rick-curl

Dear All, Probably a bit late but I've been running a K&N for the last 63,000 without a problem. My first MAF lasted 80,000 on paper filters so I'm not convinced that filtering is the absolute cause of premature failure. In my opinion, the engine does breath better at the top end, or at least it doesn't tail off like it did with the paper filter. I'm also now in credit in terms of this as a service item.

John, I had the same problem with my car, a Sharan, that the VW main dealer failed to diagnose at two attempts. No code in the VAG-COM diagnostics. A local, competent, independent traced it to the Air-mass flow meter, which swapped restored the performance. Reading the VW techi stuff, the MAF's measure the fresh air to the engine and calculates the exhaust gas recirculation rate and the permissible injection quantity. If the unit fails, the ECU defaults to a fixed air mass value and restricts the throttle range. Remember that the throttle is fly-by-wire so whilst you may have your foot to the board. the signal to the injector pump will be something a lot less and hence the performance. The down side is that the MAF is not cheep and not a part you want to fault by swapping out. Hope this helps