2014 RS4 hesitation at 2-3000 rpm

[mk2zetec]

Hi
I'm hoping someone can help me
I have a 2014 RS4 that has a hesitation on part throttle openings at around 2-3000rpm.
its bloody irritating.
Wider throttle openings are fine - it pulls cleanly. But on a part throttle in a higher gear it's a few seconds of stuttering...not a misfire

Audi's view on the hesitation - it's a characteristic of the engine - they all do it. I think that's boll**ks - unless it's a mapped in problem to reduce with noise or emissions at a point where it measured by some ridiculous European Union directive. In all fairness to the dealer they have taken off the inlet manifold to check for problems but nothing obvious.

Anyone else had this?
Is it a characteristic of the engine?
rgds
Richard

[red_slr]

Plugs? How many miles has it done?

[mk2zetec]

red_slr said:

Plugs? How many miles has it done?

14,000

[red_slr]

Hm would have thought 40k+ for plugs.

[Blue62]

There's a thread on this on RS246. Mine sometimes gets lethargic when pulling from low revs, but I have put this down to the fact that I am usually in drive select (as opposed to sport) and may have been dollying along for a few miles, so the car thinks my gran is at the wheel, but there have been a few 'moments' when it has taken me by surprise. Have you tried switching to sport/manual mode to see if you can replicate the problem?

It is disappointing to hear Audi pouring out the stock 'they all do that' response, I know they've tried to palm off people with knocking suspension in the same way, mine doesn't knock so who is right? VAG are in the dock right now and some of the bull their dealers have been feeding us is now being put into context, if you really think you have a problem push them.

[Dr G]

R8s do something similar on wide open throttle in 3rd at low revs.

Can't say I've tried anything similar on a B8 RS4 - are there any owners around here who could try similar?

[mk2zetec]

Dr G said:

R8s do something similar on wide open throttle in 3rd at low revs.

Can't say I've tried anything similar on a B8 RS4 - are there any owners around here who could try similar?

I was aware of the R8 issue. There's loads on the Internet if you google r8 hesitation.
Googling rs4 hesitation on the b8 model doesn't produce anything relevant.

[Tame Technician]

mk2zetec said:

Hi
I'm hoping someone can help me
I have a 2014 RS4 that has a hesitation on part throttle openings at around 2-3000rpm.
its bloody irritating.
Wider throttle openings are fine - it pulls cleanly. But on a part throttle in a higher gear it's a few seconds of stuttering...not a misfire

Audi's view on the hesitation - it's a characteristic of the engine - they all do it. I think that's boll**ks - unless it's a mapped in problem to reduce with noise or emissions at a point where it measured by some ridiculous European Union directive. In all fairness to the dealer they have taken off the inlet manifold to check for problems but nothing obvious.

Anyone else had this?
Is it a characteristic of the engine?
rgds
Richard

Yes this is sadly completely normal. It is to do with drive by noise emissions, rather than actual exhaust gas emissions. It does seem silly that things like this get through development and testing but, they do.

I expect the software bods at Audi could map it out, the car would no longer have a horrible flat spot, fuel economy and driver enjoyment would be improved.
Maybe it could be hidden in an update after type approval had been passed...... But that would be illegal and rules are rules. If they got caught they would get raped in the press, the EU and US governments would be throwing huge fines around, customers out for a buck would all claim they were mis-sold the car. The entire F1 engine development budget would have to be set aside for compensation. Everyone who every gave their phone number to anyone would get a phone calls asking if they were mis-sold an Audi, who knows what else could happen, and that's just not the type of thing Audi/VW would get involved with.

[red_slr]

So what can MRC do with their remap?

[Tame Technician]

Fix it + 10bhp.

They dont have to meet type aproval or EU4 EU5 EU6 standards.

They only need to make sure it passes its MOT emmissions test, which is done at idle, which wont be changed.

