FasTT 225

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36734/img_1629.jpg"></center><p>Hi guys...

I've been having some trouble w/ my APR Stage III+ kit and I wanted to see if I could get some advice...

A couple months ago I got the kit installed along w/ the APR Motorsport intake manifold and TB... When I picked up the car I was told there were some "cold start issues" and that it was running a little lean, but that overall it was running well and making good power (around 307 to the wheels on 93) and that I shouldnt have any trouble with it... They told me that it was probably running lean b/c the tuning on the car is the standard Stg III tuning and doesnt take into account the larger intake/TB and therefore doesnt account for the increase in air intake... that w/ correct tuning and the right A/F ratio id be making a lot more power...

Well, "cold-start issues" meant that the car started up a little rough and had a lumpy idle until it warmed up.. I could live w/ that, but what really worried me (besides the car running lean) was that it was back-firing under hard shifts... Also under partial throttle it would stutter as it came on boost around 3500 rpm...

I took it back numerous times to Champion and to Chris Green's USP Motorsports (the best shops around here) to try to get it straightened out to no avail.. APR wasnt very helpful either... They said the motorsport pieces should work fine on the standard tuning, that they dont offer any tuning updates for these pieces, and basically good luck w/ my problems...

Since then the back-firing has gotten worse, and it seems that the car is running leaner (although I only have a crappy narrow-band gauge to judge by)... It also seems like its down on power...

I can only think of a couple options:
1. reinstall the stock intake mani/TB to see if that helps any
2. try to get some custom tuning done (ie. GIAC?)
3. the guys at Champion said they might be able to get the A/F problems worked out by installing some bigger injectors, but this seems like approaching the problem by attacking the symptoms not the source... i'd rather get the proper tuning..
4. ??????

I'm kind of all out of ideas here and getting a little desperate.. Has anyone else had any similar problems on their Stg III+? Does anyone recognize any problems that might be mechanical rather than tuning? What can I do??!?!!

TIA
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36734/img_1665.jpg">

mastrpdawg

I don't have any ideas...but your cars looks AWESOME!

GorTT

plus a new fuel pump to support them, so right, that's not going to get you there.

kodeTT

have you changed the filter since you have bought the car? clean injectors? try running some Techron and see if that helps. may sound like a clogged fuel filter...try going with an adjustable FPR.

just some suggestions and thoughts.

BTW, are those audi quattro sport seats? like meem's? back is painted black?

andrew.tt

and i had symptoms like you describe -- hard starts, power loss, backfiring.

the apr kits are solid... you don't need any more programming than what they gave you. most likely your problems are:

- coolant temp sensor: (mine was causing my hard starts)... it's a cheap part and install is well documented here.

- coilpacks: this was causing my power loss. the car would seem to "bog" down under hard acceleration.

- i added a modshack boost machine. it seemed to smooth out the power delivery and keep me away from overboost situations.

- clean your throttle body and do a tb alignment. i got in there with tb cleaner and a toothbrush and got all the gunk out.

also -- it doesn't hurt to do like the other guys said -- run some techron through it -- change the fuel filter. i know my stage 3 setup shook loose all the weak parts of my car.

andrew

FasTT 225

thanks for the idea... I'll let you know how it goes..

Yup, they are .... Meem actually helped me source them... Heres a couple more pics.. I still have to do a proper photoshoot at some point:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36734/img_1677.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36734/img_1660.jpg">

FasTT 225

Thanks a lot! .. all I need now is for it to drive awesome too...

TonyStarkz

I would try the coolant temp sensor as well.

Russ Scott

a potential answer when nothing else works...

look for leaks allowing air to enter the intake, but bypass the MAF

you get low MAF readings... the system injects less fuel as a result, leading to a lean condition like you described

a good test: pressure check the intake tract, all vacuum/pressure hoses, the PCV components, etc. while spraying soapy water and looking for bubbles

the best test: a smoke checker... inject smoke while pressurizing the intake

why? on big leaks, soap bubbles sometimes fail to form...

but you'll ALWAYS see the smoke


Steve makes a nice pressure tester

Some dealers and Indy's have a smoke tester (they're big $$$$!)

unobTTainum

Amazing looking car.. real sharp