LCR Not running right.... Vac leak and Thermostat?

[Connorg115]

Hi all
recently bought my red 04 LCR i love the car so much but something isnt right with it and was hoping you lovely people could help point me in the right direction?

1. The car says it is running lean and P0171 is showing on my OBD2 withing the freeze frame data it looks like it is only happening at low engine load something like 1.6% and the idle is a bit up and down between like 750 and 800.
A mechanic drove my car and said it did feel under powered?
When in idle and i rev the car sometimes the revs take a while to drop back down only happens when i rev to about 3k

2. The cars coolant temperature gauge is dropping when i go on to fast roads such as the motorway or dual carriageway however car is blowing hot air into the cabin really quickly and still blowing the same hot air when the coolant temp drops.


Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

[Haze]

Coolant gauge dropping is thermostat, so first step would be to swap that. Make sure you go OEM. I wouldn't have thought that this would cause a loss of power. sticky revs could be throttle body. I'm afraid that's all i can contribute

 

[Connorg115]

Ok thanks a lot Ill try giving the throttle body a clean and when pay day comes ill be booking the car in to get the thermostat done

 

[Haze]

Ok thanks a lot Ill try giving the throttle body a clean and when pay day comes ill be booking the car in to get the thermostat done

Make sure you go for the original part for it otherwise you'll be back down ther getting it done again in a few months.

 

[Connorg115]

i will do is there anywhere i can get them online or shall i take a trip to the stealers?

 

[Cupra Ross]

Fluctuating revs and lean mixture code are due to a vacuum leak on the intake manifold. Thoroughly check all the little rubber hoses underneath it, and the bigger pcv hoses. You have a leak somewhere. If there's oily deposits on your intake manifold or any of the hoses, it points to a split in the hose.

 

[Connorg115]

Ill pull it apart tomorrow after work and have a look.
Thanks for the help

 

[Andrewwright]

i will do is there anywhere i can get them online or shall i take a trip to the stealers?

Trade part specialist or euro car parts do them. Takes ten mins to fit and is easy work, come on..be a man There are guides online and video's on YouTube to help you do it. We are here to if you get stuck, better than paying what £40p/h for a ten minute job.
Cleaning the throttle body...be careful (there are guides/video's) or have vag-com/vcds at hand to reset it.
If you have just got the car...have it smoke tested, then you are sure to have all leaks sorted or know where and what they are.

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[Connorg115]

Thermostat has gone in today car is running a lot better!!
What a ****ing pain in the ass of a job!
Could find any split pipes anywhere and other idea on the lean error code?


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[Cupra Ross]

Thermostat has gone in today car is running a lot better!!
What a ****ing pain in the ass of a job!
Could find any split pipes anywhere and other idea on the lean error code?


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Yup, I did raise an eyebrow at the "10 minute job". If you have the hands of a 5 year old you might manage it in 20, but for the rest of us it's a total pain in the arse involving extension bars and flexible joints.

Are you absolutely certain that you've checked everything connected to the intake manifold? Visual check isn't good enough, you need to squeeze along the length of all the hoses to check for splits. If they're definitely good, next port of call should be a VCDS logging session looking at fuel trims and lambda function. Could be a small leak in the downpipe or flexi, a dud front Lambda sensor or a dying fuel pump. Check the small things first.

 

[Connorg115]

Yeah was a night mare of a job but saved myself a few ££ and I couldn't see or hear anything the fuel trim when the light was triggered was 3.6% but I'll post what my obd2 scanner says the next time the light comes up
I'll keep my eyes open and possibly get some carb cleaner? Heard that's a good way to find vacuum leaks


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[mty12345]

Thermostat is a bitch! i find it's probably quicker, and definitely far less frustrating to remove the alternator, then you can get in there easily.

If the fuel trim is that low and the freeze frame says the lean issue was at idle, then like you and others have said it's almost certainly a vacuum or pcv leak. You could try the carb cleaner trick and see if that shows anything, although i've not tried it myself.

 

[Connorg115]

I took the connections off the back of the alternator and it was fidly but not impossible hardest thing was getting the bolts out the last few turns and next time I've got some time I'll give the carb cleaner a try then

Thanks everyone you've been a big help


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[Andrewwright]

Thermostat has gone in today car is running a lot better!!
What a ****ing pain in the ass of a job!
Could find any split pipes anywhere and other idea on the lean error code?


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16555/P0171/000369 - Fuel Trim; Bank 1: System Too Lean

Possible Causes

Mass Air Flow Sensor (G70) defective

Intake System Leak(s)

Possible Solutions

Check Mass Air Flow Sensor (G70)

Check Fuel Pressure Regulation

Check Fuel Pump

Check Injectors

Check Intake System for Leaks

Check Exhaust System for Leaks

Check Vacuum Pipes for Leaks
Splits can be hard to find.
Was it serviced when you got it?

Yup, I did raise an eyebrow at the "10 minute job". If you have the hands of a 5 year old you might manage it in 20, but for the rest of us it's a total pain in the arse involving extension bars and flexible joints.

Are you absolutely certain that you've checked everything connected to the intake manifold? Visual check isn't good enough, you need to squeeze along the length of all the hoses to check for splits. If they're definitely good, next port of call should be a VCDS logging session looking at fuel trims and lambda function. Could be a small leak in the downpipe or flexi, a dud front Lambda sensor or a dying fuel pump. Check the small things first.

Haha I don't have little hands, I have good tools

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[Connorg115]

Yeah the car had a full service except fuel filter


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[Connorg115]

I'm pretty sure something glitched out here



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[Connorg115]

Here are the non glitchy results
Car was waiting at traffic lights


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[Cupra Ross]

Doesn't really tell you anything mate. VCDS logs will be much more helpful.

 

[Connorg115]

Who could do that for me a vw Audi specialist?


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[Cupra Ross]

There'll be somebody close to you with VCDS. Start a thread asking the question.