1.9TDi acceleration judder

[AlteaRob]

Hello everyone! My first post here, unfortnatley it's due to a problem :-( Hoping that some of you may be able to help me out!

I have a 56 reg Altea 1.9 TDi, have had 9 months happy motoring so far but yesterday it developed a bit of an issue. When accelerating in 3rd, 4th and 5th from just below 2k rpm to about 2.5k rpm it is very juddery. It kinda feels like either the front wheels are loosing traction or that a wheel is very unbalanced but I'm 99.9% sure it's neither of these. As you can imagine this is highly irratating and quite worrying.

It's worth noting that this problem only started after putting a full tank of diesel in yesterday morning (from Tesco's....) and the problem has never been there before so fingers crossed I've just got a duff tank of fuel. I've done some online research on the forums but can't find any other problems that match mine totally.

Thanks in advance for any advice / info!

Rob

 

[digby130?]

wet weather? max torque is around there so could be wheel spin? what happens if you still accelerate but not so hard?

 

[AlteaRob]

Hmmm I did think it could be the weather as it was horrendously wet yesterday, however the TCS would surely have dealt with this (unless that is at fault...). The problem is still occuring today though and the roads are bone dry. I can accelerate through this range and avoid this judder occuring but I really have to nanny the throttle pedal which means that unless I'm going downhill I don't really accelerate.

 

[dlm2310]

Hmmm I did think it could be the weather as it was horrendously wet yesterday, however the TCS would surely have dealt with this (unless that is at fault...). The problem is still occuring today though and the roads are bone dry. I can accelerate through this range and avoid this judder occuring but I really have to nanny the throttle pedal which means that unless I'm going downhill I don't really accelerate.

Must admit, I've had this problem alot when flooring the car froma standing start and the TCS has not dealt with it.

Never have the problem if I am going at say 20mph and floor it up to say 40

 

[googies]

Flywheel issue perhaps?

 

[Bogwoppit]

Welcome to the forum.
Dual mass flywheel on its way out? Does it only do it you floor the throttle as those low revs in the higher gears? Is the car remapped?

 

[AlteaRob]

The flywheel issue sounds the most likely I think from what I've read. Any idea if this would be covered under warranty? The car is completely standard.

The juddering doesn't only happen when it's floored, any kind of acceleration causes it to happen. It disappears above 2.5k rpm and isn't noticeable in 1st and 2nd gear.

 

[dlm2310]

The flywheel issue sounds the most likely I think from what I've read. Any idea if this would be covered under warranty? The car is completely standard.

The juddering doesn't only happen when it's floored, any kind of acceleration causes it to happen. It disappears above 2.5k rpm and isn't noticeable in 1st and 2nd gear.

Unless they get you on the old "wear and tear" which to be honest on such a new car shouldn't be an issue then you should be fine.

I had a problem with a noise that was happening on acceleration (no judder) and it took them a year to find it, replaced the flywheel no problem but still it happened.

Turned out it was a faulty turbo which to be honest I did ask about but they said was OK !!

Anyway that was replaced under warranty too so got a new flywheel out of them for nowt !!

 

[AlteaRob]

The car has only done 35k so hopefully they can't claim that it's wear and tear.

Have topped the tank up with some BP Ultimate Diesel, will see if that makes any difference. Interestingly the car is fine when cold but the judder comes in once the oil temp is up to normal.

 

[Bidey]

Altea rob,
Reminds me awfully like flywheel brake up. just had it done at £640 which apparently is cheap (had done 77k miles though)
There is another post which you can view and get opinions etc but get checked out ASAP as mechanice says he has seen a catostrophic failure that damaged casing and cost Millions to sort.
bidey fae Perth

 

[Toxic]

best to get the flywheel checked by seat they did have a recall on this some time ago. they should be able to tell you if you car was ever checked. you could also PM David at Seremotors on the forums, with your VIN number and car details, he maybe able to check it for you.

 

[AlteaRob]

Thanks for the info peeps. I've had a virtually judder free day today so not sure what's up, will be heading to the dealers to get the flywheel checked as soon as though just to be sure.

 

[bungle]

Have exactly the same problem with our 1.9 ref sport. Easy to reproduce in 3rd, 4th, 5th at rpm below 2K. Feels like a high frequency thumping though the transmission which fades away as the revs go past about 2K. Our car only does this when warm BTW. Asked Droitwich Seat to take a look at the last service but predictable Seat dealer incompetence meant they 'couldn't reproduce it'. Warranty expired the following day.... it's a shame as in my experience Seats are good cars let down by a pathetic low rent dealer network.

 

[AlteaRob]

Hi Bungle, my juddering has completely disappeared now, I put it down to a dodgy tank of fuel as that is the only thing that has changed. The snow has stopped me getting it down to my dealer to have the flywheel looked at but I intend on doing this as soon as I can. Luckily I still have a good 6 months left on the warranty.

Can't say that I've had too much trouble with the dealers, I get mine serviced at a Seat service centre that isn't affiliated with a dealership, they seem pretty good so far although for the price they charge they better be! I swear that I pay more for servicing than I did for my 330i Sport! Doesn't help having a 10k interval when you do the kind of miles I do either.