RallyJon

Been searching here, but either get no hits or hundreds, so can one of you veterans direct me...

I've noticed as I learn the car that in very light throttle applications below 3k rpm and especially at the very start of throttle travel, there are areas of non-linearity. For example, if I gradually roll into the throttle after an upshift, it will suddenly surge slightly. And right off idle, there's nothing, then with another fraction of a mm of travel it surges forward.

No problem at all when I'm driving aggressively, but it makes it hard to drive as smoothly as I'd like with a passenger.

Is this normal for drive by wire 996s? Or is there something that needs cleaning/lubing or wears out?

Ahsai

Yours don't sound like a gas pedal problem but it's easy to check. Just sit in the driver's seat with engine off. Now reach down and use your right hand (your hand is a lot more sensitive than your foot) to press on the gas pedal slowly, retract a bit and press again and so on. Try it for the whole range of the gas pedal. Does the pedal feel smooth? or does it move in steps?

For lubing the gas pedal assembly, check out this thread by Van.

BTW, you can search "gas pedal" and sort results by "Relevancy".

Dennis C

FWIW, my 996 C4S does the same thing.

Ubermensch

If you haven't cleaned your throttle body recently I'd give that a shot. Carbon gunks up at the pivot point and can make the plate slip and stick instead of working smoothly.

Malakas

My 996 C4S does the same thing at 3K - I've read here it's a Variocam thing...

RallyJon

One follow-up: my wife's Audi had similar issues from new, but a GIAC chip smoothed out the response completely. Any of you guys have a flash?

I'll pull the airbox this weekend and take look around.

pongobaz

It's normal...variocam shifting profile at around 3000 rpm.

smackboy1

Assuming there isn't anything malfunctioning it could be 2 things you feeling:

1) Variocam Plus kicking in at around 3,000 rpm

2) Clutch delay switch - see this for more info (I know it's about Caymans, but the 996 has the same switch)

http://www.planetporsche.net/cayman-...eated-joy.html

Rob in WA

Yea, it's the Variocam plus kicking in.

3.4ls don't have this issue

RallyJon

Cleaned the throttle body today--it was moderately gunked up, but just sticky goop, not hard stuff. Felt slightly better afterwards rolling into it from idle.

I think part of the problem is that the engine is so damn quite off idle. I'm so used to feeding in throttle based on sound, and I keep looking down to see if I stalled.