Ok, I have a 2004 TT Roadster with the 1.8L engine, and Automatic Transmission. I'm having two issues with the car, and I'm hoping for some advice/suggestions:

1. My Audi dealership recently replaced the MAF sensor (I THINK he called it a sensor - definitely MAF something). Since then, it seems like the car has less acceleration power than it did before. The engine runs like a champ - no misfires etc - but when I really put my foot on the gas, it just doesn't push me into the seat the way it used to. It's possible that I'm just getting used to the car, but I swear that it feels like they removed the Turbo, and just gave me back a 1.8L engine. I would think though, that if the MAF thing they replaced wasn't working, I'd get some sort of warning message or light come on. Everything seems to be fine, except for that nagging feeling that it's just not as zippy as it used to be. Ideas? Any way to tell if it's not as fast as it should be?

2. The automatic transmission is doing some goofy things. I previously posted that it was downshifting a bit hard - as if I was running over an animal every time I came to a stop light. You guys recommended that I check the transmission fluid level. I took the car in last week and the dealership check the fluid, ran diagnostics on the transmission, test drove it, etc. and found nothing wrong. Everything is fine with car according to their checking it over. But things are getting progessively worse with the transmission. Now, not only is it downshifting into first hard, but it sometimes seems to engage the clutch and hang there for a second or two. The engine starts to rev (since it's no longer engaged and my foot is staying steady on the gas because its an automatic) - and then it suddenly pops the clutch and I get that "hit an animal" feeling that can be felt through the whole car. Yesterday it did this as I was driving a steady 35 or 40 miles an hour through a residential street. I must've been right at the speed where it needs to shift, and it engaged the clutch and just let it hang there for several longs seconds while the engine revved, and then KERCHUNK! back into gear. Ideas?

This car is really starting to remind me of my old '74 Superbeetle. I LOVED it - but it was like a heroin addition. I'd be looking around the apartment, wondering what I could sell to scrape up enough money for that next needed repair: "C'mon! Another $50 and I can get that Weber Progressive Carb - THEN everything will be running right and my happiness will be complete!" And of course as soon I have the carb installed, something else would go wrong, and I'd be limping along until I could get that next repair done. This TT is DEFINITELY feeling like that. (Especially after dropping $810 last week on replacing a malfunctioning airbag.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

1) it is a sensor and replacing it can only help you. As far as performance, you could be use to the power but you really should check for codes (not all set off a cel) and also get a boost gauge. A boost gauge will tell you if you have a boost or vac leak

2) if there isnt anything mechanically wrong with it, i would guess its something to do with the ecu. you may need it cleared of codes or replaced it something is fried.

 

issue one could be caused by issue two.

And as far as issue two goes, they must have put the new guy on your car, because there is something wrong. Whoever told you to check the fluid level was right, that could have caused it, but assuming that the fluid level is good, I'd be looking into replacing the trans.

 

What's a "malfunctioning airbag"? I hope they didn't stick you for $810 to fix a loose wire or something.

 

They replaced the driver seat airbag because of some kind of short - so yeah, it may have been an $810 wire. But they installed a new airbag - the part was over $400, and $350 or so for labor. Tax and general spanking fees brought it to $810. And of course it's not covered by my extended warantee. I kinda feel like I paid $810 to turn off the "AIRBAG" light on the dash, but my wife feels safer about riding in it now that it's "fixed".

Audi recommended that I drive the car over the weekend to see if it keeps doing it (which it will, of course) and then bring it in on Monday and have him ride with me. He said he could hook up some sort of diagnostic thing while I drive to see what's going on. We'll see.

 

Checking the level would be step one, and if that wasn't the problem, in my book, step 2 would be flushing the tranny, and refilling with fresh fluid.

 

my lights been on since i bought the thing... and i can give a **** less lol...as long as it runs good...if it goes off in my face ill have a nice alwsuit anyways lol....who needs airbags anyway? that what 5 point harnesses are for

 

I have an airbag light, but no code, and the light flickers for a while and eventually turns off once the car is hot. So, wintertime, most always a airbag light, summer, light is on for a few minutes. Spring/fall. No light for most driving, occasional flicker at steady highway speeds where I have good airflow thru the engine bay.
Probably screwy resistance to the crash sensors. I'll probably wire in a resistor if/when i get to the point where I have a 5 point.