Old Library

Do all Mk4 GTI VR6's have such terrible throttle response at starts or
is it just my car? I know it's not me since I've been driving manuals
since the first GTI's came to the US (yeah, showing my age) and have
never had this problem with any other car, including our '65 911, which
has probably the most vague, rubbery gearbox with the longest throw
known to man, and it's a European shift pattern on top of that! We've
owned over a dozen cars and have never had one with this issue nor have
we driven any other marquee or model with this issue. We have not driven
any other Mk4 VW's, though, that's why I'm asking you folks.

The problem is this, when I start out in first gear, the car seems to
buck a bit as if I'm giving the car too much gas or not enough gas.
Sometimes I end up dragging the clutch trying to compensate. This is
incredibly annoying! I suspect this has to do with the drive-by-wire
system which gives me ZERO feedback through the accelerator pedal. It's
like it's off then ON, but no in-between; there's no way to truly
regulate throttle response adequately. If I'm doing an autocross or
really romping on it I have no problem - high rpm clutch drops work just
fine - but trying to leave a light smoothly isn't easy. After 27k miles
and over 3 years of driving this otherwise wonderful car I'm getting a
bit frustrated with it.

Is it just my car or is this a problem with all Mk4 GTI's?  If it's all
Mk4's, will a Garret chip fix this peculiarity or do I just have to live
with it or get used to high rpm clutch drops to save face? I wish there
was a way to dump the drive-by-wire and install a cable but my mechanic
friend who sets up Mk4 Jetta race cars tells me it's not possible
without some serious modifications that would wreak havoc on my extended
warranty, among other things. This is just a daily driver car that I see
no logical reason to put bucketful's of money into - that's what our
track car is for - so I'm looking for a reasonably priced solution that
will fly under the radar screen of the dealership that maintains the car
and reports to the extended warranty company.

Trish
'00 GTI VR6
'65 911 2.7 RS

My '01 does the same party trick.  Acts weird until the tach hits
3000 and then...blam...major power.  Untill then, it stutters
and acts like it is not getting enough fuel.  Happens more
often when the car is still cool, but...
I have AWE almost in my back yard and visited them just last week.
I am going to get their (GIAC) chip installed.  Let you all
know how it or if it helps.  BTW, they seems really nice in person.
Greg- '01 GTi Vr6

I also have a 2000 GTI GLX, and a Garrett chip.  The chip seemed to make a
significant difference in throttle response, and I would consider it to be
worth the money spent..

Whether or not it will go unnoticed by the dealer &| the extended warranty
company, I dunno.

-Erik
2000 GTI GLX, happily chipped for ~9 months

Yep... get the GIAC or UPsolute chip.  They get rid of the "throttle lag."
Also, a VWMS dogbone mount will do some good, too.

-Jason

Pretty much... yeah.  It's all in the chip programming.  I have no idea why
VW programmed it that way, but a new chip solves the problem.  Blame it on
the electronic throttle control . . .  I don't know how the newest models
are, but my 99.5 GTI had this "problem."  Not any more, though...  :)

-Jason

----- Original Message -----
From: "Perry Goutsos" &lt;&#112;goutsos&#64;yahoo<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt;
To: "'Trish'" &lt;&#57;11Porsches&#64;attbi<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt;
Cc: &lt;&#108;ist&#64;gti-vr6<img src=/i/dn.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>&gt;
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 7:48 PM
Subject: Re: [gti-vr6] Mk4 VR6 Chip Question

> So this is normal for a MKIV Vr6?

Hmm, 

Well since I've only had to change a throttle cable
once in over 500,000 miles of driving, I'd say they're
pretty reliable.

Also, once adjusted properly, they rarely stretch. 
You get great throttle response, no lag, and if the
computer freaks out, geuss what?  You can *still*
drive the car!!

I had HUGE problems with the drive by wire in my old
'99.5 Mk4 VR6 GTI, both with and without the GIAC
chip.  The scenario:  Motor mount breaks, engine
lunges forward, yanks on engine harness, resets drive
by wire settings.  Car runs like ass until I get the
ecu reset.  Than it takes 1 week or so for the ecu to
relearn everything.  Get motor mount replaced, 3 weeks
later, same thing happens.  

If the damn car had a throttle cable, it would've been
running fine, despite the broken mount.  This was
before the urethane and VWMS moutns came out, so I was
stuck with the stock replacements.  This was so
frustrating that I got rid of the car.  Well, that and
the fact the sunroof motor died twice and the power
door lock motor died as well.  All in 10 months. 

By far the WORST car I've ever owned.

-josh