gg117

I did some testing this weekend and the ESP function does appear to be working properly.

This leads me to believe I may have another problem. This is what I experience; when accelerating from slow speeds, 10 mph, and give it 1/4-1/2 throttle the car sometimes seems sluggish, like something is holding it back. It could be that the transmission is not consistantly downshifting when it should causing the engine to "bog" (term from my motorcycle racing days). I've done the throttle/tranny calabration trick already as well as a fluid/filter change.

My other guess would be some kind of fuel/air mixture problem. I've never checked or cleaned the air filter and I'm not sure if the dealer does this during routine visits. So to play it say I just ordered a K&N filter.

ryoung

When performance depends on gear selection, I find that the adaptive tranny program makes performance unpredictable.

I always drive like an old man (some would say I am an old man) when the motor's cold and more enthusiastically only when the motor is up to temp. The result is that the shift program usually seems to be 180 deg out of synch with my driving style ... but it's always been this way. I have seen ESP cut the throttle, but only on track when pushing VERY hard thru a corner. [I usually turn ESP off on track, but occasionally forget ... maybe the memory of this old man is failing.]

Is the sluggish behavior new with your S8? How does it behave in Tip mode when you have more complete control of gearing.

And the dealer should have changed your air filter at the 20k and 40k mile service intervals.

dimitristx

Don't recall: have you checked all hoses for loss of vacuum?

ttuling

The engine computer is programmed to reduce throttle response if it sees brake application when the accelerator is initially depressed. Even if you're not driving with two feet, extreme sluggishness can happen when the computer doesn't read that the brake pedal is released before you step on the gas. Releasing and reapplying the accelerator results in normal acceleration. Whether this is due to inadequate sampling by the computer or an overly damped brake pedal, I'm not sure.

Tom

gg117

I've never taken notice at whether or not applying the throttle quickly after releasing the brake was a condition present when the sluggish condition appears. I do believe releasing and reapplying the throttle may have resulted in better acceleration upon reapplying throttle. Will have to experiement with this to know. Probably won't drive the car till the weekend, so we update you all next week.

gg117

I beleive the tranny was coded to 10132, so that shouldn't be part of it. I've only played with it in Tip mode briefly and don't recall the sluggish syymston appearing, but than again I did this on only a few occasions and probably was not using the brake immediately before hitting the throttle in tip mode.

I've recently purchased the car, so not sure it it's new or not. I'll keep you posted upon further testing.

Greg Elmassian

that I don't start out in 2nd... I believe this is all leftover paranoia after the ruckus years ago about the unintentional acceleration fiasco.

Greg