Throttle response... or lack thereof...

[nycmalu]

I've searched a few times but didn't find anything similar to my issue. Don't know if it's simply because the car is drive by wire or if there is something else I should look into.

Basically, what I've noticed is that, when I'm cruising along at any speed and I keep my foot on the gas even slightly, throttle response is instantaneous when I hit the go button. However, if I'm off the gas completely (foot basically not on the pedal) and THEN press down on it, it takes about a half second to register and kick the car into action. I would expect something like this in a slushbox, not an MT. Would a TBA (Throttle Body Adjustment/Alignment) [not sure which one it is [:p]] fix this? Maybe I'm just spoiled coming from old school Hondas with a direct cable to the throttle and this is just a quirk of drive by wire...

[LERecords]

i stopped by a car speed shop and heard something about a kit for the tranny to smooth things out and make it more responsive.. i'll have to dig up what brand the guy said

[john@fifteen52]

I've searched a few times but didn't find anything similar to my issue. Don't know if it's simply because the car is drive by wire or if there is something else I should look into.

Basically, what I've noticed is that, when I'm cruising along at any speed and I keep my foot on the gas even slightly, throttle response is instantaneous when I hit the go button. However, if I'm off the gas completely (foot basically not on the pedal) and THEN press down on it, it takes about a half second to register and kick the car into action. I would expect something like this in a slushbox, not an MT. Would a TBA (Throttle Body Adjustment/Alignment) [not sure which one it is [:p]] fix this? Maybe I'm just spoiled coming from old school Hondas with a direct cable to the throttle and this is just a quirk of drive by wire...

It sounds like what you are referring to is the lag in drive-by-wire setups. You would be spoiled by coming from ANY drive-by-cable car. It's strange, but you get quicker response easing into the throttle rather than stomping on it. Some say Audi/VW add this into the programming to prevent harsh transitions. It's so laggy on some cars that you can quickly stomp from nothing to full throttle and back off without the car jumping much at all.

A throttle body alignment should probably be done, but i don't think it is going to fix what you are experiencing.

[JmacZX7r]

I know the feeling. When i first got the car it caught me off guard a few times when jumping into i tight spot in traffic from a side road. The car would sit there for a few seconds (which felt like forever) untill it caught up and got me going. I definately feel going slow on the throttle at first and then going full works much better. I've gotten into the habit of either reving to about 3K and just dropping it, or antisipating the slowness by going full throttle a second or two early. I hate this! Coming from 350-400Hp muscle cars with cable connected throttles makes it hard for me to put up with this. Maybe those throttle boosters might help but I dont want to dish out $300 if it does nothing. Kind of heard mixed reviews about these.

[ABanT]

Do the throttle body alignment. It will help that problem. BUT it will only last a week, maybe 2 then you have to do it again.

Test it out. Start your car and rev it in neutral, slowly. You will notice there is a bit of lag before the rpms start going up. Then do the TBA and you will notice that the lag is gone.

Put key in, turn to ON position (accessories). Step on pedal all the way and hold for 3 seconds.
Keep holding the pedal to the floor and turn the car off, do not remove key.
Now, release pedal and wait for 2 mins.
Take key out, start car. Test the throttle response how you did it earlier.

[tankdeer]

Put key in, turn to ON position (accessories). Step on pedal all the way and hold for 3 seconds.
Keep holding the pedal to the floor and turn the car off, do not remove key.
Now, release pedal and wait for 2 mins.
Take key out, start car. Test the throttle response how you did it earlier.

Is this procedure transmission independent? I'm curious to try it on my slushbox.

[b6onboost]

It is not only the drive by wire throttle, but the fact that your car is turbocharged. When you are in gear with your foot partially on the gas load is being applied to the motor and the turbo is kept spooling, as soon as you hit the throttle you make boost and off you go. When you are coasting in gear, foot off the gas, then jump on the throttle the turbo must spool before it makes boost. This is the tiny bit of lag you'll experience with the K03.

[Tanner]

b6onboost is right... combination of drive-by-wire and the turbo.

Though the lag is still noticeably better than the 1.8T (if anybody has driven an A4 1.8T)... but it's still there.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/62/204308127_9311958ffa.jpg

Hence when you're already on the throttle and maintaining a constant speed, then flooring it, you're already have boost built up vs from an engine at idle to full throttle.

[nycmalu]

Even if the turbo is lagging, the NA engine should still be making some power, which would be enough to generate even the slightest response. But there is nothing. It just sits there for a half second and then kicks in... It's not the boost... I have the boost gauge sitting at -10 or -15 half the time because I'm not pushing the car in traffic; but it still moves. The turbo provides EXTRA thrust. The situation is NO additional forward motion.

It's not really a big deal because I've just gotten used to driving with the slightest bit of throttle even when I'm coasting. This way, when I press it down further, there's no delay... It was just in the back of my mind the other day and I wanted to see if there was any solution to it.

[audidrver]

It is the drive by wire.
Like when your in a parking lot in first, then you let off the gas............... Half a second later it shuts off abruptly jolting and making the drive train slop around. Then, when you go to get back on the gas, the same thing happens resulting in another jolt. I have found that not letting your foot ever off the gas will keep it from shutting completely. I do the same thing to shift smoothly when I'm accelerating quickly as well.

[Cronogr]

time for a sprintbooster lol ....

[a4dc89]

the only time i notice it is when i am accelerating from a stop, maybe there is something wrong with my car but power and throttle response off of idle or just around is so weak.

[Nikoman]

Do you think a sprint booster would actually help this concern? I've read decent reviews on the V8s, but heard it doesn't do much on the 2.0T. Has anybody used it?

[cheesefan]

I just got my B7 A4 yesterday and was noticing this quite a bit. Probably because this is only my second car and my last was an Acura 3.2 CL with direct throttle. I've also noticed this a great deal on my mom's Lexus. I was going to post about this but found this pretty recent post. My question is, does being chipped improve this at all? -or is it completely separate from the ECU? Always figured these types of throttles were electronic and intended for a smoother acceleration but that maybe a ECU change could make it more sporty. I plan on getting the APR Stage I as one of my first mods.

[gyroscope]

One if the pitfalls of drive by wire.
There is something called a Sprint Booster which apparently helps with throttle response.
I tend to have this same issue, but remembered that my old 1.8T with APR
reacted the same way.
the 2.0 16V without the turbo spooling lacks torque in a 3600 pound quattro.
I would imagine this engine without the turbo in a MK1 or MK2 VW would be a rocket though. Power to weight ratio and quattro drive train loss...ftl.

[jprice]

There is something called a Sprint Booster which apparently helps with throttle response.
Or not.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=306257&highlight=sprint+booster

[WalkerT]

Hands down the best way to improve throttle response is a lightweight flywheel.

[Nikoman]

I've also heard that an underdrive pulley can help with throttle response.

What's the final verdict on the sprint booster? Helps or not?

[Grishbok]

Throttle response on the audi a4 2.0t is absolutely HORRENDOUS. Its terrible . So much so its almost like they know that its bad and are hoping nobody else knows that its bad. Just another blunder to chalk up to the a4. Drive by wire and the turbocharger are a small part of the problem

[jprice]

What's the final verdict on the sprint booster? Helps or not?

Final answer: NO. It doesn't do anything more than you just pressing your gas pedal more.

[Grishbok]

Final answer: NO. It doesn't do anything more than you just pressing your gas pedal more.

correct, sprint booster does NOT help with throttle response (the fellas from the zine had a conversation which ruled out sprintboost awhile ago)

Also,l the final verdict is that there is no resolution to the throttle response issue without some serious reworking under the hood.