2015 Scout, 79k miles. Over the last week or so I have noticed that when the throttle is neutral, ie level road, constant speed, I am getting small surges, or hesitations from the throttle. It’s difficult to explain, but certainly noticeable and new. Under acceleration or deceleration it is fine, it’s just at the neutral point that I notice it. It’s as though the car can’t decide what to do to maintain the speed whilst my foot is steady on the pedal.

There are no codes, and nothing to suggest anything else is wrong. No change in fuel, and no recent work that may have affected things.

Any ideas?

 

Nick

Surging could be a slightly sticky egr valve or sticky actuator rod on the turbocharger.

 

Yes; I might suggest you maybe getting intermittent connection on the accelator actuator (ie accelator pedal).  Its electronic and the connectors are not the best (and can be easily kicked).  Easy first thing to try is reseating the connector and check to make sure you don't have a loose electrical connection in the connector too. 

 

If no good there, then I would suggest a good full tank of Super Diesel and drive it like a thief for a couple of hundred miles (sticking EGR valve or throttlebody).

 

Whilst it is a Diesel, don't be afraid to give it the boot occassionally.

So yesterday I changed the fuel filter. I checked the service invoice for April, and no mention was made of changing it, which means it had been the same one since June 2018, about 45000 miles ago. The filter looked ok, maybe a bit grubby, but on a longer run today most of the surging or hesitation had gone. It wasn’t perfect, but better than before. Not convinced that I didn’t also have some kind of contamination in the fuel. No codes at all, will monitor.

So over the last few weeks the hesitation has returned. No codes. Main symptom is best described as an uneven / hesitant throttle at a constant speed or slight acceleration. No decrease or increase in fuel consumption. The DPF regens, both passive and forced may be occurring more frequently. Am towing a van in a week or so, so hopefully things don’t die on me. Have ordered both some millers additive, and some dpf cleaner to see if either of those help. Was wondering if it might be a fuel pump issue?

Hi Nick j633..

 

Spookily have just purchased a 64  plate scout with the same CRMB engine and the same problems. Didn't notice when I picked it up but once cruise control engaged or on a steady light throttle it becomes obvious. Exactly as you describe. Any further news since last September and did you manage to resolve?? 

 

Stoph

Did you give the car a REALLY good run - I have found this same problem with my 2016 Scout; I had to get some really good heat into the car and give it a good blast to make it happy again.  Light driving causes issues.

1 minute ago, varaderoguy said:

Did you give the car a REALLY good run - I have found this same problem with my 2016 Scout; I had to get some really good heat into the car and give it a good blast to make it happy again.  Light driving causes issues.

 Have only done around 500 miles since purchase... bulk of this on the motorway which with average speed cameras everywhere means a steady 2000rpm most of the time. I did give it an old school 'Italian tune up' and found that it thrashing through the gears it goes quite well... but there is definite hesitation on going back on the throttle after a gearchange and definite gentle surging otherwise on neutral acceleration.. It was due a service so also changed fuel filter but no change. Im starting to think EGR maybe hence was wondering if OP had ever got to route of the problem... used an older scout 2012 with the old PD140 engine for a while and although a little noisier there was never any hesitation or surging and throttle response was very good. 

Morning all. Since my original post the problem has remained, however it hasn’t got any worse, there have never been any warning lights, and I’ve been on several long runs since then. The car is now on 93k miles. At the recent service the Indy garage found nothing wrong and couldn’t replicate. There were several suggestions, the egr, the clutch, maybe an issue with the injectors. But nothing concrete to go on. The issue although annoying is liveable with. I will be replacing the clutch soon, so if that is the cause and the problem disappears after I will update.

Thanks Nick... will let you know if I solve it.. mine had a clutch at 40k as the slave cylinder developed a leak so not convinced its that.. need to look at airflow or fueling I reckon so fingers crossed! 

On 23/04/2021 at 08:38, Nickj633 said:

Morning all. Since my original post the problem has remained, however it hasn’t got any worse, there have never been any warning lights, and I’ve been on several long runs since then. The car is now on 93k miles. At the recent service the Indy garage found nothing wrong and couldn’t replicate. There were several suggestions, the egr, the clutch, maybe an issue with the injectors. But nothing concrete to go on. The issue although annoying is liveable with. I will be replacing the clutch soon, so if that is the cause and the problem disappears after I will update.

I've got exactly the same issue on my 2015 1.6 TDI. It's been doing it for about 18 months now so I've kinda got used to it. It's only occasionally so not really an issue as the car drives well with the exception of a rattle at the top end of the revs, perhaps an injector.

The other point of Investigation is the accelator pedal failing. This happened on a car with 15k miles on the odometer. However, if it is failing then you will see error codes on CANBUS.

 

The symptoms are serging and similar issues to yours. You have to remember that the accelator pedal is electronic and they do fail.

On 03/08/2020 at 21:27, Ecomatt said:

Surging could be a slightly sticky egr valve or sticky actuator rod on the turbocharger.

 

An update on this and cudos to Ecomatt.

 

just had the P2563 code related to the turbo actuator. Took to indie who reported that the actuator had failed, not just readings out of scope, but implausible signal. Replaced for just shy of £400. They managed to order and fix on the same day, so hats off to them…(Malvern specialist).

 

Anyway, after fitting car felt much smoother but more to the point the constant hesitation issue that has dogged the car for the last year seems to be resolved. Looks like I had a slowly failing actuator which was causing boost issues and maybe confusing the ECU.

 

thought I’d update the forum.

 

Nick

1 hour ago, Nickj633 said:

An update on this and cudos to Ecomatt.

 

just had the P2563 code related to the turbo actuator. Took to indie who reported that the actuator had failed, not just readings out of scope, but implausible signal. Replaced for just shy of £400. They managed to order and fix on the same day, so hats off to them…(Malvern specialist).

 

Anyway, after fitting car felt much smoother but more to the point the constant hesitation issue that has dogged the car for the last year seems to be resolved. Looks like I had a slowly failing actuator which was causing boost issues and maybe confusing the ECU.

 

thought I’d update the forum.

 

Nick

Glad you got it sorted. If only I could get the numbers on Euromillions right 🤣

On 11/12/2021 at 10:27, Nickj633 said:

P2563 code related to the turbo actuator

Okay - its probably worth running some EGR cleaner through the car.  Peeps think I'm into this stuff for kick-back, but it keeps the TDI engine working very sweetly:

https://www.hydra-int.com/diesel-power-blast.html

you only need a very small dose (not even the 1:1500 ratio).  Basically, the improvement of the cetane in the fuel additive will improve running, keep the DPF and EGR and turbo actuator clean.

On 02/08/2020 at 23:06, Nickj633 said:

2015 Scout, 79k miles. Over the last week or so I have noticed that when the throttle is neutral, ie level road, constant speed, I am getting small surges, or hesitations from the throttle. It’s difficult to explain, but certainly noticeable and new. Under acceleration or deceleration it is fine, it’s just at the neutral point that I notice it. It’s as though the car can’t decide what to do to maintain the speed whilst my foot is steady on the pedal.

There are no codes, and nothing to suggest anything else is wrong. No change in fuel, and no recent work that may have affected things.

Any ideas?

 

Nick

Hi mate, i have octavia 2l tdi 2012 and having same problem! Have you found source of it? Regards