occurs, the engine management light flashes for a few seconds then goes out.

Has anyone experienced this before?

Hello mate

I can't answer your question regarding the engine management light, however juddering in higher gears can by symptomatic of a failing dual mass flywheel.

If you search 'failing DMF' or something similar on this site, you'll see that other people have experienced the symptoms you describe.

Hope this helps.

That's what I had wondered about initially. It's odd that it only seems to happen in 2 gears and at a specific RPM. I will see if any codes have been logged next week when the garages are open again.

Hello mate

I can't answer your question regarding the engine management light, however juddering in higher gears can by symptomatic of a failing dual mass flywheel.

If you search 'failing DMF' or something similar on this site, you'll see that other people have experienced the symptoms you describe.

Hope this helps.

The one thing that makes me wonder if this is the DMF is the complete lack of any noise when idling. I had a Vectra which had a failing DMF and you could hear it rattle whenever you depressed the clutch. And I don't know why the engine light comes on either. Confused!

Not something stupid like fuel filter? As in blocked and not getting enough fuel.

Is it petrol or disel? If petrol could be a coil pack?

Petrol. Really odd. It has been mapped but it's not done this before and the map has been on for a year.

Petrol. Really odd. It has been mapped but it's not done this before and the map has been on for a year.

Could well be a failing coil pack then, especially if the eml is flashing, a VCDS scan may offer some answers.

Just for info as other think it may be coil pack.

 

I had the same symptoms on my TDI but without the light show.  I also had the rumble and vibration when accelerating hard, particularly uphill out of hairpins and the like. After a short while it would fade back to normal.

There was never any noise or rumble at tick over, unless you immediately stopped before normal service resumed.

I replaced the clutch (which was fine) and the DMF when I had the Shark remap.  Smooth as a smooth thing now.

Just for info as other think it may be coil pack.

 

I had the same symptoms on my TDI but without the light show.  I also had the rumble and vibration when accelerating hard, particularly uphill out of hairpins and the like. After a short while it would fade back to normal.

There was never any noise or rumble at tick over, unless you immediately stopped before normal service resumed.

I replaced the clutch (which was fine) and the DMF when I had the Shark remap.  Smooth as a smooth thing now.

 

I would have thought a failing DMF would have to be really bad to bring the eml on though, whereas a misfire caused by a dodgy coil pack would possibly account for the problems.

Well, having taken the family out for a drive, the car had its biggest judder yet and now the EML is on permanently. As I'm visiting relatives, I may have to get it checked before we head home as its a 120 mile drive.

If the eml is on then a fault code should be logged. A scan should point you in the right direction. Post the results on here and we can give more advise.

A remapped petrol id be surprised if it wasnt the coil pack breaking up...they do wear out and give the kind of symptoms you describe.

Equally you could have a knackered/fouled spark plug, that would also cause intermittent juddering/hesitancy and EML flashing under load.

Well, the car is currently plugged into a diagnostic machine at my local mechanic and the coil pack in cylinder 4 is causing an irregular misfire. Going to get it replaced and see what happens.

Result! Car running sweetly now. Seems like the remap has hastened the demise of the coil pack. Many thanks for the excellent advice given on here. It really is an excellent forum!