Freetrack problems

[Cestrian]

Hi, Hoping for help in identifying problems with my 170bhp diesel Freetrack.
Car has full service history and has only done 30k.
Problem 1
Since I bought it 18 months ago I've not been happy with the performance or mpg returns.
Round the doors 31mpg, long distance motorway with cruise set at (GPS) 75mph - 39mpg.
Performance wise it feels like a 100 bhp vehicle not 170bhp, positively pedestrian in comparison to my 130 bhp Golf.

Recently I had DPF, EGR delete and remap, normally this would give around a 30% ?? gain.
Performance is slightly better (nowhere near the Golf) but no mpg improvement, remap was for torque not outright power.
Problem 2
Vibration
The car vibrates enough to blur the interior mirror and at times there is a noticeable drone from the rear.
I've tried wheel balance, new tyres and a different set of wheels - no change.
Problem 3
At a GPS indicated 80mph there is a noise from front nearside, sounds like something is vibrating or flapping in the wind - body panels & trim are secure and I can't identify cause or exactly where vibration originates from.
I would like to keep the vehicle so I'm hoping someone can help identify possible causes or recommend a trustworthy Garage in County Durham
Thank You.

 

[kevlaa]

I'm sure there has been some threads about freetracks with haldex problems I'm sure a lot of vibrations was mentioned but dont quote me. Worth doing a search

 

[kevlaa]

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=402128&highlight=freetrack+haldex+vibration check this out

 

[Cestrian]

Thank you, followed link & searched other threads and it seems the flex coupler is certainly my problem number 2.
I'll get that sorted and report back

 

[kevlaa]

No problem fingers crossed it solves everything

 

[Cupra Ross]

Thank you, followed link & searched other threads and it seems the flex coupler is certainly my problem number 2.
I'll get that sorted and report back

Welcome to the forum!

Yes, the flexible coupling is definitely the cause of your vibration problem. Change it asap as it will wreck your haldex controller if left for too long.

I had mine changed last Thursday and the difference is night and day. Mine didn't sound as bad as yours but I could hear it loud and clear. It's now silent. Don't go to a dealer or TPS for the part, they'll have the shirt off your back to the tune of about £280. Here's a link to the part you need: https://www.rexbo.eu/febi/joint-propeller-shaft-40857?c=100707 It works out at about £130 including delivery. It's worth buying new bolts too, I replaced all 6 on mine.

Your Freetrack should be far more powerful than your Golf. Get it on VAG-COM/VCDS and have the fault codes read and some logging done to determine why it's down on power.

 

[ritch_b]

I was going to point you towards my post about the Haldex, but somebody's beaten me to it! It's a common fault unfortunately and although it's not a safety issue, it is a right pain in the arse.

The power thing is beyond me I'm afraid. The diesel should go like a steam train and if it's feeling pedestrian, something seems awry. First port of call would be to see if there are any fault codes on there and if you haven't got a VCDS, there will probably be somebody on here local(ish) to you who will be able to do a read for the price of a few alcoholic beverages.

I'm based in Teesside and have most of my work carried out at a local VAG independent, although they're not a diesel specialist and that may, depending on what a code read does or doesn't show, be what you need.

Fingers crossed you get it sorted quickly, easily and at no great cost. They are a cracking chariot, especially for the money, but the same problems always seem to be a bit of a let down; that's the coupling and the window regulators then!

R.

 

[Cestrian]

Struggling to reply as my phone keeps losing page
Thank you for now - I'll post more once I'm home

 

[Cupra Ross]

Struggling to reply as my phone keeps losing page
Thank you for now - I'll post more once I'm home

You're not too far from me. If you need some fault code reading or logging done, let me know and I'll help you out.

 

[PHILMEWAGON]

sad to say that's probably about right mpg. Its a big car with a big thirst. Just assume in all cases you are going to get about 30mpg and you wont go far wrong. On the bright side if you had bought the petrol you would be looking at around 15 - 18 mpg!

After my visit to the performance modification people I got a lot of good info. My car had lost about 15 horses just with wear and tear. They couldn't get over 200bhp out of it without it being a danger to the car but they got close enough as to make no difference. It definitely feels like a 200 car.

as far as issue 2 goes looks like some good advice above - I wouldn't want to speculate on something im not experiencing.

 

[Cupra Ross]

I still think you have a maintenance or tyre issue with your out of town mpg. I took the Freetrack TSI on a 400 mile round trip on Thursday and it returned 36mpg (brim to brim on 99RON) without trying. I'd expect no less than 42-45mpg from the diesel Freetrack in the same situation. She does about 20mpg round the doors and I can live with that.