105PS 1.2 TSI Petrol Rough Idle

[Gonzini]

Hi guys.

I know there's not an easy answer to this one as could be any number of possibilities.

Been noticing for a while that the idle has been getting more lumpy and a bit rough from cold on the fabia. Its a 2013 105PS 1.2 TSI just coming up to 15K.

I get what sounds like a missfire, like a bump, bump / bump, bump, bump type thing going on occasionally. Its generally a bit rough.

Its not fantastic when its warmed up either but is smoother but not what i would call a Swiss clock....

Is there a common problem that comes up time and time again with this engine?

Not checked for error codes yet, but I'll try and talk to it over the weekend.

 

[Rooted]

Welcome.

Spark Plugs maybe, Ignition Coils, Needs a new Air Filter, Fuel Filter, try a different Fuel retailer etc etc Maybe needs a software update.

Servicing should have the technician put the car on the diagnostics, so is it getting a service / Major service any time soon or had one?

Codes for misfires might not show if not enough in a cycle but worth checking obviously.

[Gonzini]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I know, it could be any of those. I wondered spark plugs, they seem to try and get miles out of those on the service schedule. Coil pack too.

It had a minor service last Dec, they didn't pick anything up then.

Need to check for error codes first i guess, see if anything shows up.

I'm not feeling confident in this engine, i get knocks when its cold like rod knock, random scraping noises that sounds like a intermittent noisy pump and now the rough running....

Problem is it seems unless you take the car back to the dealer on the back of a low loader in proper broken state they say they can't find anything wrong with it....

That's the impression I've been left with. They had it in for the knocking noise on the last service, no problem found...

[Rooted]

The Service Schedule / Guidelines on Spark plugs was 40,000 miles which means nothing, a plug can fail, so check them closely and the gap, 

or replace.

Winter Spec Fuel finishes being distributed to filling stations now, so you might notice some difference.

If you use 95 ron Unleaded maybe fill up with Super Unleaded 97 or 99 ron and see if you notice a smoother running engine.

 

Has the Air Filter been looked at or replaced, again a 40,000 mile Major Service item, but an easy check and replace.

 

? 

Who is 'They'  which main dealership?  Just so others can avoid.

 

2014 should have been Minor Service.

2015 Major,

2016 Minor, 

so 2017 Major Service,  maybe best get to a good VW Independent Specialist.   You have a very low mile car.

Edited 16 March, 2017 by Awayoffski

[Gonzini]

Didn't realise there was such a thing as winter fuel? Just thought it was the same all year round.

Yeah, run it on Shell 95, could try some better stuff in there i guess. Didn't think other than the better cleaners in it maybe would make much difference to that engine. 

Thought about chucking some injector cleaner through it but don't know whats a good product to use these days?

I picked up some stuff before, Red Line SI-1 i think it was called.

It was the main dealers where i brought the car in Botley, Southampton. They seem OK, i get free MOT's with the last few cars I've had through them. They never failed the VW Bora i had before the Fabia over 7 years but i did keep it up together as much as possible. 

I rather try and get it sorted out before it really plays up if it gets that bad..

[Guest]

Timing chain?

[Gonzini]

I hope not! I don't get the extended rattle on startup anyway.

It is a 2013 engine, don't know the date code but hopefully its had the mods done.

very low millage as well at just under 15K

It ran better this morning, its been standing for a few days.

Edited 21 March, 2017 by Gonzini

[Rooted]

So did you check if any Fault Codes were logged, 

and the Air Filter is clean and dry?

 

Fill the tank with 97 ron or 99 and give it a bit of an Italian tune up and blow the cobwebs / Soot out of the exhaust if there are no fault codes and a good Air Filter & Spark plugs in.

[thomasaspin]

There's a common fault on the 1.2 tsi where the oil doesn't tension up the chain fast enough believe it can be the oil filter I believe someone could elaborate on this but I think there's a non return or a flap that gets stuck 

[Gonzini]

I've heard about that. I think it was to do with filter being over tighten when fitted.

Mine doesn't really rattle, if it does its really quick from cold starting and just sounds like oil pressure getting up.

I'm talking half a second max type thing. The dealer here told me it was normal for these engines to rattle on start up. I Just gave him the look, 'yeah, right mate...' Should of shown him that TPI from Skoda....

 

Not had a chance to connect the laptop to it yet, been wiped out since Sunday with some weird flu type thing which reckon has leaked out of a top secret bio weapons lab. Been a strange few days...

When I'm up for it I can check the air filter I guess, good call. Might struggle to get the plugs out here with limited tools.

I generally don't get the hands oily these days unless I can save a fair wack changing service items myself.

For example,  changing the air and pollen filter on the Bora saved me £100 on a service, got them to just change the oil and do their standard service checks.

