When I'm giving my Scooby some full throttle and take the revs up to say 5-6.5k, I then change gear (surprise!! surprise!!), as I bring up the clutch and put my foot back on the accelerator the car hesitates for about a second, and then picks up to full power. It feels like a bad gear change. I've owned the car for a month or two now and initially put this problem down to just getting used to the clutch and throttle. But since then I've driven my brothers MY98 (with ITG panel filter and Scooby sport backbox) and had no problems at all. It drove beautifully when I gave it some stick.

This strange hestitation is taking some of the fun out of driving the car. I find myself changing gear slowly to stop it happening. Being new to Subarus I haven't got a clue where to start to check whether there is a problem. Maybe it's my driving, but I can't be that bad a driver can I???? :(

Other things I've noticed:
Turbo sounds almost a bit "spluttery" when spooling up. Is this normal?
Sometimes when changing gear (again under full throttle) I don't get a nice clean PssssTTT!! out of the dump valve. It's difficult to describe the sound I get but it doesn't quite sound right (or at least not what I expect).

Performance wise the car feels great except for gear changes when giving it some welly.

It's a standard MY99 with 26k miles.
Anyone had any symptoms like this before?

Stuart

Hmmmmmmm, wrong section.

Shaun, please move so our chap can get some answers :)

Doh!! Whooops I've stuck this one the wrong subject area. How do I move this to Technical section??

Hi,
Sounds like the delay is turbo lag as it spools up again after the gear change. A back box does noticeably improve this (did on my MY00) but there is still a small delay.

The chattery sound is the wastgate. As the turbo starts to spool up it creates too much boost and the wastgate just relievs some of this. It's quite normal.

Hope that helps

Richard :)

Cheers for the reply. Sounds like I'm suffering from "my-car-is-standard-itus".

I'm used to driving a modded G60 Golf (that's supercharged 1.8 for those who don't follow the VW scene). It pulls from 2000rpm making it seriously pokey around town and seriously good fun.

I think it's time for a Scoobysport back box. Do you think a dump valve would make it a better drive too?

On the changing gear front, that is normal behavior. There has been much discussion on here as to what it is and many people are still not convinced.

Some people swear it's diff wind up, others an ECU thing......

Matt :)

It's got a dump valve as standard, changing it shouldn't make a difference (apart from the sound). Try your brothers back box on yours, it's only a 5 minute job to swap !(Then head for the hills and don't give it back ;) )

The gear change does take some getting used to (did for me anyway).

Richard

Normal turbo lag. Try comming off the throttle and flooring it again, you should notice the same effect. It hardly takes the fun away !

I've changed my mind. Took my Scooby out this evening and had some seriously good fun with it - I luv roundabouts!!!!:):). I guess that I'll just have to get used to this lag thingy until I can get some mods done - just need to sell that darned G60 Golf to get some cash (Any takers? £2950?)

Cheers
Stuart

I've noticed the same thing on my MY99 from new.
Some have said it's the ECU making sure that not too much power is put thru the diffs when changing gears.
It is possible to avoid the problem by really banging thru the gears with less throttle lift. Of course, this will put more strain on components that the momentary power reduction is meant to remove.

Hi folks

Try hitting the gas a fraction before the clutch comes out (get the revs above 3000 before engagement to keep the turbo in). Sounds a bit Mickey Mouse but it works for me. Do it right and there is no lurching etc so I imagine the added mechanical strain is negligible. I've done it for the last 3 years in bog std 99 turbo (36,000 miles) with no mishaps

Pat :cool:

Hi g60stu,

My mate might be interested in yer golf..after just writing off his modded GTI MKII. Any chance of mailing me some info/pics etc. And i'll pass them on

Many Thanks
Paul (On behalf of Ross)

OK Paul,

What is your e-mail address? I'll mail you some details and piccys.

Stuart


P.S Can someone tell me how I post picture's on ScoobyNet threads?

Postman Pat,

I'm a bit sceptical about this 3000rpm thing to keep the turbo in. When I get this problem (maybe "momentary hesitation" is understating the effect a bit), I'm could be doing somewhere around 6000rpm before changing up. I'm sure the car is doing over 3k rpm when I've changed up, so I'd assume that it would still be on full boost. This brings me back to my point about the dump valve - does an aftermarket one enable the turbo to spin more efficiently on gear changes (I know the subject of changing dump valves is a real can o' worms and very subjective)?

Cheers
Stu

Stuart,

phaynes@ntlworld.com

PS. Check the buttons on top of the window (info,mail,& something else)

;-)

Stu

I can't say I'm knowledgeable about Dump valves etc. When I first had the car (from new) I had the same problem when gunning it. I assumed it was my technique and not the car at fault and the above is how I changed my technique to get around the problem. Maybe your hesitation is more severe and down to something else. Sorry but I can't help any further.

Cheers Pat

I had an MY98 that did this all the time (when i first had it) and does it occassionally in my import. The way round it is be smooth on the throttle after a gear change. If you gentley squeeze rather than pushing into the floorboards it works wonders (well it works for me :D)

My my00 is fine but my 1991 1.6L Escort hesitates massively when changing gear quickly and giving it some stick. It didn't do this a while ago and it is fine if you are not in such a hurry. Anyway I don't care as its on its last legs but might mean something less technical or turboey is up with your car too?? On the other hand I may be talking pap again!

Just posted because it is exactly as you have described :)

[Edited by Boost II - 5/22/2002 1:39:59 PM]

i too am interested in h G60, could you mail me some pics and details.

Cheers

Paul

pauloconnoruk@hotmail.com