[mk2zetec]

Dealers have had the car for 3 1/2 weeks without resolution
In that period they have done approx 300 unauthorised miles and its been used by at least 2 members of staff at the weekend that I can prove
4 separate mobiles paired on Bluetooth
Speed limiter alarm raised to 100 mph for 'high speed testing' despite the problem being in high gears at low speed
Nice of them to treat their customers car with respect. Lying untrustworthy ba$tards

[graeme4130]

Dr G said:

R8s do something similar on wide open throttle in 3rd at low revs.

Can't say I've tried anything similar on a B8 RS4 - are there any owners around here who could try similar?

I've had two B8 RS4's now, covering 20k plus in both, and neither have shown this characteristic
If I was in the OP shoes, I'd be banging on the dealers door to sort it

[thebraketester]

mk2zetec said:

Dealers have had the car for 3 1/2 weeks without resolution
In that period they have done approx 300 unauthorised miles and its been used by at least 2 members of staff at the weekend that I can prove
4 separate mobiles paired on Bluetooth
Speed limiter alarm raised to 100 mph for 'high speed testing' despite the problem being in high gears at low speed
Nice of them to treat their customers car with respect. Lying untrustworthy ba$tards

I wouldn't be please with that

[graeme4130]

mk2zetec said:

Dealers have had the car for 3 1/2 weeks without resolution
In that period they have done approx 300 unauthorised miles and its been used by at least 2 members of staff at the weekend that I can prove
4 separate mobiles paired on Bluetooth
Speed limiter alarm raised to 100 mph for 'high speed testing' despite the problem being in high gears at low speed
Nice of them to treat their customers car with respect. Lying untrustworthy ba$tards

I'd take that info and supply it to Audi UK
The guy you want is Craig Westwood, who's the head cheese in customer services - His email is [e-mail]
There's no way I'd accept that sort of use for my car when in for repair
I was once out on my bike and got overtaken in my own car at quite some speed when it was in for service. I had a right go at the dealer principle, and had some goodwill thrown my way as compensation
I've since bought a cheapo ebay GPS device that goes in my car every time it goes in, so I can do a basic track of where my car's been and at what speed. Since moving all my repairs/service to Bath Audi, I've never had a problem
Which dealer is your car at ?

[mk2zetec]

graeme4130 said:

I'd take that info and supply it to Audi UK
The guy you want is Craig Westwood, who's the head cheese in customer services - His email is [e-mail]
There's no way I'd accept that sort of use for my car when in for repair
I was once out on my bike and got overtaken in my own car at quite some speed when it was in for service. I had a right go at the dealer principle, and had some goodwill thrown my way as compensation
I've since bought a cheapo ebay GPS device that goes in my car every time it goes in, so I can do a basic track of where my car's been and at what speed. Since moving all my repairs/service to Bath Audi, I've never had a problem
Which dealer is your car at ?

Thanks for your reply
I spoke to Audi uk today for an hour
Their view is that the inherent defect is a characteristic and that nothing is wrong with it.
On the Audi dealer issues they have washed their hands with it - nothing to do with them.
I've dropped Craig Westwood an email and will let you know if I get a response
Cheers

[Blue62]

mk2zetec said:

Thanks for your reply
I spoke to Audi uk today for an hour
Their view is that the inherent defect is a characteristic and that nothing is wrong with it.
On the Audi dealer issues they have washed their hands with it - nothing to do with them.
I've dropped Craig Westwood an email and will let you know if I get a response
Cheers

Could you give us a clue as to who the dealer is so that fellow RS owners aren't abused in the same way. I would probably speak to the DP before going to Audi, asking for an explanation before considering what action you're going to take. Good luck and keep us posted.

[John_vts]

Did you ever get the hesitation issue resolved or has anyone else experienced anything similar?

I have just bought a 2014 RS4 with less than 10k miles which has exactly the same characteristics of hesitation at low engine speed.

[Gusto]

Mine does it. Nothing to be freaked out by.