Help with cold engine studder... please

[sdy101]

I've seen many variations of posts discussing cold engine studder/hesitation/bucking, along with rough idle posts, but I have yet to figure out a solution for my issue. Basically if I start the car up in the morning and drive off, I get all kinds of studder/hesitation/bucking under normal acceleration for the first minute or so. If I go WOT for very short period of time (since it's only 25 mph in my development), it doesn't seem as bad. If I start her up and sit and wait for my idle RPM to drop from 1200 to 800 (about a minute or so), I don't seem to get any studder/hesitation/bucking when driving off.

I have recently had the ignition coil recall performed and the intake flap motor replaced, but no difference. I got a copy of the previous owner's service records and see that the PCV valve and fuel pressure sensor have been replaced, along with an ECU update. I searched and read a lot of other possibilities like throttle body, MAF, vacuum leaks, coolant temp sensor, engine speed sensor, spark plugs, etc (none of which I have checked out yet). I just purchased the car a month ago, it has 31K miles, and it's still under warranty for another couple of months. The dealer says the tech didn't notice anything when he drove it in the morning after I left it there overnight.

Anyone have any recommendations/suggestions? I would really appreciate it! Obviously I could just sit and wait a few minutes every time I start her up cold, but I really feel there is something wrong that could fix this. If anyone else has had similar problems or could narrow this down for me, that would be great. Thanks!

P.S. I really love this car! I previously had a 1.8T Tip Passat, and this car is so much sweeter!

[A4s-line]

The car will automatically misfire in order to get the car warmed up faster so thats what your experiencing. As long as no check engine lights are on this a normal 2.0t thing. Sucks but something we have to live with.

[elwigglero]

If I start her up and sit and wait for my idle RPM to drop from 1200 to 800 (about a minute or so), I don't seem to get any studder/hesitation/bucking when driving off.


There you go. Let your idle drop to normal.

And don't go WOT until your oil is up to heat.

[sdy101]

Thanks guys! I didn't have this issue with the VW Tiptronic 1.8T (it also had a turbo "warm up" period), so I thought something was wrong or was going wrong. I can certainly live with it, just wanted to make sure before my warranty runs out. Now I just need to start saving some $$$ for some mods....

[A4s-line]

Just make sure you keep an eye on it for multiple misfires as that is not normal and will throw a check light, also you can also take it the dealer right before the warranty runs out just to see if anything is stored in the computer.

[sdy101]

Good idea, I'll keep that in mind. No CEL's yet, but I found out it did store a code when I last took it in. The code was for the IFM (replaced under TSB).