Idle too low

higgs2k8

Guest
just bought my ibiza and it runs ok just its ideling low whch i think is causing the car to cut out when in neutral going down a steep hill. and when parked up with the engine running randomly the oil and power steering light come on but not stayed light. any help is appriciated
 

krussel

Active Member
Oct 31, 2008
1,713
2
Hertforshire
I ve felt that my TDi idles too low since i ve had it from new. It suffers from a shuddering when warming up which easies when you slightly touch the throttle. It went in for a service last week and i spoke to the tech and asked if the idle could be increased by 100-150 rpm he said he would try but the computer only "sometimes" allows a small increase of about 50 rpm:confused:.

Anyway picked it up and was told they were unable to increase it so it still shudders when warming up[:@].
To me its crazy that you cannot simply adjust the tickover :shrug:
 

muddyboots

Still hanging around
Oct 16, 2002
5,739
1
It suffers from a shuddering when warming up which easies when you slightly touch the throttle.
Mine did exactly the same, so much so it became a habit when sat idling to just lightly touch the pedal to stop it.
I managed to up my idle speed using vag-com, (can't remember how though, sorry, was ages ago!) but it didn't fix the problem.
 

krussel

Active Member
Oct 31, 2008
1,713
2
Hertforshire
Mine did exactly the same, so much so it became a habit when sat idling to just lightly touch the pedal to stop it.
I managed to up my idle speed using vag-com, (can't remember how though, sorry, was ages ago!) but it didn't fix the problem.


I ve heard it can be done via vag-com but know one seems to know how :( I wish someone could tell me as i would get a vag-com just to give it a try.
I agree that turning up the idle wont fix the problem but as you found just a slight increase of throttle smooths it out by quite a lot.
 

L14M_T

THE JOYS OF A 1200cc
Jan 14, 2009
231
0
RCT, South Wales
I have a 1.2 not sure if its just my car but does any1 elses revs dip slightly about every 3seconds, its not much of a dip (gotta be staring at the speedo and listening carefully to notice) or isit my car thats knackered and im being too worried? :D
 

muddyboots

Still hanging around
Oct 16, 2002
5,739
1
I agree that turning up the idle wont fix the problem but as you found just a slight increase of throttle smooths it out by quite a lot.

Upping the idle speed didn't stop the shuddering for me though.
It wasn't related to the speed of the engine, it was the action of throttle apllication (which will result in the ECU changing fuelling from basic idle amounts).

If that makes sense...

There may be some adjustments possible to idle fuel injection quantities, and maybe on a per-cylinder basis, perhaps these could reduce the problem with a bit of careful adjustment - if you know what you're doing & make a note of the original settings in case it gets worse!
 

kriso

_______ C U P R A _______
Jan 29, 2007
2,325
4
Brighton
Try cleaning the MAF sensor, and check it's readings and the injector duty cycles on Vag-Com. If the MAF is giving varying readings on idle then the fuelling will be constantly altering and this could result in an up and down idle.

You could also try cleaning the throttle body.
 

Ric 2001

Need an ID-ten-T form
I ve heard it can be done via vag-com but know one seems to know how :( I wish someone could tell me as i would get a vag-com just to give it a try.
I agree that turning up the idle wont fix the problem but as you found just a slight increase of throttle smooths it out by quite a lot.

I know ;) - but cleaning the throttle body (petrol engine) would probably better results.

Idle Speed Adaptation (may not work with APH engines, see your Repair Manual):
With engine warmed up, at idle:
01 – engine
10 – Adaptation

Enter channel 01 (Channel 02 for TDI engines)
Enter an adaptation value between 124 and 132
[Save]
 
Last edited:

oony7

Guest
idle high????

hi,i have an 1.4 sportrider,and when i came home from work i turned my car on and it was idling at 1500-2000 rpm then about 2 mins later it was fine,i have only 1100 miles on the clock but recently got a custom made exhaust ,would that have an effect on the idling????
 

krussel

Active Member
Oct 31, 2008
1,713
2
Hertforshire
Upping the idle speed didn't stop the shuddering for me though.
It wasn't related to the speed of the engine, it was the action of throttle apllication (which will result in the ECU changing fuelling from basic idle amounts).

If that makes sense...

Yes i can understand that working. What bugs me is why it smooths out (well not always but mostly) when the aircon is switched on, switch it back off it goes as lumpy as hell, why would that happen? Engine load ?
 

krussel

Active Member
Oct 31, 2008
1,713
2
Hertforshire
Sounds like a bad earth somewhere.

No not anything like that its been back in twice and checked and sensors cleaned. There's info about the TDi shudder if you google and in the USA people have tried to reject their cars because of it. However no cure yet found. Re-maps, single mass flywheels, engine mounts, clutches have no effect. If you have it you KNOW about it as it really shake's the car (and you in it).

Its a pity because its the only thing i really do not like about my car. :(
 

muddyboots

Still hanging around
Oct 16, 2002
5,739
1
My feeling was it was probably related to fuelling at idle causing a bit of an imbalance, and because the engine & gearbox are mounted inline along a similar axis, this engine imbalance rocking backwards & forwards was causing backlash to amplify through the DMF & drivetrain.

Does the shudder stop if you put your foot on the clutch ?

I wish I;d played round with fuelling adjustments a bit more, but sadly that ain't going to happen now :)
 

krussel

Active Member
Oct 31, 2008
1,713
2
Hertforshire
My feeling was it was probably related to fuelling at idle causing a bit of an imbalance, and because the engine & gearbox are mounted inline along a similar axis, this engine imbalance rocking backwards & forwards was causing backlash to amplify through the DMF & drivetrain.

Does the shudder stop if you put your foot on the clutch ?

I wish I;d played round with fuelling adjustments a bit more, but sadly that ain't going to happen now :)

No its the same with the clutch down. Only relief is the aircon and sometimes the rear heated screen. There seems no way to adjust the throttle mech with a cable etc.

Why sadly ? what happened to your car ?
 
Feb 28, 2008
3,990
1
Scotland
strange happenings tonight, cars idleing has been sitting at 800 which i feel is too low, im happier with 1000, i turn on air con and its goes to 1000 revs turn it off u hear a noise dissappear and it drops to 800, repeat the process it happens instantly, is this normal? also got a new cupra backbox fitted today dont know if this had an effect, i was sitting stationary and u could see and hear my rev counter fluctuate it was sitting at 800 and would goo like 800 840 800 840 and soo on, and u cud hear it doing this from the exhaust like small pockets of ait, but i turned the engine off and back on and it stopped, worrying me some of these issues, as i got a strange ticking noise coming from the engine bay and cant see what it it, any ideas?
 

higgs2k8

Guest
I have a 1.2 not sure if its just my car but does any1 elses revs dip slightly about every 3seconds, its not much of a dip (gotta be staring at the speedo and listening carefully to notice) or isit my car thats knackered and im being too worried? :D

mine does same got same as you 2
 
Feb 28, 2008
3,990
1
Scotland
I have a 1.2 not sure if its just my car but does any1 elses revs dip slightly about every 3seconds, its not much of a dip (gotta be staring at the speedo and listening carefully to notice) or isit my car thats knackered and im being too worried? :D

i know what it is as i had mine on vag today at my bros work, its a speed control sensor or something, basically it is a manufacture fault as i read the FAQ on it today, it cannot tell what speed its reading or somethin like that. apparently seat picked up on it as a fault of the engine and the breakdown says to check all connectors etc..think im gonna replace mines, it is module G28 if i remember correct, am sure someone on here with ETKA will get the part number, it was £40 odds