what would cause a little "stickiness" in power from time to time?

[dumbskate]

NOTE: My car spec's are in the signature below.

I have noticed that when my car is cruising along from cold, and just from time-to time, I will be accelerating slowly (making no boost yet) when I get this funny pause then release of power. It will feel like I am just building up a little speed (say at about 20km) and then all of a sudden something will "release" for want of a better word and the car will begin accelerating with a bit more pep. It feels like the engine is being held back for a few seconds and then is allowed to make is normal power which is more than I needed so I have to ease of the gas.

Now I am wondering could this be a sticky waste gate or something similar?

Thanks

[Guest boostin]

And its only when cold??

[dumbskate]

 boostin said:

And its only when cold??

Yeah it only seems to happen from time-to-time and when it does it will be within two minutes from my house while warming up.

[Guest]

my car does that when cold. let it warm up before driving and you wont experience that again

[Guest boostin]

 Omegah said:

my car does that when cold. let it warm up before driving and you wont experience that again

Not always convenient though.

So it appears to be a twin turbo thing. Wasn't there a thread similar to this a few months back? I think they had an outcome after giving the engine a good drink of Upper Engine Cleaner.

[sickmatesick]

mines single turbo and it does that when its cold sometimes. bloody annoying when you want to coast around a corner or something and it starts jerking around when you use the accelerator again

[dumbskate]

 boostin']

[quote name='Omegah said:

my car does that when cold. let it warm up before driving and you wont experience that again

/quote]

So it appears to be a twin turbo thing. Wasn't there a thread similar to this a few months back? I think they had an outcome after giving the engine a good drink of Upper Engine Cleaner.

I was waiting for my oil to be due so I can get a can into a few extra places like the waste gate vacuum lines and see if that cleans it up.

[Hailz]

I notice the same problem too, I have driven about four TT Legacy's including mine and they all do it, seems like the accelerator is either on or off kind of thing - I think they all do it.

[Guest keltik]

Mine does it too. 10billion times worse with the air con switched on. Something to do with the way the idle control works i think. With my idle controller unplugged it goes away

[dumbskate]

 keltik said:

Mine does it too. 10billion times worse with the air con switched on. Something to do with the way the idle control works i think. With my idle controller unplugged it goes away

Have you tried servicing the ICV? I hear that its just a case of taking the controller off cleaning in carb cleaner and then replacing with a new gasket. I will give this a go as I needed a few excuses to head out to Winger for the $0.50 gasket.

[Guest keltik]

Its a good idea but isnt the problem in my case.

[dumbskate]

and how does the car run without the ICV plugged in? I'm guessing idle is a bit funny.

[Guest keltik]

Ive got a different idle controller to you guys so mine just idles really high

[suubyduuby]

Mine does it as well...as does friend's RSK. His other ones did it as well...

Seems to be a feature of the ISC valve/system when cold ???

[Guest]

yup my 90 leggy and bros 2002 forester does it

[dumbskate]

Well I reckon I have made a dent in it. After picking up a can of upper engine cylinder cleaner yesterday I took off the ICV and there was plenty of gummy oil all over the plastic piston. This go a good clean out as well as the inside of the ICV hole whcih got a good squirt of the UEC cleaner. I then sprayed a bit more cleaner in a few available vac lines and also sprayed some down the waste gate vac line as this can get gummed up I hear.

Today drive was much smoother I must say.

I must say that this little tune up plus the replacement of my dieing o2 sensor last week is making the car a lot nicer to drive. Now just need that new clutch.

[Guest]

i must get some of the upper engine cleaner! do you just spray the UEC down where the vac lines go into things? or are there certain places you have to spray it

[dumbskate]

yeah I usually just take off one of the row in front of the inlet manifold and spray into there. I woudl also like to get some into the top of the manifold but that means taking off the intercooler and a bit more time. The instructions on the can are pretty good.

[Guest]

Could the ECU have a cut on power when the temps are still too cool to protect the engine?

You shouldn't be driving hard when the car is cold anyway.

[Guest]

 dumbskate said:

yeah I usually just take off one of the row in front of the inlet manifold and spray into there. I woudl also like to get some into the top of the manifold but that means taking off the intercooler and a bit more time. The instructions on the can are pretty good.

sweet. how much is a can?

[Guest boostin]

About $20.

[dumbskate]

 BigWillieStyles said:

You shouldn't be driving hard when the car is cold anyway.

Wise words BigWillie, but no one said they were.