S3 Turbo Lag

David83S3 · Dec 6, 2016

Hi Folks

Been a while!! Hope y'all are well

So ....over the past few weeks I have started to notice a slight lag on when the boost kicks in. Not really had the time to really look at it until today and basically it behaves as follows:

Cold start - When moving at a speed of about 30mph in 3rd gear if I apply throttle it starts to boost ....then a slight delay ....then an very weird sudden increased boost for about 10k revs (Rev counter moves faster) ....and then pulls back again (Rev counter goes back to a slow increase). I can also feel this motion through the cars acceleration.

I was able to recreate the issue multiple times on my way home from the gym today. However when I then left for work I was not able to replicate it as easily...but it still did it.

This is definitely something new and I could almost say its been since the car was serviced 2/3 weeks ago.

Before I get on the phone to Audi and shout at them!! I wanted to know if any folks on here had experienced the same or similar thing?

Ictus · Dec 6, 2016

David83S3 said:
Hi Folks

Been a while!! Hope y'all are well

So ....over the past few weeks I have started to notice a slight lag on when the boost kicks in. Not really had the time to really look at it until today and basically it behaves as follows:

Cold start - When moving at a speed of about 30mph in 3rd gear if I apply throttle it starts to boost ....then a slight delay ....then an very weird sudden increased boost for about 10k revs (Rev counter moves faster) ....and then pulls back again (Rev counter goes back to a slow increase). I can also feel this motion through the cars acceleration.

I was able to recreate the issue multiple times on my way home from the gym today. However when I then left for work I was not able to replicate it as easily...but it still did it.

This is definitely something new and I could almost say its been since the car was serviced 2/3 weeks ago.

Before I get on the phone to Audi and shout at them!! I wanted to know if any folks on here had experienced the same or similar thing?

Could be the pistons bouncing off the inside of the bonnet at 10k rpm. ;-) Sorry no help. Is car protecting itself because its not up to temperature?

CookD · Dec 6, 2016

I used to get this in my Astra VXR - it was a clogged up MAF sensor. Not sure how old your car is but may be worth a clean?

davc · Dec 7, 2016

Mine has started doing this recently (and funnily enough after it came back from a service) and only when the engine is cold - pull out of a junction in D2 there is noticeable lag, only does it in 2nd.

nervus · Dec 8, 2016

Is it lag or could it be the gearbox (S-Tronic) holding back slightly? I feel like my RS does this sometimes when cold. Like its slipping a bit.

infernox · Dec 8, 2016

nervus said:
Is it lag or could it be the gearbox (S-Tronic) holding back slightly? I feel like my RS does this sometimes when cold. Like its slipping a bit.

He's got a manual car.

nervus · Dec 9, 2016

Could still be the traction control, there are a few of us with RS3 notice this when its cold. Holds the car back by cutting ignition like a soft limiter.

Adamshambles · Mar 27, 2017

New member - been reading the forum since before ordering my S3 in Jan 2016 - had the car a year now and joined up as I am having the exact same issue as the OP. My car is also a manual - also only noticed it since its first service - I was starting to think that it was clutch slip - it was mainly low down in the revs under heavy acceleration - but seemed to come and go - or so I thought.....

BUT and I cant believe that this makes a difference (I feel stupid writing this), but I have tested it over and over and it does.... when I use one set of my car keys this does not really happen and acceleration is ok but when I use the other its all over the place..... (do the keys create a mapping depending on who drives the car??? as one set is mine and ones my wifes)

Any suggestions would be great - I don't really want to book the car in with Audi in case they think the same as me and try replacing the clutch and charging me as its unlikely to be covered under warranty.

Cheers

MrFlibble · Mar 27, 2017

CookD said:
I used to get this in my Astra VXR - it was a clogged up MAF sensor. Not sure how old your car is but may be worth a clean?

No MAF sensor on the 8V S3.

Asif Hussain · Dec 19, 2017

So d

David83S3 said:
Hi Folks

Been a while!! Hope y'all are well

So ....over the past few weeks I have started to notice a slight lag on when the boost kicks in. Not really had the time to really look at it until today and basically it behaves as follows:

Cold start - When moving at a speed of about 30mph in 3rd gear if I apply throttle it starts to boost ....then a slight delay ....then an very weird sudden increased boost for about 10k revs (Rev counter moves faster) ....and then pulls back again (Rev counter goes back to a slow increase). I can also feel this motion through the cars acceleration.

I was able to recreate the issue multiple times on my way home from the gym today. However when I then left for work I was not able to replicate it as easily...but it still did it.

This is definitely something new and I could almost say its been since the car was serviced 2/3 weeks ago.

Before I get on the phone to Audi and shout at them!! I wanted to know if any folks on here had experienced the same or similar thing?

so does mine.im gonna check turbo pipes

Bitzieee · Dec 19, 2017

David83S3 said:
Hi Folks

Before I get on the phone to Audi and shout at them!! I wanted to know if any folks on here had experienced the same or similar thing?

What's the need to shout at anyone?

Just think about your actions before you start upsetting service advisors who get paid a pittance to deal with crap 55-60hours a week. They wouldn't have 'caused' that to happen to the car. Regardless of if a service happened around the same time. Changing the oil and filter isn't going to effect the turbo in any way shape or form. And it certainly isn't the person on the other end of the line you're giving grief to.

If there's a fault and it's not just how the car is... Then faults happen, that's why you have a warranty.

Ring them politely, it isn't broken or causing you any issues and certainly isn't safety related. So book it in at a convenient time for yourself and the dealer. Ask for a courtesy car to get you from A-B for a few days and you'll save your fuel and mileage for a few days (bonus). And let the professionals look at it. If theirs genuinely a fault they can prove to Audi then it will be fixed because they want the work as much as you want it right. If not then that's how the car you purchased is unfortunately.

Best of luck.

The Kendragon · Dec 19, 2017

Mine seems to do this when changing from 3rd to 4th gear at the moment. It's a manual like yours?

David777 · Jan 16, 2018

Hi guys - did anyone ever figure out what the issue was?

Mine seems to do the same in higher gears, lower RPM - a little jump in revs and back to normal again (I have a manual too).

Cheers,
Dave

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S3 Turbo Lag

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