 

Oh, what's better do you think? Stuff some 97 RON in there or get some injector / fuel system cleaner and then explore the upper rev ranges?

 

Edited 22 March, 2017 by Gonzini

[Rooted]

Best just look at the Air Filter, but as well to get a new one.

 

97 Ron is OK, but head to a Tesco and get Momentum 99 in and go for a blast, or Shell V-Power Nitro+ if no Tesco near.

Give the car a nice warm up then some Dynamic Driving.

 

The Turbo Shim should not be an issue with your car, Ignition Coil hopefully not, 

but your car is low miles, at the next service see what a Technician says, and tell them you changed the Air Filter already if you do.

[Gonzini]

Ok will do, nearly back in the land of the living. Think the weather will be more favourable over the weekend to get the head under the bonnet as well.

 

Actually i men't V Power when i said 97, i usually fill up at a shell. It will be probably half a tank so a mix with the 95 in there.

 

What's this turbo shim you speak off?

 

I remember also on the 1.8T petrol i had in the Bora suffered from rough idle once but cleaning the throttle body cured that one. A known issue with those. 

 

Cars been parked up since Tuesday, today was the first time I've driven back to work and seemed better than it has been but not super smooth like i had been used to with the 1.8T.

I've had the car for nearly 6 months as well and still can't used to the way the engine sounds at times...!

[Gonzini]

Put 20L of V Power nitro  in earlier so see what happens, I guess same again at next fill up. Car does so well on fuel I'm only filling up every 2 weeks, I do over fill a bit though by a few L...

I could probably go a month without filling up, doing about 100 miles about week.

 

[MC24]

Did you manage to sort the problem out? I'm experiencing the same symptoms.

 

TIA

[Gonzini]

Hi

No, it comes and goes. Can't put it down to certain circumstances at all.

It's only at idle, never plays up when driving.

It's been serviced and had plugs changed but still does it after that.

I guess a sensor is failing somewhere, no error codes or any clues. Could be anything though really. I wondered maybe an injector or fuel pump, who knows. I was going to try some injector cleaner, not sure which best product to try. Tried better fuel, no difference. I use Shell anyway.

I'd like to know what causes it as it can't be a normal characteristic of the engine, I would hope!!

Edited 4 July, 2018 by Gonzini

[xman]

Did you change the plug leads?

At least check them with a meter, according to my measurements, should read resistance of approx 8.5k ± 1k

 

Note you need a proper tool to remove the spark plug lead connection. Don't tug the lead, because it will break internally.

 

 

 

 

Edited 5 July, 2018 by xman

[Gonzini]

With my engine it's been going on now for over year. Kinda just put up with it as doesn't happen every day, could be weeks before it happens again. I think if mine was a lead breaking down it would of got a lot worse by now. It only does it at idle, never falters under load during driving.

Can't speak for MC24's though.

[stratosg]

I got these "misfires" since new. I remember them in my Octavia MK1 1.6 as well. I think it is a common way of engine's behavior.

 

Once I had two spark plugs and two ignition cables, they were of cylinders 3 and 4. But before giving up their ghost the car had an engine noise on accelerating like old diesel engine. No warning lights, no weird fuel consumption. Then one day the dashboard went Christmas tree and the car like tractor. Thankfully I was just leaving my mechanic's place after oil change. Even during the service time no errors logged. Errors popped up after lights went on on my dash.

[Michaeldavis39]

On 22/03/2017 at 10:32, Gonzini said:

I've heard about that. I think it was to do with filter being over tighten when fitted.

Mine doesn't really rattle, if it does its really quick from cold starting and just sounds like oil pressure getting up.

I'm talking half a second max type thing. The dealer here told me it was normal for these engines to rattle on start up. I Just gave him the look, 'yeah, right mate...' Should of shown him that TPI from Skoda....

 

Not had a chance to connect the laptop to it yet, been wiped out since Sunday with some weird flu type thing which reckon has leaked out of a top secret bio weapons lab. Been a strange few days...

When I'm up for it I can check the air filter I guess, good call. Might struggle to get the plugs out here with limited tools.

I generally don't get the hands oily these days unless I can save a fair wack changing service items myself.

For example,  changing the air and pollen filter on the Bora saved me £100 on a service, got them to just change the oil and do their standard service checks.

 

Oh, what's better do you think? Stuff some 97 RON in there or get some injector / fuel system cleaner and then explore the upper rev ranges?

 

This was written in 2017- how ironic about the strange flu! I too had this flu and now look what we have! I lost my sense of smell and taste that year and still to this day have no sense of smell- i tell people i was a guinea pig for Covid long before it was released- bizarre so very bizarre!

Edited 22 August, 2021 by Michaeldavis39